Sarawakian Kenny Yeo led a stunning presentation at China Fashion Week 2024, showcasing ethnic-inspired fashion with vibrant tie-dye textiles and bold accessories. The Malaysian team’s unique blend of heritage and modern fashion received rave reviews and a future invitation for 2025.
Cultural heritage shines at China Fashion Week
Sarawakian Kenny Yeo was the Arts Director for a stunning presentation by the Malaysian team, selected by the Malaysian International Vocational Association (MIVA), to represent at China Fashion Week 2024.
The ethnic-inspired presentation, with a strong emphasis on bold colour tones in fashion outfits, hair, and makeup, along with statement-making accessories, stunned the audience and was highlighted in fashion news in China.
In Mandarin, it described the ingenious creators drawing inspiration from everything with their keen observation. When inspiration and art collide, unique and exquisite works are created, shining on the stage. The presentation was inspiring, had a perfect combination, and drew soul from their roots of heritage and culture.
When interviewed, Kenny said, “The overall concept was based on the culture and heritage of the indigenous tribes from the southwestern region of Borneo. Our models from China wore rings on their necks, mirroring those of the ring ladies from a sub-tribe of the Bidayuhs who wore neck rings from an early age. As we locals know, this tribe from Sarawak also wears ‘long foot rings’, which are tightly put on the female ankles or wrists. As they grow up, rings are added until a series of rings is formed. Today, this practice has ceased.”
Kenny, who is from Kuching, made all the outfits for the show and even produced the colourful textiles with his first attempt in tie-dye, a resist-dyeing technique that often uses bright, saturated colours and bold patterns, popular in the ’60s and ’70s.
He also described the stage design as exquisite, with amazing lighting and visual effects that helped tremendously with their theme, “The Last Tribe”.
Watching their video on YouTube, one can see that the music chosen had a strong folk style, and the team had cleverly styled the fashion elements in a very innovative way so that each look presented was unique and captivating.
Indeed, the reviews have been positive about their new interpretation of modern fashion that is ethnically inspired. They used woven Pua Kumbu and applied the favoured ethnic colours not only in clothing but also to the hair and makeup.
As to how Kenny and his team were invited, he explained that the invitation came from China Fashion Week, which is focused on the beauty industry.
The Malaysia International Vocational Association (MIVA) was invited to this year’s beauty week event to create a show.
MIVA is an international organisation that aims to promote beauty, hairdressing, makeup, nail art, embroidery, stage performance, education, communication, training, development, and innovation.
Led by its President, Dato Johnson Lim, and Vice President, Dr Alice Liew, the team from Malaysia included three Sarawakians and one member each from Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
Kenny, also a renowned makeup artist, was appointed the Arts Director of this showcase, and he conceptualised and designed all the image elements for a dazzling show that astounded the audience.
Sarawakians Daniel Ling and Andy Liew from Crowning Glory Salon and Id Hair Salon created the hair designs for the show.
Sanyu Chan from Kuala Lumpur and Angel Kwat from Penang, both makeup artists for over 20 years, along with Kenny himself, did the makeup for the models.
It is good to see a new fashion designer in the making, although Kenny claims he is no designer but just a makeup artist who made the collection of outfits with touches of Sarawak indigenous culture and heritage, styling it into a unique interpretation of modern fashion.
“With incomparable pride and enthusiasm, we presented to the world our masterpiece, ‘The Last Tribe’. It is hoped that this work will convey to the audience there, as well as to those around the world, the breadth and depth of the unique charm of Sarawak, along with its culture and heritage.”
MIVA has already received an invitation for China Fashion Week 2025, and Kenny is looking forward to being there!
