Bangkok--28 Aug--Branded the Agency (From photos) M.L. Kathathong Thongyai, director of DEP’s Product Development Center (Third from right) presenting awards and certificates to TFDA 2007 winners at BITEC, Bangna The Thailand Fashion Designers Award: TFDA 2007 organized by the Office of Product Value Development, Department of Export Promotion has drawn to an impressive close on August 23, 2007 with a grand finale fashion show at BITEC Convention Center, Bangna. The show presented the wearable outfits from the creative designs of 10 finalists. The winners of the competition included 3 judged winners who received attractive cash rewards and embark on an eye-opening fashion trip to D&A Expo in New York, USA and a popular vote winner. At last 10 contestants were selected to pursue their dreams in the final round of Thailand Fashion Designers Award 2007 held at BITEC, Bangna on August 23. Warming up the event was the presentation of the materialized outfits in a conference room. Each finalist presented a collection of 4 attires to a group of judges made up of renowned fashion gurus such as Ms. Supatra Srisuk, the product development specialist, Department of Export Promotion, M.L. Kathathong Thongyai, director of DEP’s Product Development Center, Mr. Jitsingh Somboon from Greyhound etc. The judges examined the materials and the craftsmanship of each collection and asked each finalist about certain details. After the final results were collected, the crowd moved to the main hall where the fashion show of the 10 finalists’ collections took place. The show was prepared by Mr. Sombut “Tue” Thirasaroj, the event organizer who transformed the venue into a spectacular catwalk. 40 models were seen on the catwalk, including top names like Namthip “Bee” Chingrachatavibul, Kanyanat “Alien” Bamrungpong, Niwatra “Duen” Kamkaew and Virunpat “Im” Thephassadin Na Ayudha. Right after the gorgeous fashion show is the pulse-pounding time of winners’ announcement. The MC for the evening, Ms. Sikanya “Por” Sakdidej Bhanubhand started off by giving the name of the finalist who won most votes from the attendants in the DESIGN zone, Mr. Chanoknan Mukdaphongsatorn. His collection called “Simulation” was inspired by the old wood house he grew up in. Then a cheer broke out when the MC announced the winner of the competition who is also Mr. Chanoknan. The first runner-up is Mr. Paisan Tanakame, from his ‘Phenomenon Romance’ collection in modern yet romantic look with a mixture of Technofabric and natural canvas. The second runner-up is Ms. Bunyaratt Sitapan, from her ‘Zen Line’ collection, employing seemingly-natural lines to convey relaxed feeling. Each winner received Bt. 70,000, Bt. 50,000 and Bt. 30,000 respectively, along with an honorable award plates and a certificates. Plus, they will go on a once-in-a-lifetime fashion trip to D&A Expo in New York to broaden their fashion horizon, followed by several future visits to overseas trade fairs as part of a mission to expose young Thai designers to the real world of international fashion trade and bring Thai designing talent to the world’s recognition. For more information, please contact: Branded the Agency Uracha Jaktaranon, Narumon Hanpairojkajon, Walairat Ruamrak Tel. 02-650-9090 Fax. 02-650-9260 Click for photo release at www.thaipr.net