Entrepreneur second’
Starmag chats with three past winners of the piala seri endon to see their progress.Masrina abdullah, 42, studied architecture at the university of nebraska in lincoln, united states, between 1983 and 1988.But she found architecture’s rigidity and formal training stifling so she spent many happy summers taking art classes instead.Masrina returned home to malaysia to work with several batik producers.An opportunity opened for her when she emerged winner of the inaugural piala seri endon in 2003.Yayasan budi penyayang kept its promise to support the winners in promoting batik to the world by bringing her on several overseas trade and fashion shows.It was at the milan fashion week in 2005 that masrina landed an opportunity to collaborate with italian designer roberta di camerino.Masrina’s gorgeous designs have international appeal but she says she is not ready to expand her market.
"Roberta loved the appeal of batik,"Relates masrina at her shop, ilham, at central market in kuala lumpur. "She was especially taken by the double layer technique i had created, which i believe gave me an edge during the piala seri endon competition. "With this technique, a piece of fabric looks as if it has two different layers.It’s like colouroncolour, it’s exciting, contemporary and unique! " "The lines had to be precise in creating a fishtail sort of flow to the dresses,"Explains masrina. "Roberta’s colours were conventional at first;I enhanced the finished design for her by introducing her to vibrant shades like vermillion and bold reds. "The italian press was taken by the vibrant collection when it was showcased on the catwalk.One paper put the dresses on its cover! "But it is not ralph lauren uk sale easy working with european designers,"Says masrina. "They demand extreme perfection not a single drop of wax is allowed to be out of place on the fabric but that’s impossible as i still do everything by hand. "Despite the success of the"Malaysian batik, italian inspiration"Collaboration, both parties did not go further than that. "I run a small, simple operation in gombak.I can’t produce for a bigger market as my production is limited.I still have a long way to go before i can succeed commercially.It’s not just about branding,"Explains masrina.While she is appreciative that the collaboration opened doors for her she had commercial enquiries and offers of new batik techniques for mass production she feels she isn’t readyat the end of the day,"I believe that creativity is one thing but running a business is another thing altogether. "My business plan is not yet in order.My husband and i have to do everything on our own, from managing the accounts books, to clerical work and marketing.I realised that i have so little time left to design. "Still masrina has made progress:Her creations were awarded the coveted unescoahpada(Bangkok)Seal of excellence for handicraft products in 2006.A line of scarves and shawls is being sold in the netherlands and negotiations are underway to expand into cyprus with a beachwear line.Masrina added that she does intend to create her own brand of batik fashion for the highend market one day when she is ready. "At present, i feel like my life is like a jigsaw puzzle where many pieces are not in place yet.Yayasan budi penyayang has been an enormous blessing in the way they actively promoted my work. "But i was put on a pedestal before i was ready.People have such high expectations from me.I am still an artist first, entrepreneur second.It’s hard to balance the two and i need time to develop both areas. "Nizam ambia, winner of the piala seri endon 2004 fashion design category is no stranger to the malaysian art scene.He dabbles in innovative art installations, painting and sculpture, and previously worked as an art lecturer.We have to understand the backgrounds of most of the batik designers.Many are just smalltime players nizam ambia
His paintings have made their way into the private collections of the late datin paduka seri endon mahmood, the raja permaisuri agong, the hilton hotel kuala lumpur and actress datin seri tiara jacqueline. "I’d like to combine all the mediums of art so my batik are art pieces,"Says nizam.The sri menanti, serembanborn artist wowed judges at the competition with his signature artinspired, vibrantly handpainted batik he calls as"Blatik".Last year, his blatik was showcased as part of the batik guild uk’s 20th anniversary show in england.The collection made its way into the williamson art gallery and museum, worthing museum and art gallery in east sussex, and is currently displayed at the prestigious bath museum of eastern art.Ralph lauren also bought nizam’s work to keep as part of the company’s textile resource base. "The competition is a way for us to safeguard our culture and promote it on an international platform,"He says. "Batik can be promoted as collectors’ pieces for the market.But it also has to be innovative to cater to the global market.The technicalities of business are very different to that of being an artist.To go onto the international level requires a lot of investment. "We have to understand the backgrounds of most of the batik designers.Many are just smalltime players.It’s their passion for batik as an art that has propelled them forward.Running a business is a different area altogether. "Polo ralph lauren gave me an order for 1, 000 pieces of blatik textile.But i couldn’t accept it as i don’t have the financial means of doing so.I’d need a lot of money to expand my work.I don’t even have anything to showcase at galeri seri endon! "To nizam, the branding of malaysian batik is vital in raising the importance of the art. "I believe batik fashion can sell like haute couture, but first it needs an identity. "Karl ng clinched the second prize in the 2005 piala seri endon fashion design category and has been on a roll since. "I have had invitations to do fashion shows and recommendations to showcase my designs in galleries,"He says happily, adding that he had, with Nizam and other designers, wrapped up a recent charity fashion show for the Cheshire Home themed Art from the Heart attended by the Queen at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.Ng, 34, started off in the marketing and visual merchandising departments of robinson’s in singapore and big fashion companies, including club 21, where he promoted international brands such as armani, dkny and calvin klein.Karl ng is eager for more exposure and wants to be ready when oportunity knocks.
In 2003, he held his first solo exhibition of 60 batik paintings at the nn gallery in ampang themed"The new textile design".From there, he ventured into fashion designing.He took up a parttime course in batik printing from the malaysian institute of art(Mia)In kuala lumpur to explore what he’d discovered was a fascinating, evolving art form. "My signature style is fusion and contemporary and i employ lots of earth tones and unique shades,"The klborn designer explains earnestly.Ng’s winning design that captured the judges’ hearts in the 2005 competition was themed"The glory of flora".The national flower of the hibiscus was his inspiration and ng added a twist to it with a"Firecracker 3d"Effect. "I don’t believe in the mentality of not being prepared for bigger things,"He says thoughtfully. "Opportunities can come at any time and we must be ready.The competition has been good exposure for us who are independent designers.My designs are now displayed at the beautiful galeri seri endon. "I am eagerly waiting for september when my designs will be showcased alongside the works of other malaysian designers like jonathan cheng and khoon hooi in a fashion lot at the gardens in midvalley, kuala lumpur. "What i could do with is more exposure to the overseas market through international trade shows, fashion fairs or tourism events.I believe i can bring my batik designs overseas.It will be great if yayasan budi penyayang could bring us along to high profile events such as the hong ralphlaurenpoloshirts kong or australian fashion week.Related stories:
Related Links:
http://www.zoomlearning.co.uk/michael-kors-bags-cheap-long-been-known-to-support.html
http://louboutinhoeal.cd.st/louboutin-chaussures-wall-full-of-advertising-a106858408
http://louboutinhoeal.cd.st/louboutin-online-shop-ended-in-a-heated-argument-a106858304
Starmag chats with three past winners of the piala seri endon to see their progress.Masrina abdullah, 42, studied architecture at the university of nebraska in lincoln, united states, between 1983 and 1988.But she found architecture’s rigidity and formal training stifling so she spent many happy summers taking art classes instead.Masrina returned home to malaysia to work with several batik producers.An opportunity opened for her when she emerged winner of the inaugural piala seri endon in 2003.Yayasan budi penyayang kept its promise to support the winners in promoting batik to the world by bringing her on several overseas trade and fashion shows.It was at the milan fashion week in 2005 that masrina landed an opportunity to collaborate with italian designer roberta di camerino.Masrina’s gorgeous designs have international appeal but she says she is not ready to expand her market.
"Roberta loved the appeal of batik,"Relates masrina at her shop, ilham, at central market in kuala lumpur. "She was especially taken by the double layer technique i had created, which i believe gave me an edge during the piala seri endon competition. "With this technique, a piece of fabric looks as if it has two different layers.It’s like colouroncolour, it’s exciting, contemporary and unique! " "The lines had to be precise in creating a fishtail sort of flow to the dresses,"Explains masrina. "Roberta’s colours were conventional at first;I enhanced the finished design for her by introducing her to vibrant shades like vermillion and bold reds. "The italian press was taken by the vibrant collection when it was showcased on the catwalk.One paper put the dresses on its cover! "But it is not ralph lauren uk sale easy working with european designers,"Says masrina. "They demand extreme perfection not a single drop of wax is allowed to be out of place on the fabric but that’s impossible as i still do everything by hand. "Despite the success of the"Malaysian batik, italian inspiration"Collaboration, both parties did not go further than that. "I run a small, simple operation in gombak.I can’t produce for a bigger market as my production is limited.I still have a long way to go before i can succeed commercially.It’s not just about branding,"Explains masrina.While she is appreciative that the collaboration opened doors for her she had commercial enquiries and offers of new batik techniques for mass production she feels she isn’t readyat the end of the day,"I believe that creativity is one thing but running a business is another thing altogether. "My business plan is not yet in order.My husband and i have to do everything on our own, from managing the accounts books, to clerical work and marketing.I realised that i have so little time left to design. "Still masrina has made progress:Her creations were awarded the coveted unescoahpada(Bangkok)Seal of excellence for handicraft products in 2006.A line of scarves and shawls is being sold in the netherlands and negotiations are underway to expand into cyprus with a beachwear line.Masrina added that she does intend to create her own brand of batik fashion for the highend market one day when she is ready. "At present, i feel like my life is like a jigsaw puzzle where many pieces are not in place yet.Yayasan budi penyayang has been an enormous blessing in the way they actively promoted my work. "But i was put on a pedestal before i was ready.People have such high expectations from me.I am still an artist first, entrepreneur second.It’s hard to balance the two and i need time to develop both areas. "Nizam ambia, winner of the piala seri endon 2004 fashion design category is no stranger to the malaysian art scene.He dabbles in innovative art installations, painting and sculpture, and previously worked as an art lecturer.We have to understand the backgrounds of most of the batik designers.Many are just smalltime players nizam ambia
His paintings have made their way into the private collections of the late datin paduka seri endon mahmood, the raja permaisuri agong, the hilton hotel kuala lumpur and actress datin seri tiara jacqueline. "I’d like to combine all the mediums of art so my batik are art pieces,"Says nizam.The sri menanti, serembanborn artist wowed judges at the competition with his signature artinspired, vibrantly handpainted batik he calls as"Blatik".Last year, his blatik was showcased as part of the batik guild uk’s 20th anniversary show in england.The collection made its way into the williamson art gallery and museum, worthing museum and art gallery in east sussex, and is currently displayed at the prestigious bath museum of eastern art.Ralph lauren also bought nizam’s work to keep as part of the company’s textile resource base. "The competition is a way for us to safeguard our culture and promote it on an international platform,"He says. "Batik can be promoted as collectors’ pieces for the market.But it also has to be innovative to cater to the global market.The technicalities of business are very different to that of being an artist.To go onto the international level requires a lot of investment. "We have to understand the backgrounds of most of the batik designers.Many are just smalltime players.It’s their passion for batik as an art that has propelled them forward.Running a business is a different area altogether. "Polo ralph lauren gave me an order for 1, 000 pieces of blatik textile.But i couldn’t accept it as i don’t have the financial means of doing so.I’d need a lot of money to expand my work.I don’t even have anything to showcase at galeri seri endon! "To nizam, the branding of malaysian batik is vital in raising the importance of the art. "I believe batik fashion can sell like haute couture, but first it needs an identity. "Karl ng clinched the second prize in the 2005 piala seri endon fashion design category and has been on a roll since. "I have had invitations to do fashion shows and recommendations to showcase my designs in galleries,"He says happily, adding that he had, with Nizam and other designers, wrapped up a recent charity fashion show for the Cheshire Home themed Art from the Heart attended by the Queen at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.Ng, 34, started off in the marketing and visual merchandising departments of robinson’s in singapore and big fashion companies, including club 21, where he promoted international brands such as armani, dkny and calvin klein.Karl ng is eager for more exposure and wants to be ready when oportunity knocks.
In 2003, he held his first solo exhibition of 60 batik paintings at the nn gallery in ampang themed"The new textile design".From there, he ventured into fashion designing.He took up a parttime course in batik printing from the malaysian institute of art(Mia)In kuala lumpur to explore what he’d discovered was a fascinating, evolving art form. "My signature style is fusion and contemporary and i employ lots of earth tones and unique shades,"The klborn designer explains earnestly.Ng’s winning design that captured the judges’ hearts in the 2005 competition was themed"The glory of flora".The national flower of the hibiscus was his inspiration and ng added a twist to it with a"Firecracker 3d"Effect. "I don’t believe in the mentality of not being prepared for bigger things,"He says thoughtfully. "Opportunities can come at any time and we must be ready.The competition has been good exposure for us who are independent designers.My designs are now displayed at the beautiful galeri seri endon. "I am eagerly waiting for september when my designs will be showcased alongside the works of other malaysian designers like jonathan cheng and khoon hooi in a fashion lot at the gardens in midvalley, kuala lumpur. "What i could do with is more exposure to the overseas market through international trade shows, fashion fairs or tourism events.I believe i can bring my batik designs overseas.It will be great if yayasan budi penyayang could bring us along to high profile events such as the hong ralphlaurenpoloshirts kong or australian fashion week.Related stories:
Related Links:
http://www.zoomlearning.co.uk/michael-kors-bags-cheap-long-been-known-to-support.html
http://louboutinhoeal.cd.st/louboutin-chaussures-wall-full-of-advertising-a106858408
http://louboutinhoeal.cd.st/louboutin-online-shop-ended-in-a-heated-argument-a106858304
コメント