Moda celebrates 30 years with group signing of coffee table book and 'grenade' birthday cake
KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 — If there’s one thing better than fashion, it’s fashion combined with books.
This delightful combo came to life on Tuesday (March 21) when the Malaysian Official Designers Association (Moda) celebrated its 30th anniversary at BookXcess in Lalaport Bukit Bintang City Centre.
Instead of just book-loving geeks, glamorous fashion designers were seen milling around the biggest BookXcess outlet in the country.
The who’s who of local fashion turned up to sign Malaysian Fashion – A Journey in Colours, a coffee table book that features them as members of Moda, set up in 1993 to highlight and empower Malaysian fashion.
Launched in December last year, the 171-page red-bound book was a joint project with the National Art Gallery, Raffles College of Higher Education and BookXcess.
'Malaysian Fashion – A Journey in Colours' contains photos, illustrations and stories from 39 designers and labels. — Picture courtesy of Moda
Among those in attendance were Melinda Looi, Datuk Tom Abang Saufi, Gillian Hung, Justin Yap, Jimmy Wong, Low Ziyin, Melvin Ashley Shah, Michael Liew, Michelle Soong, Rizman Ruzaini, Stephanie Van Dalen, Victor Khoo, Jonathan Yun and Tina Winness Wong.
Not all designers featured in the book were present.
The event also saw the first speech by Jay Ishak as newly-appointed Moda president.
“This book is not just a collection of beautiful illustrations and designs,” she said. “But a testament to the journey of each designer, their unique stories, their struggles and triumphs.”
A birthday cake in the shape of a hand grenade that opened up to reveal lit sparkler candles was brought out, much to everyone’s delight.
As part of the celebrations, there was a silent auction of illustrations featuring 26 original framed artworks by Moda designers.
A fashion exhibit and one-day pop-up shops were also set up.
For fun, everyone was invited to sign, draw or colour on two interactive hanging mounted canvases.
The fashion exhibit will be at BookXcess Lalaport until April 19, while bidding for the silent auction ends March 31.
Malaysian Fashion – A Journey in Colours is for sale only at BookXcess outlets.
A limited edition of 10 copies signed by all the featured designers can be bought at RM399.90 each.
