PARIS-BASED MSIAN DESIGNER WANTS TO PROMOTE ISLAMIC FASHION

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- Making Paris a base for Islamic fashion?
Well, this proposition came from an established Malaysian designer there,
who wants to promote the simple idea that has yet to be exploited.

Ng Swee Kuang, 57, the man behind the "Ornel Soie" brand has called on
Malaysian designers to work with him, using his Paris-based boutique
and workshop as a reference.

This is in addition to them riding on Ng's experience and be trained to
incorporate European cutting into Islamic Fashion.

"We can work this out together. This is the kind of fashion that does not
exist around here. The Europeans are highly fashionable but they do not know the
requirements of Islamic fashion," he told Bernama in a recent phone call from
Paris.

Ng has been based in Paris for more than 20 years.His company manufactures
its own apparel at its rue d'Aboukir factory which is equipped with modern
technology in pattern making.

His brand of "Ornel Soie" clothing commands top clients, ranging from the
boutiques of Marie Claire in Zurich, Gerard Brusse in Holland, Louis Ferraud in
Paris, Rosario Miner Maecet in Barcelona, Laura B in London, St Germaine in
Berlin, Louis Blanc in Tokyo, Jenny Vo in Kobe and Moga in New York.

Others include Itokin in Japan, Cine International Co Ltd in Taiwan,
Al-Akhawain Co Ltd in Saudi Arabia, Krokus in Ukraine, Demtzheu Roman in
Russia and Nelly Alexander Fashion in Canada.

"I am a Chinese but there is no barrier in fashion. I can also work with
Malay designers who are more knowledgeable to develop Malaysian Islamic
fashion," Ng said.

His Islamic fashion idea has received the support of Olga Saurat, the
national president of the Society of Best Craftmen of France, who wants him to
turn it into a couture fashion, a high class Islamic wear.

He said it was Saurat who had wanted him to transfer his technical know-how
to Malaysians, saying he was still young, to promote his country.

"A Paris fashion house will serve as an international showcase and for
media publicity in promoting the Islamic Fashion creations by Malaysian
designers, while making Kuala Lumpur the fashion capital for the Muslim World,"
Ng added.

While there is still a need to promote batik, he said there was also the
need to support a project to make Islamic fashion wear.

With his good cutting skills, he said he would be able to turn Islamic
fashion into an elegant wear.

In France, he said, Islamic fashion would have a different look as Paris
was a place which provided inspiration while attracting many Muslim buyers who
could pay for such elegance.

Ng is known to be a master craftsman who uses all kinds of materials and
his designs have evoked a strong sense of colour, arrangement and cutting.

He has also the ability to create between 15 to 20 designs a month.

Some of his designs can even be in the market for five years.Up to 40,000
pieces of one design was even produced from a particular material.
-- BERNAMA