If there’s one thing absolutely exquisite we’ve witnessed about the fashion industry the past year, it would definitely be its resilience— the creativity beyond curveballs.

The first phase of the global pandemic last year made it unthinkable and almost impossible to mount runway shows, and that’s due to the wild restrictions we never thought we’d have to experience in this lifetime. The global efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 have definitely caused a huge impact in all industries. But necessity is the mother of invention as they say. In the business of fashion, creativity has become the power to overcome hardships. Luxury houses, fashion designers and clothing brands have all eventually learned to adapt as they’ve become more creative in presenting their new collections.

Style visionaries have all learned to go virtual with their fashion presentations: from Valentino’s  livestreamed Cirque du Soleil meets haute couture Fall/Winter 2021 collection, the Philippines’ Fashion for Healing virtual runway shows that highlighted designers and accessory artisans, Gucci’s 12-hour online stream collection titled “Epilogue”,  the first ever virtual Arab Fashion Week, various creative executions during New York Fashion Week S/S2021, to Queen of Chinese Couture Guo Pei’s live conversation with Singapore’s Digital Fashion Week.

ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase (AFDS), one of the leading organizations of fashion designers in Asia, is one of the many that’s pushing the limits in becoming originative in launching seasonal fashion shows. Its first ever ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week (AIDFW) 2021, a 4-day series of virtual fashion shows from different parts of the world saw the light of day last January 28th to 31st. The online event’s wide network of participants from different regions in the world has definitely put diversity, creativity and rich cultures in the forefront of the showcase.

We got to talk with ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase founder Hayden Ng about his organization’s biggest move in adjusting to this new climate in fashion. The Singapore-based fashion designer also talked about his latest collection this season.

ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase founder Hayden Ng

Style Visionary Network: We understand that ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase was founded in August 2015. Can you share with us your inspiration or that lightbulb moment that made you start the organization?

Hayden Ng: “The idea of ASEAN Fashion Designers was and always been around. I was just the catalyst that brought the whole concept of ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase to life. There had never had an agency that time that truly promoted fashion designers in the ASEAN region. And so with all the huge network and contacts I have had after being in the industry for such a long while, I decided that it was time I got this started.”

Style Visionary Network: Can you tell us more about the fashion landscape in Asia from 2015 to 2021, and the evolution in between? What are the major changes you have seen in terms of style trends and how Asian designers present their collections?

Hayden Ng: “The fashion landscape has totally changed with the introduction of high street fashion to ‘throw away fashion’ due to the uprising trend of online shopping– thus the term ‘throw away’ fashion. The styles that Asian designers present have always been of great variety– ranging from contemporary fashion wear, modest fashion, demi couture, haute couture and bridal. The fashion ambassadors of AFDS who are of course fashion designers have aesthetics that have always been fashion-forward, statement-making and with styles of excellent quality.” 

“In 2015, when AFDS first started, no one had heard of this platform. AFDS started off with 6 designers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore, which I represent.”

“Today in 2021 – AFDS has 45 designers from 11 countries – Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and China – ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation. AFDS also has 30 models from – Singapore, Lao PDR, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.” 

“Currently with COVID19 prevailing, all shows have gone digital. That’s the major change. That’s why ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase mounted its first ever ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021 (AIDFW), with our partner and digital platform, Thehomeground.asia (THG). AIDFW will be shown in China next. AFDS designers’ show reels will then be shown at many other online digital fashion weeks in the world.”

“I see this will be the situation for the next five years – until COVID19 has truly ended. Then AFDS will go back to physical showcases at different locations globally.”

Style Visionary Network: How would you describe the overall theme of the first ever ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021?

Hayden Ng: “The overall feel of AIDFW is very cohesive. It is great to see the AFDS and International Designers’ style and design blending well together for the AIDFW showcase.”

“ASEAN comprises just 10 member states – plus  China which makes it 11 countries. This season, we opened it up to the international market as we have international designers who come in to support us, just as we go over to support their showcases. It’s an exchange of cultural ideas and different views of fashion. To put it succinctly, we want to grow the fashion scene for both ASEAN and international designers into a more global matter.”

“This is our first time hosting the showcase in Singapore, and also the first time we’re doing it on this level, so we didn’t want too many designers. But at the same time, we wanted the best out of all the designers. In cooperation with our international partners, what I’ve done is to select the designers who are not only good, but who are also willing to be on this platform and to work together with us.”

“During this process of organizing the event, many countries were in lockdown mode and unfortunately, several designers were struck down by COVID-19. But because of their determination, persistence, and passion for fashion, they recovered and were able to shoot their videos.”

DIFFERENT CULTURES, DIVERSE AESTHETICS

Mad Mood Milano Fashion Week, an organization of designers based in Milan, Italy, joined the virtual event with fashion showcases from 12 designers. One of them was Mossimo Orsini.
Mossimo Orsini creation for the ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021
Mossimo Orsini creation for the ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021

Orsini‘s classic, romantic designs with edgy textures in fringes and appliques exude dreamy opulence.

Another designer that caught our eye was Even Ong, AIDFW Country Head for Malaysia.

Ong’s womenswear label BRIDE K’OLLECTION boasts of its playful yet elegant designs, which employ different methods of fabric manipulation to create dimensional fabrics and innovative silhouettes. The designer aims to empower women through fashion and to instill in them a greater sense of confidence and independence with her exquisitely crafted and unabashedly feminine designs.

Even Ong’s creation for the ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021

The Malaysia-based designer described her AIDFW collection as “inspired by the natural woman within the modern culture”. In this collection, she used materials like diamonds and tulle fabric to represent femininity. It’s all about the balance between oversized and small silhouettes.

Even Ong’s creation for the ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021
Erjohn Dela Serna from the Philippines was inspired by the Met Gala and other Hollywood red carpet events in his latest creations showcased at the AIFDW 2021. He incorporated his Filipino roots into his aesthetic by stretching the possibilities of local Philippine textiles, particularly of the indigenous handmade pleats famously sourced out from Iloilo City in the Philippines. Dela Serna described that each piece “was carefully constructed to seamlessly incorporate the local elements of pleats, tassels and fur while keeping the Hollywood gala vibe”.
One of Erjohn Dela Serna’s creations for the ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021
Erjohn Dela Serna creation for the ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021

AIGFW founder and designer Hayden Ng shared that his collection dubbed as “Bridging the Seasons” is about bringing the two seasons of Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer together as the global climate goes through a radical change. The designer shared, “Here in Asia, we do not have A/W, as we only have Summer all throughout. Some A/W elements in the aspects of colors and details are used as highlights in my collection for ASEAN International Digital Fashion Week 2021.”

Hayden Ng creation for the ASEAN International Designers Week 2021
Hayden Ng creation for the ASEAN International Designers Week 2021
Hayden Ng creation for the ASEAN International Designers Week 2021

His ready-to-wear collection for his brainchild event stayed true to his “modern, clean, contemporary and comfortable” aesthetic.

When asked what we can expect from ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase in the future, Hayden concluded the interview by saying, “More fabulous designers and fashion shows, of course!”

For upcoming updates about ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase, you may follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/ASEANFashionDesignersShowcase, or visit its official website here.

You may watch all the virtual fashion presentations at the official platform partner of ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase Thehomeground.asia right here.