Audi Star Creations 2012

The lovely Rana over at BonjourSingapore invited me to attend Audi Star Creation with her earlier today. Audi Star Creation is a fashion design competition organized by TaFf (Textile & Fashion Federation) aimed at promoting asian emerging designers.

There were 255 applicants this year from 13 different countries. The 12 finalists from China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea & Thailand each showcased 4 looks today.

3 winners were announced at the end of the show (read on to find out who!). Each designer won SGD 10,000 from Audi Singapore, a 1-year internship with leading fashion retailer FJ Benjamin and an opportunity to launch a capsule collection at next year's Star Creation.

Tatsuya Tsukahara (Japan), Braiding:

Tsukahara opened the show with this weaved dress, which reminded me of Bottega Veneta's intrecciato (their trademark leather-weave). Tsukahara was inspired by the weaving techniques used in producing traditional japanese bamboo baskets.

Vincent Wong (Malaysia), Confessions of Sin:

Loved this intricately embroidered white gown. Wong used white throughout his collection to portray the cleanliness and purity of a human's soul. He used patterned lace and feathers to embody the revered status of albino elephants and peacocks.

Roderic Wong (China), Tissue of being:

Wong was one of my favorite designers today. The simple and chic dresses from his collection were wearable yet modern (reminded me of Philip Lim). His collection paid homage to craftsmanship. Wong used a handmade felting technique on all his pieces to create texture and to build three dimensional shapes.

Soravit Kaewkamon (Thailand), Love and Friendship:

Kaewkamon was another favorite. The black perforated leather tank top was made with so much attention to detail. She used smooth shapes, defined cuts and strong structure for her collection. Using materials like woven fabric and leather gave her pieces an androgynous edge. She incorporated patterns and prints inspired by the hornbill (a symbol of friendship). 

Natalia Kiantoro (Indonesia), Tangled:

Kiantoro's collection reminded me of Helmut Lang's asymmetrical dresses. She was inspired by natural and man-made twisted objects like branches and spiral staircases. Kiantoro used drapes and pleats on jersey and silk to add volume to her pieces. 

Kim Soo-Jeong (South Korea), The Co-existent of Embossed Carving and Intaglio:

Kim's pieces were amazing as they were unique and beautifully made. Kim was inspired by architecture and the way construction materials like cement and wood are "carved" into buildings. She used organza and silk draping to capture the intricate carvings found on some building facades. 

Kim Yong Woo (South Korea), The Existence of Space:

Saving the best for last, Kim was my all time favorite. His dresses were avant-garde yet feminine. He drew on triangles and three dimensional imagery to present the concept of space, and used contrasting fabrics such as lace and spandex and played with greys, peaches, blues and blacks to create a sense of harmony.


And finally, the 3 winners were South Korea's Ko Youngji, China's Roderic Wong & Thailand's Soravit Kaewkamon. 


Congratulations to them!

got to speak with several of the finalists after the winners were announced. unfortunately not all of them had translators by their side which made it difficult to get to know them better.



time to get some much needed sleep. excited for Nicola Formichetti's opening show on Wednesday night!