Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 November 2016 - Malaysia Fashion Week 2016 (MFW), a project by INTRADE which started yesterday until 5 November 2016, offers an opportunity for local entrepreneurs particularly women-owned and youth-owned businesses to start immersing their operations in exports.

Launched by Minister II of International Trade and Industry YB Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan yesterday, the MFW 2016 brings together various fashion brands, designers and associations from around the region to Kuala Lumpur to connect and discuss business partnerships with participating Malaysian players. Over 200 international buyers are present at the event just waiting to discover Malaysia’s capabilities in the lifestyle and fashion industry.

The MFW, organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Stylo International, features a group of female entrepreneurs under the patronage of an association called Peniagawati (Persatuan Wanita Bumiputra Dalam Perniagaan dan Profesyen Malaysia) which roles are to facilitate the capacity building of entrepreneural skills among its members.
In Peniagawati’s participation at the event, the association occupies 8 exhibition booths for its members, allowing them to showcase their various fashion and lifestyle products to the visiting trade buyers and the public.

One of the women-owned brands at MFW, Tanoti Crafts which specialises in handwoven songket products from Sarawak, believes that the MFW not only provides them with the opportunity to meet international buyers and foster business opportunities, but also to encourage them to promote the culture from Sarawak to a global audience and this brings about more promotion for the country.
As for the youth, the MFW has introduced a segment called  X-STYLE where University and College Students are given a space to feature their designs and learn the many aspects of the industry. The students participating are from IACT College, Raffles College, Sunway University and a few others. Other youth associations participating in MFW2016 include Malaysian Association of ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs (MAAYE) and Platform to Engage and Empower Rakyat.

Complementing these is an event called the International Sourcing Programme (INSP) – MATRADE’s signature business matching programme that matches local brands with international buyers. This year, over 1,400 business meetings have been arranged for local fashion players with potential international partners.

According to Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry YB Datuk Haji Ahmad Haji Maslan, the MFW is positioned as a springboard for Malaysian fashion companies and designers to start their global business. “ MFW is a public-private initiative aimed at elevating the profile of Malaysia as a fashion capital in the region,” he said.

“Being a multi-racial country, Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures, religions and backgrounds, making the nation one-of-a-kind. Fashion, in a region as diverse as Asia, is exciting but challenging too at the same time.  We hope MFW will provide a conducive environment for fashion players from around the world to create and innovate fashion while trading and learning with one another,” said YB Datuk Haji Ahmad Haji Maslan.

Exports of lifestyle and fashion products or also known as ‘soft exports’ for the past recent years have been gaining momentum. In 2015, soft exports rose double digit by 13.2 percent to RM36.91 billion as compared to RM 32.61 billion in the previous year. In the first eight months of 2016, soft exports continued to register steady growth of 5.3 percent to record RM24.76 billion as against RM 23.51 billion in the same period of last year.

External demand continues to generate ample opportunities for local enterprises especially women and youth to expand their horizon globally despite the global economic uncertainties. For soft exports, the USA topped the list of major markets with RM3.79 billion worth of exports last year, followed by the Singapore (RM3.31 billion), UAE (RM3.01 billion), Japan(RM1.89 billion), Australia (RM0.94 billion), China (RM0.84 billion), Turkey(RM0.60 billion), Indonesia(RM0.55 billion), Vietnam (RM0.50 billion) and South Korea (RM0.48 billion). These top ten markets accounted for 71 percent of Malaysia’s total exports of lifestyle goods.

Taking place at the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC), the MFW is the largest trade fashion and lifestyle event in the country, featuring a dedicated fashion and lifestyle exhibition featuring over 300 booths spread over 32,800 square feet of exhibition space. The exhibition features six main clusters - fashion, apparel and accessories; jewellery; beauty, hair products and cosmetics; arts and handicrafts, lifestyle and interior decor; textile and peripherals. Complementing the exhibition are hourly fashion shows by local and international designers, gala events, tribute galleries and a Premium Outlet Sale, among many others.

MFW 2016’s official partners are Epson Sdn Bhd, Malindo Air, United Overseas Bank (UOB), Spectrum, IACT College & Brickfields Asia College (BAC), Pullman Kuala Lumpur Bangsar, A Cut Above, Malaysian Hairdressing Association (MHA), Ortea, Cium Kissable Lipbalm, Empro, Slimming Sanctuary, Fortunate Coffee, Coway and Grabcar.

For more details, please visit malaysiafashionweek.my or follow Malaysia Fashion Week on Facebook/Instagram.