(Third from left) Chia, Li, Choo, Sin and Cordero dressed in Sin’s songket designs.
JEWELLERY brand Rafflesia held its 2023 gala dinner in grand style in Kuala Lumpur with a host of VIPs, ambassadors, designers and celebrities.
The guests included Datuk Jimmy Choo and supermodel Amber Chia.
Rafflesia is a renowned brand that specialises in pearls, but the brand has diversified into apparel and chocolates.
The highlight of the evening was a fashion show that showcased Rafflesia in-house designer Peony Sin’s second womenswear songket collection.
Sin graduated from London College of Fashion and is Choo’s mentee.
She debuted in 2019 with a handwoven songket collection known as Rafflesia Royal Songket at the Central Asian Designers Gala held in Kuala Lumpur.
She launched Rafflesia Qipao in 2021 and Rafflesia Glam Rock Blazers (menswear) in 2022.
Her core material in all her collections so far is songket, as her goal is to promote Malaysia’s handwoven fabric to a global audience.
Models wearing Sin’s womenswear collection.
Celebrities who wore Sin’s designs at the dinner included Choo, Nusret (Turkey), Jonathan Yeo (UK), Weibird (Taiwan), pH-1 (South Korea), Michelle Yim, Maria Cordero and Li Lai Ha from Hong Kong, Manny Pacquiao and Jinkee Pacquiao from the Philippines, Paris Intarakomalyasut, Praewa Suthamphong and Jennis Oprasert from Thailand. Also present was Star Media Group advisor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
Sin said she was proud to use the songket as the main fabric for her designs.
“As a Malaysian, I feel that songket can be promoted in contemporary designs.
“I have also noticed that younger designers have given our batik a fresher look and they have become popular.
“Using the songket for jackets, for example, gives a classier look for men,’’ she said.
To end the evening, Cordero and Li brought the house down with their repertoire of songs including TVB theme songs from the 1980s.
