The Peugeot 408 serves as the inspiration behind the 6th KL Fashion Week Designer Search.
The Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2024 (KLFW 2024) continues to dazzle fashion enthusiasts with its innovative blend of style, creativity, and sustainability. This year’s event features a special segment called “Design to Sustain,” coinciding with the 6th KLFW Designer Search. The theme, “Capturing Allure,” draws inspiration from the elegance and sophistication of the all-new PEUGEOT 408, marking the first-ever collaboration between KLFW Designer Search and an automotive brand.
Sustainable Fashion Takes Center Stage
Fifteen young and aspiring fashion designer finalists showcased their innovative pieces, bringing sketches to life using recycled materials. The event highlighted how sustainability can be seamlessly integrated into high fashion, proving that eco-friendly designs can be both stylish and captivating.
The “Design to Sustain” Contest Workshop
The journey began on June 16th, with 63 artists submitting three womenswear sketches inspired by the “Capturing Allure” theme. After a live fashion pitch, the field narrowed to the top 15 finalists. These talented individuals were tasked with creating two looks each for the grand finale, incorporating upcycled materials from Life Line Clothing Malaysia (LLCM), one of the country’s largest zero-waste textile collectors.
Judging Panel: Fashion Industry Experts
A distinguished panel of seven judges evaluated the finalists’ creations:
- Andrew Tan – Founder of KLFW
- E-Ling Cheah – Marketing Manager of Stellantis Malaysia
- Min Luna – Creative Director of Min Luna Creative Agency
- Andrea Wong – Creative Director and Fashion Stylist
- Kak Zai – Fashion Critic
- Kit Woo – Fashion Designer
- Syomirizwa Gupta – Fashion Designer
These industry experts and avid supporters of the local fashion scene had the challenging task of selecting the top three designers from an extraordinary pool of talent.
KLFW Designer Search 2024 Winners
The three winners of the KLFW Designer Search 2024 captivated both the audience and judges with their exceptional creativity, originality, innovation, and technical finesse:
- Mei Xuan Tieo (18 years old) – Collection: “Ephemeral Reverie”
- Raja Irfan (25 years old) – Collection: “Eternal Allure”
- Salahuddin Hilmi (26 years old) – Collection: “Rockstar”
As winners, they will have the exclusive opportunity to showcase their full collections at KLFW 2025 and the Lao Fashion Week: Zero Waste in October.
PEUGEOT 408 Inspiration
All three winners shared how the PEUGEOT 408 inspired their designs. Kuala Lumpur native Mei Xuan’s collection fused the technology, aerodynamic lines, and sleek style of the PEUGEOT 408 with traditional Japanese culture and the allure of post-war Geisha.
The success of the “Design to Sustain” segment at KLFW 2024 demonstrates the fashion industry’s growing commitment to sustainability. By combining innovative design with eco-friendly practices, these young designers are paving the way for a more sustainable future in fashion.
Jamie Francis Morais, Managing Director of Stellantis Malaysia said, “Sustainability is no longer a trend; it’s a fundamental pillar for industries such as automotive and fashion to not only survive but thrive. Sustainability is a core value at Stellantis and for PEUGEOT and we are constantly seeking innovative ways to create products that are functional and sustainable. It’s about using high-quality, responsibly sourced materials, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create a lighter footprint on the environment.”
The collaboration between KLFW and PEUGEOT showcases how different industries can come together to inspire creativity and promote sustainability. As the fashion world continues to evolve, events like KLFW 2024 play a crucial role in nurturing young talent and driving the industry towards a more sustainable and stylish future.
“Our goal is to build a future where mobility and the environment coexist harmoniously, and KL Fashion Week has been an incredible partner in this journey. And we are very excited to see how the alluring design and language of attraction of the 408 managed to inspire and play a role as a muse for these designers. Furthermore, what’s more important is creating a platform for these extraordinary talented designers whose designs have the power to inspire, to change perceptions, and to drive positive change,” added Jamie.
