Dato' Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry
officially launched M-IFW 2009 at Pavilion Shopping Mall, Kuala Lumpur.
Photos by Chow KF (click for bigger picture) 

Malaysia's most prestigious fashion showcase is back again with comprising 18 fashion showcases by 99 designers. M-IFW 2009 is scheduled from 4th November to 8th November 2009, with leading mobile services provider Maxis as its Main Presenter. The five-day fashion extravaganza  will take place at Pavilion shopping mall, Kuala Lumpur.

Chairman of Malaysian International Fashion Alliance, Mr Heah Sieu Lay, says: "Mifa's pledge to move fashion ahead in respond greater confidence to meet consumer demands and desire with new channels. Fashion brands all over the world have gone through major revenue challenges. M -IFW'09 has moved beyond the usual realm of fashion showcases to become a significant trade event. M-IFW 2009 serves as platform where local fashion designers have opportunities to meet, interact and network with key fashion buyers from around the world. "

"Now into its seventh edition, Malaysian fashion designers are producing stronger collections than ever, and providing them with the compact, wide-reaching means with which to share their fashion signatures and selling propositions. Maxis as main presenter for M-IFW'09 provides a comprehensive suite of communications tools for fashion industry players, an ideal partnership that further motivate mifa's persistent efforts in championing Malaysian fashion." added Mr Heah Sieu Lay

mifa also collaborates with eBay as official online partner to provide Malaysia's top designers with a ready platform to tap into the benefits of e-commerce, in recognition of the growing importance of online trading. During M-IFW this year, Matrade will be hosting the inaugural Individual Business Matching session for designers and fashion buyers.

Dato' Mustapa Mohamed lauds mifa as a tireless champion of the professional development of local fashion designers, and for placing the Malaysian fashion industry within the global arena. "Malaysia's fashion industry is a significant revenue generator. In 2008 exports of Textile and Apparel alone totalled RM 10.5 billion, an increase of 2.3 % from 2007. It accounted for 2.3% of Malaysia's exports of manufactured goods in 2008., For the period of January - July 2009, exports was at RM 5.09 billion. This figure is expected to increase in the immediate future, as many of our home-grown fashion talents contribute their original perspectives and rich influences to world fashion culture," says Dato' Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry at the launch of Malaysia International Fashion Week 2009 (M-IFW'09).
 

"With Maxis, data services are an essential way forward for the creative personality. Partnership with mifa in presenting M-IFW'09 is seamless fit, because fashion and voice or data communications are all channels of getting your original ideas across using the best, and also most practical, means at hand. said Maxis' Chief Marketing Officer, Matthew Willsher.

"mifa is encouraging fashion businesses in Malaysia to showcase their talents and hone competitiveness amidst a general embrace of technology, with this year's strategic alliance with Maxis. The leading mobile operator Maxis provides M-IFW with established designers looking to the next steps, with rising stars of design, and with the experts in putting on a fine show and making fashion week truly something to Tweet about." added Matthew Willsher
 

Ms Joyce Yap, chief executive officer of retail, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur says: "Hosting a fashionable venue for M-IFW at Pavilion Shopping Mall coincides with the defining of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur as the leading fashion authority in Malaysia and also awards recognition to Pavilion as the winner of the Best Retail Development in 2009 and recipient of the FIABCI Prix D'Excellence Award - accolades synonymous with fashion and distinction. Pavilion is honoured and privileged to be chosen as the venue host and sponsor for this exciting event"

Highlights for M-IFW'09 include: the launch of a commemorative coffee table book honouring Malaysia's fashion heavyweights and key industry players at the `Hall of Fame' Gala, and the hotly-anticipated annual Malaysian-International Fashion Awards (M-IFA) Gala. Add to these, fantastic fashion outings by the Bumiputra Designers Association, and stupendous shows such as FantastiqueMEN (focusing on menswear); Asia Magic (highlighting designers from China, India, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong); 10 Rising Stars (young designers from Malaysia's top fashion academies) - and the return of the Islamic Fashion Festival by Dato' Raja Rezza Shah after a one-year hiatus.

Adding international lustre to the overall event will be New York-based Japanese supermodel, Ai Tominaga and 10 top models from Beijing, China via a special collaboration with China Bentley Culture Development Company Limited.

The M-IFW'09 will also witness hundreds of trade and industry members i.e. Designers, Fashion Buyers and Lifestyle Media from Asia, Europe and Australia converging at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur to participate in a series of fashion-related events.

Mifa's 13-episode TV series, It's mifa: Moving Fashion Forward, will take a wide audience backstage and behind other scenes of M-IFW'09. Hosted by the "Face of M-IFW'09", Andrea Fonseka, and aired over NTV7 every Tuesday night at 7.30 pm starting October 6, the show accords viewers exclusive sneak peeks, intriguing insights, and candid interviews with Malaysia's most prominent fashion maestros.

The Malaysia-International Fashion Week 2009 is organised by the Malaysian International Fashion Alliance (mifa) and presented by Maxis. Officially endorsed by Matrade, M-IFW'09 is scheduled to be held from November 4-8, 2009 at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur as its Official Venue. Major sponsors for M-IFW'09 include L'Oreal Paris (Official Make-up), MasterCard (Official Credit Card), Elegance Club (Official Jewellery House) and Pernod Ricard Malaysia (Official Liquor Partner), while key partners are eBay (Official Online Partner), Asia Experience (Official Ground Handling Agency), Blu Inc Media (Official Media Partner), Alfo (Official Lighting), NTV7 (Broadcast Media Partner), Salon Esprit by Miko Au (Official Hair Studio) and X'pressionMaster (Official Make-up Team)..

More information of M-IFW can be found at www.m-ifw.com