Fashion Pitch: Why Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi Thinks Fashion Pitch is a Great Idea

Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi took the time to speak to us about Fashion Pitch and how she got her kick start in the fashion industry.

Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi got her first break in the fashion industry when she was first approached by her friend interested in letting her showroom/workshop go. The famed Malaysian designer took the opportunity of pursuing her dreams. In 1985, with Malaysia going through a financial crisis, armed with her passion in fashion, and a not- too- focused business plan, the designer had to work hard in order to keep 30 people under her wing employed before knowing how to make smart partnerships and her company lean.

Talking about her major challenges that she has faced along the way, Dato’ Tom recalled marketing her ready to wear designs in a much smaller market back then. The designer had learned through past mistakes and tests such as not getting payments because of economic slowdown and the closure of several department stores. It was only then when Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi started doing couture designs for upmarket clients. ‘I think the current fashion scene in Malaysia is exciting and robust. We have to be on our toes with competition from foreign brands and cheaper items from Asian countries’.

With Fashion Pitch application deadline catching up, Dato’ Tom thinks that Fashion Pitch is a brilliant opportunity for young, up and coming designers. “It’s a great opportunity for young people to get a jumpstart in serious business and creative process, without having to worry about finance but just putting your dream to succeed in the industry in focus.”

At the end of the conversation, the Sarawak- born fashion designer wishes to advice designers struggling to make it in the fashion industry by saying, “Passion is one thing, but the business plan must be relevant in time and also practical. In regards to the creative side, one must have originality and the brand created must have a long life and brand DNA, other than making sure it may be visually easy for people to associate with.”

Fashion Pitch is collaboration between MyCreative Ventures and FashionValet in providing business opportunities for designers and entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the fashion industry.

For more information, please log on to http://www.mycreative.com.my/index.php/fashionpitch

WEI-LING CONTEMPORARY PRESENTS FLESH: BLACKS & WHITES, A SOLO EXHIBITION BY SEAN LEAN

Portraits of albinistic animals have been a recurring theme within the artworks of Sean Lean. This series witnesses a continuation of this, but furthermore, an introduction to the artist’s depiction of melanistic animals. The rarity of both these types of creatures and the mythical aura which they resultantly possess, are the reasons behind the artist’s desire to implement their physical forms into his paintings.

The inspiration behind the artist’s artworks stems from his inherent obsession with flesh. Initially a compulsion, it consequently progressed into an investigation of his personal idiosyncrasies. Each painting serves as an introspective measure, whereby each animal depicted represents a particular facet of Lean’s ‘selves’. The harsh slashing of the peacock’s feathers (ultimately its crowning glory) for instance, in the piece entitled ‘White Peacock: A Fowl and Some Feathers’, executes a symbolic portrayal of the artist shedding and ridding himself of any existing traits of vanity. This however, is just simply one example amongst the herd present within Flesh: Blacks & Whites.

Sean Lean has shown his works in various group exhibitions around Kuala Lumpur, and most recently at ION Art, Singapore for 18@8 KUL-SIN, which was presented by Wei-Ling Gallery.

"Flesh: Blacks & Whites" will be unveiled by Ivan Lam on Thursday 30^th May 2013, 7pm at Wei-Ling Contemporary. Previews start on 16^th May 2013 and the exhibition continues until 20^th June 2013.

Some of Sean's artworks:

Black Goldfish: I Have 11 Brilliant Ideas, Oil on canvas, 196cm x 229cm, 2013

White Peacock: A Fowl and Some Feathers, Oil on Canvas, 150cm x 262cm, 2013 

White Mare: Adolescent Unicorn, Oil on Canvas, 150cm x 230cm, 2013 

White Piglet: When I grow up, I want to be an Astronaut, Oil on Canvas, 150cm x 228cm, 2012

Exhibition details:

Date: 30^th May 2013 (Thursday)

Time: 7 pm sharp

Venue: G212 & 213A Ground Floor, The Gardens Mall, 59200, Kuala Lumpur

For more info please contact: Shaza 0322601106 / 0322828323 or email weiling.shaz@gmail.com

Visit their website at http://www.weiling-gallery.com or Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weiling-Gallery/157878490904431?fref=ts

Building Sustainability in Arts with Borak Arts Series by My Performing Arts Agency

My Performing Arts Agency (MYPAA) in collaboration with the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) are pleased to announce two upcoming arts initiatives with opportunities and platforms to inspire, educate and energise both the arts community and the Malaysian public.

With Malaysia’s arts scene at its infancy stage, how do arts organisations and their leaders sustain themselves? Is there an arts eco-system to support the performing arts industry, the public and the private sectors?

Borak Arts Series hoping to break boundaries, will feature key leaders in the arts and business including artists, curators, critics and other thinkers of national and international standing, coming together to explore these questions. Borak Arts Series is intended to provide an opportunity to have powerful personal meetings and discussions to allow for quality relationships, and to meet and network with corporate and government officials who share similar interests. 

Taking place from 15th to 16th June 2013 at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, with the theme of Building Sustainability in Arts, the Borak Arts Series also provides a platform for attendees to learn about new and upcoming projects, local and international from the creators and producers themselves; presenting the gateway for the establishment, relationships and collaborations between the practitioners, the public and the private sectors. On the other hand, industry players will share their insights and experiences on past projects and learning; to share with the participants their secret recipe of what works and what doesn't in the business of the performing arts.

With various local and international speakers such as the  Director General of National Department for Culture and Arts (Ybhg Dato’ Norliza Rofli), President of Korea Arts Management Services (Mr Jung Jae-wal), Director of Market Development of Australia Arts Council (Ms Collette Brennan), MyCreative Ventures Chief Executive Officer (Johan Ishak),Creative Director of Strange Fruit Australia (Mr Phillip Gleeson), and Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre's Ybhg Dato’ Faridah Merican just to name a few, this ticketed event will focus on critical thinking, creative management and ways to create sustainability for creative practitioners to elevate the industry to the next level, while educating the participants on the existing state of affairs.

President of Korea Arts Management Services, Mr. Jung Jae-wal 

Borak Arts Series is one of the efforts initiated by MYPAA in collaboration with JKKN in its commitment to create a conducive eco-system for creative practitioners in Malaysia. Apart from the plenary sessions, highlights of the conference will include a Tea Networking Session to discuss specific issues of importance and a Networking Reception. 

For more information about the Borak Arts Series, the event itinerary, and tickets log on to http://mypaa.com.my/borak-arts/index.html

Kakiseni Festival: A Muster of Art Aficionados in Kuala Lumpur

Kakiseni Festival held a 10-day street art fiesta that took place at Pavilion KL from 22 April until 1 May, 2013. The festival stormed the capital with stage performances, street parades and art workshops by local and international talents. 

On the 28^th of April, a massive street parade from Pavilion KL that stretched along Jalan Bukit Bintang was led by great (and award-winning) drumming super groups like Hands Percussions. A mixture of local and international groups such as local Butoh trailblazers Nyoba Kan, international street performers such as the Argentinian fire-breathing acrobats En La Lona, clowns, massive theatre puppets from Taiwan were also featured in the parade.

Also held at the Kakiseni Festival was Kata Tindak Seni (Art Talk Action) which is a series of forums that featured performing arts professionals, experts, critics and art makers from Malaysia and within the region. It aimed to create discussions and actions that will raise the state of performing arts industry of Malaysia. The festival also presented international acts such as the two-person music-assisted noir epics of Joe Bone and Ben Roe, renowned choreographer Marcos Morau and also the hysterically funny Carlo Jacucci. More pictures and information at festival.kakiseni.com or check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mykakiseni

MyCreative Ventures and FashionValet Officially Announces ‘Fashion Pitch’

Last Friday, the press launch for Fashion Pitch was held at Sime Darby Convention Centre. Present at the press launch was a number of media including online fashion bloggers, MyCreative Ventures CEO, Mr. Johan Ishak, and FashionValet’s managing director, Fadzarudin Shah Anuar. At the press launch, MyCreative and FashionValet announced to the press about their latest endeavour that strives to increase the potential of the Malaysian fashion industry.

Also in attendance at the press launch, is the President of the Bumiputera’s Designer Association, Mr Bon Zainal, notable fashion designers such as Amir Luqman, and Fiziwoo.

Fashion Pitch is a new collaboration between MyCreative Ventures and FashionValet that aims to produce business opportunities to upcoming and existing designers and entrepreneurs. In Fashion Pitch, designers with unique and authentic design ideas are shortlisted, and then called to pitch their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges. Those who are interested to join may download the application form on MyCreative’s website at www.mycreative.com.my.