At Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week, designer Jimmy Lim wowed the audience with a creative ready-to-wear collection featuring crinkled fabrics and vibrant colours.
Vibrant colours and the ultimate Humanoid
Transforming materials into stunning runway fashion requires extensive research and time-consuming efforts. The closing day of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2024 featured an astounding show that kept the audience in suspense.
A Jimmy Lim show is not just a fashion event; it combines fashion, performance, and charisma!
Jimmy, a designer who won an award in New Zealand early in his career, which included a trip to London Fashion Week, eventually returned home to Malaysia. In 1999, with just RM300, he produced his first collection — a feat that makes one wonder how it was possible, but he succeeded.
The sprightly designer aimed to create lasting memories for everyone and delivered yet another surprise at this year’s KLFW. Last year, we saw his collection with an “Alien” theme.
This year, his show on August 4 (Sunday) at 6pm, KLCC Esplanade, was divided into two parts.
The orchestrated showcase began with Part One, which focused on ready-to-wear (RTW).
Jimmy explained, “This collection was inspired by my last year’s collection, LISM S/S ’24. It is a follow-up on the concept of future humans. I wanted to do something I have never done before for the JL label — COLOURS!”
It was particularly challenging for him, as he is colour-blind.
He applied the crush theory, inspired by the crumpled paper experiment, using various colours instead of black. On the runway, the models wore fashion pieces that were lightweight and naturally crinkled.
Storage is easy — simply roll the fabric into a bag, and the best part is that you do not have to worry about ironing. The wrinkles return even after washing, and air drying is sufficient. Just twist and roll the fabric to maintain the crinkled or wrinkled look you prefer!
He noted that there was no sketching involved; the collection simply evolved with the flow. With a very committed team and a great collaboration with visual artist Peter Phang, who produced the stunning lighting and visuals to complement the soundtracks as the models strutted on the runway, the production was outstanding.
Sarawakian Kelly Ng from Kuching, who went from being a quantity surveying graduate to an international model in Asia, was also spotted on the runway.
Part 2: The Humanoid
This showcase was inspired by Jimmy’s first independent show in 1999, held in Auckland, New Zealand.
He wanted to present to Malaysia what he had done in his first transformative collection but in a more condensed and refined version, which he named Version 2.0. The showcase featured Amber Chia, the Malaysian actress, brand ambassador, and renowned model, as the ultimate Humanoid.
“The transformational piece on Amber took a long time to ‘build’, from designing it to constructing this very technical piece. I started thinking about it right after my 2023 show at KLFW.
“Amber’s piece was inspired by my first independent show in Auckland, New Zealand, where I transformed all my garments during the show, right in front of the audience,” said Jimmy, adding that he wanted an improved version and to focus on just one model.
Amber has maintained her prominence as a model in the fashion, and she continues to be a showstopper, making her the perfect choice as the Ultimate Humanoid.
The designer, along with two other team members dressed in white coats like scientists in a research lab, appeared on stage to transform Amber after her first appearance on the runway in a silk taffeta outfit. This fabric, when crumpled, gives dimension.
The most amazing part was her second catwalk appearance. When the lights came on, the additional pieces affixed to her body glowed as she moved, creating a stunning effect in the dark. The lights and forms drew the loudest applause of the evening.
Jimmy’s flagship store, Dream Makers Club by Jimmy Lim, is located at B2-1-1 Publika Shopping Gallery, No 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, with stockists in Johor Bahru at Bev C Multi Label Store and Melaka at E Collection. Online, you can find his collections on Facebook Live under “RUNWAY REBELS” and his official website, www.jimmylim.com (coming back online in September). Follow him on Instagram @jimmylimofficial. Embracing the future, Jimmy is among the first to offer his modern eccentric ready-to-wear collection on Lazada, allowing consumers to purchase directly after livestreaming his show online.
