15th March, Bangkok - Bangkok Fashion Week 2006, scheduled from March 15th to 19th this year, kicked off promisingly with a series of fashion spectaculars and business opportunities set to attract a large assembly of more than 90,000 local and international media, buyers and enthusiastic members of the global fashion community. Strategic fashion activities set to boost Thai fashion industry in global markets



Backed by collaborative efforts of three industrial sectors including textile and garment industry, leatherwear industry, and gems and jewellery industry, BFW06 aims to help promote local brands and expand business opportunities for Thai designers and manufacturers alike in international markets.

The Ministry of Industry permanent secretary Chakramon Phasukvanich said, "Bangkok Fashion Week is one of the government's nine initiatives under the Bangkok Fashion City Project. As the second such event, this year's fashion gathering marks the next step in the country's progress towards leading the regional fashion industry. The joint efforts of the government and private sectors, since the first event, play out in making Thai fashion brands recognised by both local and international markets, and constantly generating more business opportunities for the entire fashion industry."

He continued, "Such progress encompasses strategic human resource development, product improvement with outstanding quality and uniqueness, and successful brand building. Thailand has become progressively known to the world as a regional fashion business hub, where buyers benefit from a wide variety of fashion products."

During the five-day event featuring six fashion activities, the BFW06 expect more than 90,000 media, buyers and visitors from all over the world, generating immediate cash injection of more than one billion baht.

 

According to Pramode Vidhyasuk, project director for the Bangkok Fashion City Project, the Thai fashion industry has learned major lessons from the first Bangkok Fashion Week, and this time is focusing the industry's increased potential for development. It is also a mean to create and expand business opportunities that mean higher export revenues as well as greater value and advantages gained from the cultivation of our own fashion brands.

 

"BFW06 benefits from the unified support from the government, educational institutes, industry associations and fashion entrepreneurs in creating and developing a new breed of Thai designers, manufacturers, specialists and a knowledge base that are vital to the industry's transformation from OEMs to brand owners," added Pramode.

In a bid to add value to Thai fashion products and boost business opportunities for designers and everyone involved, this year's Fashion Week will see 'masterpiece' and 'outstanding' runway collections of more than 130 established and emerging brands in the `Fashion Festival'.

The six main activities of BFW06 include:

The Catwalk Shows presents Autumn/Winter 2006 trends, featuring more than 30 well established designers, and run daily from March 15-19 at the Fashion Dome constructed over the middle of the lake at Benjakitti Park and 'Super Catwalk' within the Plenary Hall. Emerging designers who have won international mentions and accolades, together with design work from 14 fashion institutes, will also have a chance to showoff their creative talents through special catwalk shows.

As part of this, the prelude on 14 March was honoured with a special collection entitled "Fly To Nouveau" designed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, the Royal Granddaughter. The ready-to-wear collection seeks inspiration from 'art nouveau,' a design style of late 19th century origin characterized particularly by the depiction of leaves and flowers in flowing, sinuous lines. HRH's `sweet new style' also features her unique fabric design talent on cotton, chiffon and silk in particular.

The Trade Fair is held within a casually serious atmosphere of the giant 'Inspiration Mall' - featuring new trends and inspirations from 122 brands of which 77 are newly introduced. Joining the fair this year, sorted by category, include 63 brands from the textile and garment industry, 19 footwear and leather, 20 gems and jewellery, plus additional 20 brands as creation's by new fashion graduates.

The Designer Showcase aims to highlight Thai creative talents of established designers side by side with the new generation who continuously improve their skills.