Thursday March 12, 2009
Spring is in the air
By S. INDRAMALAR
Khoon Hooi turns to Mother Nature to lift the gloom of the economic crisis.
THE chips may be down but while economists try to figure out how badly and how long the world will reel from the economic downturn, fashion designers are coming out with lines that may lift the gloom in time for the blooms of spring.
Round neck top with sheer bishop sleeves and flower details paired with capri pants. Among them is local designer Khoon Hooi who feels fashion can be uplifting, particularly spring fashion.
“The world economic crisis does have an effect on people’s emotions and this will in turn affect how they dress. My Spring/Summer 2009 collection features light pastels and bright colours, infused with playful effects that will hopefully lighten the spirit of the wearer,” he says.
As is the signature of the Khoon Hooi label, the new collection is very feminine and very flirty – definitely for the woman who is not afraid of being girlie and exposing a little vulnerability.
Simple but eye-catching black dress with an elegant tan lace neckline. This season offers a mix of bright hues – lime green, canary yellow and fuchsia pink with muted pastels like grey in a collection of mostly separates. The pieces are inventive but uncomplicated, classy but very simple.
Flowy blouses with textured detail, girlish skirts and flirty dresses that skim the knee, playful shorts that spell fun and soft blouses are among the pieces that make up the collection.
And as always, the designer is careful not to challenge Malaysian sensitivities, realising that Malaysian women, while stylish and fashion conscious, are still largely conservative.
Designing for a spring/summer collection is always a thrill, says the designer who has shown his work alongside international designers like Vivienne Tam and Anna Sui to much acclaim in New York.
“Spring is my favourite season because it’s more colourful and playful, and this is more my style,” says Khoon Hooi.
Inspiration for the collection came from Mother Earth.
Flower details adorn this dress “I drew inspiration from the textures, patterns, twines and shapes of nature. I decided to go with what Mother Nature has to offer as I do like to work with natural lines, fibres, silhouettes and shapes,” he explains, adding “I am still evolving as a designer ... and I hope that by constant practice I can build my brand further.”
Stand-out pieces in the collection include a sleeveless fuchsia pink textured top that gives the impression of soft blooms coming out of it, a beautiful white dress with lace detail on top and fine pleating on its skirt, a simple black dress with an elegant tan lace neckline and a playful pair of black flare shorts worn with an asymmetrical white top with a modern bow detail.
The designer is pleased to report that his label is now available in the United States, Kuwait, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia and he hopes to add Japan on the list soon.
New lines are also in the pipeline.
“I hope to build the brand by maybe introducing a menswear line and accessories of my own in the near future.”
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