Zang Toi Presents Stunning Spring Colours, Designs In New York

By Manik Mehta NEW YORK, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysian fashion icon Zang Toi, often described as Malaysia's 'best-known face' in the United States, presented stunning designs and colours Sunday evening before a packed auditorium at the Lincoln Centre where the New York Fashion Week is being held. Presenting his Spring 2013 collection, Zang Toi's new haute couture creations were inspired by the romantic French Riviera which he had recently visited. The collection included romantic pops of icy pastels, including pink, lilac and yellow. In his foreword, Zang Toi extolled the beauty of the sunrise on the Cote D’Azur, creating a soft sparkle on the waves. He played the sound of birds chirping amid the surge of artificially-created mist. Then the first male model walked in wearing men's ivory silk Duponi trousers and sporting a velvet suspender. He was followed by a tall, graceful blonde female model attired in ivory silk gazar cloud mini dress with hand-beaded wild flowers adorning the collar. This was followed in quick succession by other models displaying Zang Toi's creations along the catwalk to a thunderous applause from the audience, which included many luminaries such as Hollywood actress Kirstie Alley who once paraded a stunning blue gown created by Zang Toi. A conspicuous sight at the fashion show was the return of high-heeled women's shoes and sandals which were also worn by all of Zang Toi's models. The tour de force of the show was the so-called cloud of ivory tulle shrug encrusted with hand-beaded blossom with a black silk gazar front-slit strapless gown lined with sprinkled of ivory sequins and beads. The 20-minute presentation was rewarded with a standing ovation as Zang Toi walked into the auditorium at the end of the show. However, not satisfied with merely seeing him, many of his admirers along with journalists and photographers rushed to the backstage room where Zang Toi had been directing the show's proceedings. Zang Toi was mobbed by his fans, including some Malaysians, who wanted to take a picture with him. Earlier, in a conversation with Bernama when he gave a sneak preview of his show, Zang Toi emphasised that he would not leave anything for the last minute. His presentation, he said, had to go with clockwork precision. Zang Toi revealed that he was expanding his brand to include shoes, fine jewellery and cosmetics. Indeed, he has launched a new make-up line with Amazing Cosmetics at the New York Fashion Week. Another aspect of Zang Toi's business also has some financial experts confounded. While many other haute couture designers are facing the impact of the recession on their business, Zang Toi had posted profits until July compared to the year-earlier period. His charity work for the less fortunate has endeared him to many people, and in the process provided good visibility to Malaysia in the United States. -- BERNAMA