Sarawakian fashion designers Dianti Mahli and Nurul Supardi, known as DIAN & NORULE, recently won two fashion awards at a Cultural Fashion Festival held at the University of Malaya’s main library. Pictured are their models in their rafflesia-inspired outfits.
Sarawakian designers bag fashion awards in KL
Two Sarawakian fashion designers from Kuching were astounded to be named winners of two fashion awards recently.
Earlier on, the duo had expected nothing and was prepared to return home to Kuching immediately after their show at the Cultural Fashion Festival held recently by ‘Precious of Malaysia’ in collaboration with the University of Malaya.
Dianti Mahli and Nurul Supardi were glad they stayed for the results, which were announced the next day.
The audience, which included mostly students of the university, fashion designers, and invited guests, was seen applauding the duo, who goes by the name of DIAN & NORULE.
Their avant-garde fashion stood out and made quite an impression on the runway at the University’s Main Library. The vibrant colours and bold prints of their models as they emerged from behind bookshelves brightened up the library. For a brief moment, your thoughts shift from text words to reactions.
There were students who seemed to be unbothered as they buried their heads in books in the library, but when models dressed in colourful apparel walked by, some raised their heads and gasped.
There were three judges, including Francis Yip, a fashionista and award-winning writer who exclaimed “beautiful” as the Sarawak team emerged.
The other judges, GIATMARA and our writer, who is also a fashion choreographer, chose to remain silent and simply exchanged glances.
The fashion show featured impressive cultural wears, casual and elegant wears from various designers, and then there was DIAN & NORULE’s Sarawak flora and fauna splashed in colours across fashion that afternoon.
I just had to ask them how they felt about winning two awards — one is the Cultural Fashion Week Awards, and the other the Borneo Rising Fashion Designer Award.
“I was speechless and almost cried, but I had to stay strong on stage. Even now, I can’t believe we’ve won. I thought we had a 50/50 chance of winning after seeing the other designers’ presentations,” Dianti said.
Nurul, on the other hand, was more confident.
“I always want to aim high, and my goal in this competition is to win,” she said.
She has been learning tailoring since September in order to improve the quality of her products.
Despite having been in the fashion industry (middle and upper range) for five years, this is their first attempt to participate in a fashion competition, and in the nation’s capital.
Entering and winning awards can boost the credibility of your company, its brand, and its products. It also raises your company’s visibility.
Both are grateful that Farel Mikhail, the President of the ‘Precious of Malaysia’ event, encouraged them to fly to Kuala Lumpur to participate.
The ‘Colors of Borneo’ by DIAN & NORULE was a collaboration between these two Sarawakian friends.
Their inspiration came from Borneo’s well-known flora and fauna.
Rafflesia, the world’s rarest and largest flower, which grows in our region; the magnificent Rhinoceros hornbill is an important bird and cultural symbol for Sarawakians; and the carnivorous pitcher plant, Nepenthes bicalcarata, which grows in Borneo’s nutrient-poor peat swamp forests.
DIAN & NORULE associates the colours with energy, love, and being a strong Bornean woman. Their collection—which included jumpsuits, blazers and jackets, kimonos and pants—won over the jury and the enthusiastic audience.
Supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts, FM and UM Group, the event was a jam-packed immersive cultural experience from December 5-11, 2022 at University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, with a myriad of activities that was inclusive of the cultural fashion shows, carnival activities and food trucks, a textile exhibition by Museum Textile Negara, traditional performances, booths to shop from, and more.
Dr Mohd Faizal Hamzah, Co-Chairman of Precious of Malaysia, also commented that the libraries have now shifted its functions to not only serve as a source of knowledge, but they need to be transposed to bring to life the concept of an open library culture.
