ASEAN designers rock the stage at BIFF&BIL 2007

One of BIFF&BIL 2007’s most anticipating show “Top of ASEAN” left audience breathless with the stunning collections from Thai and Malaysian designers.  The show gripped so much attention from local and foreign buyers that orders have been placed relentlessly right after the show.

The collections, which emphasize on unique contemporary design, has successfully drawn interests from niche markets in Europe, the Middle East, Japan and China.

The “Top of ASEAN” ended with the grand finale by “Phaothong” – a famous Thai contemporary brand by Phaothong Thongchua. He said that his collection has been specially made of 95% silk fabric from Bangsai Arts and Crafts. Each outfit is ready-to-wear and is designed for all occasion.

“Although silk initially has some limitation, Thai silk has been developed so much that the fabric is soft and can flow nicely when you walk. Buyers from the Middle East, Europe and Japan love the oriental concept of my design and I think we would gain long term customers from BIFF&BIL 2007” added Phaothong.

The “Top of ASEAN” is the presentation of outstanding fashion shows by Thailand and Malaysia’s avant-garde designers including Pusita, Baisri, Ban Phucum, Carven Ong Couture and Gallo.

Teresa Thien, the owner and designer of “Gallo” - a Malaysian’s major fashion brand, explained that her collection is inspired by sunlight and walk-in-the-park mood. Her collection looks fluttering and sexy with see-through and silk fabric, and shining with a lot of gold and silver. 

The other Malaysian brand that dazzles at the show is Carven Ong Couture, whose Spring/Summer 2008 collection is in classic and elegant style with pastel color, beads and sequin works. Brand’s co-founder, Carven Ong praised that Thai designers are talented and very creative.

“(The designers) have eyes for detailed work and with the support from the government, I am certain that Thailand can be the ASEAN hub for fashion. The market here is so much bigger than many of its neighboring countries,” he added.

Seok-Gyun Han, editorial writer from Korea’s fashion and textile magazine, GIO has expressed his impression toward this year’s fair, saying that he was amazed by Thai fashion and was very impressed that Thai government has put its full effort to support the fashion industry.

“In general, I think Thai designers have outstanding creativity and very internationalized. I think Thailand has great potential in exporting their fashion goods to the world,” he noted.

During the first three days of BIFF&BIL 2007, which is being held from now till August 26 at BITEC, Bangna, the number of visitors has reached 6,849, which is 18 percent increased from last year’s show. The top overseas visiting countries are Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

BIFF&BIL, the largest and finest international fashion trade show in ASEAN, is organized yearly by the Department of Export Promotion, under Ministry of Commerce, the Royal Thai Government.  Under this year’s theme: “Selected Fashion in Bangkok”, the organizer has solicited cooperation from ASEAN partners to fully develop the fair to truly represent the full potential of the ASEAN fashion apparel industry.  The fair, fully in line with the “ASEAN One” strategy, is a show of the region’s unity and the strength of its fashion industry.