Bangkok Fashion Week Hits The Runway

[george]

Bangkok fashion week hits the runway

BANGKOK: -- The first-ever Bangkok Fashion Week kicked off last night with a trip on a slippery catwalk. Wearing a Victorian-style evening gown, the finale model Cindy Burbridge tripped in front of a myriad of flashing photographers, but the model’s professionalism ensured that she dealt with the tumble in style.

Her show of attitude delighted the crowd of fashionistas at the opening Viva Victorian 2005 show featuring designs by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.

HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha was in attendance to support her younger sister, presenting with her a bouquet of flowers after the finale as the audience screamed its approval. Also in attendance were Industry Minister Suriya Jung-rungreangkit who gave the opening speech and Government Spokes-man Surapong Suebwonglee.

The event was held in a white inflatable dome built on Lake Benjakitti in the compound of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

Though the Viva Victorian title suggested glamorous chiffons and laces, the models strutted out in simple outfits studded with subtle touches of glamour.

The Spring/Summer collection was presented by 37 male and female models in designs fashioned from Thai silk and leather. Among those strutting the catwalk were leading models Methinee “Lukked” Kingpayome, Yossawadee Hassadeewichit and Apasiri Nitipon, all handpicked by HRH the Princess herself.

The simplicity evolved into more haute couture mode as the show developed, backed by an exuberant musical score.

After the show the princess took to the stage wearing a long black evening gown and waving both hands to the applauding crowd in a spirited salute to the launch of Thailand’s very first Bangkok Fashion Week.

It was a rousing opening to an event which will feature a variety of showcases and more than 30 designers’ collections and will run until Sunday.

The event will also feature trade fairs to promote textiles and jewellery as Thailand prepares to take its position on the worldwide stage for its haute couture.

--The Nation 2005-08-18

[Jai Dee]

Bangkok Fashion Week 2005

(16/08/2005)

Bangkok Fashion Week is considered to be Thailand's first major fashion event that is of international standard. It is one of 11 projects launched under a national campaign named “Bangkok Fashion City,” designed to enhance the international image and credibility of Thai brands in fashion products and promote their sale in markets around the world.

Bangkok Fashion Week is seen to be an integral platform for the development of Bangkok's status as a regional fashion hub. The event moves to the rhythms of the international fashion scene and seasons and will be held twice a year, concurrently with other international fashion weeks held in other cosmopolitan capitals around the world. The first event will be held on 17-21 August 2005 and the second on 15-19 March 2006.

Venues are at the Fashion Dome in Benjakitti Park and the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.

Staged over a period of five consecutive days per time, Bangkok Fashion Week brings together two key activities: the Trade Fair & Designers Showcase, and a series of Catwalk Shows organised by local and international designers, plus other additional activities, such as the Jewellery Gala Night and the After Party.

Chairman Ponlawat Sookcharus together with Managing Director Anna Limpichart of AV Projects Co.,Ltd., the driving force behind Bangkok Fashion Week, explained that the aim of Bangkok Fashion Week is to upgrade the image of the Thai fashion industry in all three sectors, namely the textile and garment industry, the gems and jewellery industry, and the shoe and leatherwear industry to be the leader in the region.

He added that the Bangkok Fashion Week project aims to promote Thai products and give them a brand identity that will allow them to gain acceptance in the world market. That should allow Thailand to become the centre of quality fashion trade in the region. The first Bangkok Fashion Week being held this August will be the proclamation that Thailand is ready to propel itself into the world stage in terms of fashion.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Industry, Bangkok Fashion Week is being hosted with the total support and cooperation of the government as well as private sector industry associations and key players representing all three fashion industry sectors -- textile and garment, gems and jewellery, and leather goods. These include the Thai Leathergoods Association, Thai Garment Manufacturers Association, Gem and Jewelry Industry Club.

Bangkok Fashion Week strives to offer brands, designers, and traders of Thai fashion products direct, worldwide exposure to their target markets. Related businesses are likewise eager to take part in celebrating the launch of Bangkok Fashion City in tandem with promoting Thailand's tourism industry.

Source: Foreign Office - The Government Public Relations Department

[george]

Fashions fit for a PRINCESS Fashions fit for a PRINCESS

A colourfully funky, yet classic collection by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana inaugurates Bangkok Fashion Week 2005

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's first international fashion event of Bangkok Fashion Week 2005, was launched with colour and drama on Wednesday August 17, with the unveiling of the collection by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, the daughter of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Despite the last-minute transfer of the chairman of the Bangkok Fashion City Board, Dr Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the delayed start, the slippery catwalk _ supermodel Sirinya ``Cindy'' Burbridge tripped, but was luckily cushioned in her fall by the layers of her ruffled petticoat under the finale gown _ the highly anticipated event got off to a glamorous start.

The newly created venue, the lake-top Fashion Dome at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, provided a perfect location for the show. Chandeliers and portrait frames hanging above the circular stage created a period mood of oppulent luxury.

The Princess' collection, named ``Viva Victorian 2005'', brought out the classical touches of the Victorian era, but with definite references to modern punk and contemporary chic.

According to the designer, who is currently a first-year student in the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts at Chulalongkorn University, the concept was inspired by the movie Gangs of New York set in the late 1800s.

``The elements of drama and costumes in the movie inspired me to adapt them to my own collection.''

Her Royal Highness was also inspired by different art works; pictures, old paintings, as well as Louis XIV motifs.

As the Princess indicated, the collection targetted maturing teens on the verge of adulthood, very much her own age group. A total of 38 outfits were presented by tall and leggy models, handpicked by the Princess herself. They strutted onto the stage in their exaggerated make-up, overblown Pompadour hairdos and pastel stiletto boots, displaying the attitude of the outfits with aplumb.

Main fabrics were denim and Thai silk from the Support Foundation. ``I want to prove that our locally woven fabrics are beautiful and more versatile than we imagine them to be,'' she explained. ``I want to promote the idea of Thai silk as being positive rather than negative, since many people see Thai silk as old-fashioned. I want them to feel good about Thai fabrics, and use them more, especially among Thai teens.''

From the Thai silk patchwork trimming on men's jeans, with attached painted denim ``apron'' and matching patchwork lining, or the heavily pleated wide-legged pants in vibrant orange silk with cheeky embroidery on the behind, to the blue and orange hot pants set and the long bustle skirt worn with tight tank top, it was Thai silk from a young perspective.

The extremely vibrant colours brought the entire collection to life; there was a lot of orange, lime green, peacock blue, aquamarine, often paired in contrasting shades for a youthful, yet glamorous look.

The outfits involved a lot of detail in the decoratif elements; paintwork applied to the outfits, patchwork, collage, crochet, appliques, sequins and embroidery (often in strategic and cheeky positions). Cutouts added to the sex appeal, and there was a lot of bare flesh to be seen; open necklines, cutout waists and backs and tube tops.

Frills and fringes provided the element of Victorian elegance.

Heavy chunky jewellery enhanced the glam-punk look, with the jewellery including peacock inspired themes (to reflect the brand logo). There was even a necklace and earring set made of shuttlecocks to incorporate the royal designer's favourite sport.

In the second half of the show, a chandelier and a picture frame were lowered to ``frame'' each model as she moved to the front of the catwalk, and became props for them to pose with.

Princess Sirivannavari has chosen the peacock emblem to represent her collection. ``I decided on the peacock because it is a beautiful and stately animal,'' she explained. ``Especially when it fans its tail; it is so colourful and charming.''

Colourful and charming indeed sum up the Viva Victorian 2005 collection by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana. She has successfully proven herself as a designer with strong creative potential, fearless in her expression, and meticulous in her attention to detail.

The beaming and exuberant Princess came up on stage to take the curtain call at the end of the show. Dressed in a simple black gown with a wide skirt, she acknowledged the applause from the appreciative audience, basking in the success of the show after months of hard work.

HRH Princess Bhajrakitiyabha, who came out to lend her moral support, presented a bouquet of flowers to the young royal designer, and promptly received a bear hug from her elated sister.

--Bangkok Post 2005-08-20