Graduates’ Passion for Fashion Wins Them Awards at ESMOD KL Graduation Fashion Show

The highly anticipated ESMOD Kuala Lumpur Graduation Fashion Show set the runway stage on fire this year! The huge crowd of spectators who attended the event was in awe of every collection that was being displayed. With all the shocking yet out-of-this-world and meaningful collections, this year’s winners’ pieces were truly a work of art. Each of these designers had their own intriguing backstory for their collections.

The winner of ‘Best Fashion Design’ was awarded to Lim Wee Yang. His collection “Lord Can You Ever Forgive Me” veered towards experimental. A confounding as expressionism art, the collection captivated the audience by sending a powerful message in a playful manner through fashion. Wee Yang’s pieces were inspired by the seven deadly sins and how humans are destroying the world by being extremely selfish. The collection itself was vibrant and utilized different patterns, shapes and complicated fits. Thus, giving the entire collection depth and achieving its purpose of creating an impact.

The ‘Best Pattern Making’ award went to two winners this time – Anthony Chai Zhi Yung for menswear and Agnes Yeow Ying Ni for womenswear. Anthony’s collection titled “Antonio” was inspired by something more personal to the designer. Football has always been a big part of Anthony’s life. Therefore, this collection was a tribute to his first passion through fashion. Focused on integrating football/sport elements into men’s tailoring, these two materials were subtly tailored into the garments by using different seams, fabrics and textures.

For womenswear, Agnes Yeow Ying Ni portrayed her belief in women empowerment in her collection, “Ways of Seeing”. A century after women could be arrested for wearing pants, the two-piece suit still reflects the aspirations of women seeking to defy gender norms. Each piece was a statement highlighting a moment in history that redefined pantsuits.

The ‘Best Collection’ award was won by Marcus Tan Jun Keat for an outstanding collection overall. The entire collection “NEO TERRA” was based on the theme of an artificially generated Earth, which revolves around a futuristic world. The details on each look from the setup to the props, to the makeup and not forgetting the garments themselves, truly were an expression of the future.

One of the highest recognitions by ESMOD International, the ‘Golden Needle’ award was presented to Samantha Low. This award is presented to the top students to honour their hard work and achievement. Her collection, “Embracing Growth” was all about finding joy in the chaos of growing up. The pieces incorporated beautiful calming colors that felt nostalgic with intricate details on the stitching of each garment.

The graduates’ unique masterpieces were a representation of their hard work, burning passion and dedication toward fashion. Having their masterpieces evaluated by a panel of industry experts, it is safe to say they have earned their awards and have a bright future ahead of them. Congratulations winners on your well-deserving awards! Fashion designers, you too could win one of the highest recognitions for your well-thought-out collections, if they can do it, so can you!