London Fashion Week 2009: the buzz around the new designers

Katie Eary
One could have described her work vividly, but as Russians say “it’s better to see once than hear one hundred times.” She first was noticed and featured by the American fashion guru magazine – Vogue, but she has not yet become a household name, neither in USA, nor in England. But if you watch it, you’d soon might be investing in some international shipping.

The next British favorite, not new on the scene though, is TopShop that featured its TopShop Unique Exclusive. Being quite a successful, and definitely much-awaited for, British import, TopShop has now a store in New York (we’re still waiting on them coming to other American metro cities, such as D.C.)

Bernard Chandran is another designer who’s been getting attention from the fashionistas and fashion editors in Europe and USA; he’s been already known its native Malasia.

Datuk Bernard Chandran is currently known as Malaysia's 'Prince of Fashion', his talents have earned him many faithful clients among Malaysia's elite most notably the Royal families of Malaysia and Brunei as well as two former Miss Universe.

Bernard Chandran is also a Malaysian television personality. He's known as the chief designer of the reality television show Project Runway Malaysia, since its debut on 8TV on 3 August 2007.
He is also a brand ambassador for the Tiffani By Izen service apartments (to be completed in 2009), developed by Ireka Land Sdn Bhd.

After honing his skills overseas in Paris, he returned to Malaysia to set-up his maiden shop in KL Plaza in 1993. The first 'Bernard Chandran' couture house was a small rented shop with a handful of staff in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. From there, he built up his client base amongst the who's who of Kuala Lumpur, ranging from the rich to royalty. He has now expanded his shop in KL Plaza to take up 4 shop lots and is nearly 300 square meters in area. He was voted Designer of the Year by the Malaysian International Fashion Awards in 2003.

Chandran has also started introducing Europe to his couture with a boutique at swanky Knightsbridge, London.

His creations are drawn from Chinese, Malay, Indian and other eastern cultures. He regularly does shows around the world, although he does tailor his overseas ranges to be more daring than his range for Malaysia.

Last, but not the least, take a note of Sado.