Bangkok--26 Mar--Vivaldi PR
The 12 aspiring fashion stars who will face off on the runway at Audi Star Creation 2012 have been picked from over 250 submissions for the regional fashion design competition. One of seven countries represented in the finals is Thailand, which is also the most represented nation with 56 entries for this year.
A total of 255 fashion design hopefuls from 13 countries made submissions this year - significantly more than the 144 entries received last year, and more than triple the 75 received in 2010, the competition’s inaugural year. The highest number of entries this year came from Thailand, which made 56 entries.
The 12 finalists for Audi Star Creation 2012 are:
? Soravit Kaewkamon, 23, Thailand
? Liang Wang, 27 China
? Natalia Kiantoro, 22, Indonesia
? Tatsuya Tsukahara, 24, Japan
? Ling Siu Gin, 21, Malaysia
? Vincent Wong, 22, Malaysia
? Eugenice Chen, 20, Singapore
? Jaslin Ong, 21, Singapore
? Kim Mina, 24, South Korea
? Kim Soo-Jeong, 25, South Korea
? Kim Yong Woo, 27, South Korea
? Ko Youngji, 32, South Korea
Soravit Kaewkamon presented his collection, “Hornbill”, demonstrating patterns and prints inspired by the hornbill, an animal symbol which represents nature, love and friendship.
The “Love and Friendship” motif is inspired by Kaewkamon’s belief in the advantages of living in a tightly-knit community, the spirit of cooperation and looking out for one another. The use of smooth shapes, defined cuts and strong structure fashioned after unisex cuts popular in the 1990s and materials such as woven fabrics and leather give the pieces an “Androgynous and Masculine” edge.
Soravit has won several fashion design competitions in Thailand including two awards at the Saha Group Bangkok Young Designer Awards 2010 and a win for his menswear collection at Singha Life 2011. He graduated with a Decorative Arts degree from Silpakorn University in 2011.
Singapore is fielding this year’s youngest finalist — Temasek Polytechnic Apparel Design and Merchandising student Eugenice Chen, 20. The oldest contender comes from Korea — 32 year-old Ko Youngji. Details of the collections that all 12 will present on the runway are appended.
Aspiring designers from around the region were challenged to come up with six original, creative and commercially viable designs based on the theme, “Fashion Without Frontiers”. The competition was open to designers aged between 16 and 35 with less than two years of experience in the fashion industry, and after an intense month of judging, these 12 have been chosen to transform their ideas into catwalk-ready collections.
The final face-off takes place at the Asia Fashion Exchanges Tent@Orchard on May 14. Three of the 12 winners stand to walk away with a $10,000 cash prize from Audi Singapore, a one-year internship with leading fashion retailer FJ Benjamin and the chance to develop a capsule collection that will be launched at Audi Star Creation 2013. Of the three, the one whose collection best embodies Audi’s design spirit of innovation, technology and progression will receive the Audi Young Designer Award (AYDA) — an additional $10,000 cash prize. This is the third time the AYDA is being presented.
Three-time Audi Star Creation judge and Vice-President of the Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore), Mr. David Wang, says this year’s judging was significantly harder given the sheer number of entries and the rising standards of submission. This year saw a record number of 255 entries from 13 countries
“The theme was deliberately chosen to allow for a wide interpretation, but we were surprised at how far some designers were able to push it while still infusing their collections with both personal and cultural styles. This year, we’re going to be treated to everything from military-inspired womenswear to bold and unorthodox draping. It is going to be quite spectacular”, said Mr. Wang.
For more information about Audi Star Creation 2012, visit www.starcreation.sg