By NUR HAZIQAH A MALEK / Pic By TMR

Local fashion designers aim to penetrate the US market as they enter the fashion capital’s runway with big names through Couture Fashion Week New York and NYC @ Live in September.

Association of Bumiputera Women in Business and Profession (Peniagawati) president Datuk Azlin Ahmad Shaharbi (picture) said RM10 million is expected from the business matching and sales turnover during the event.

“I do expect the Malaysia fashion and business mission to grow organically and have more participants from the nation too next year and the following,” she said.

“Just opening a store in New York, for example, may not necessarily be good because retail isn’t always going to do well. Similarly, just a rack in Macy’s for our fashion and products would be good. Although they can also ask us to supply them with local designs,” she said at the Malaysia Fashion & Business Mission to New York 2018 media briefing yesterday.

During its debut last year, only four couture fashion designers joined to feature their works at New York, which has increased to feature 12 couture fashion brands and six ready-to-wear brands’ designers.

Azlin said the group has allocated one day during the Couture Fashion Week New York specifically for designers from Malaysia on Sept 7.

The fashion designers participating in the Couture Fashion Week New York include Nur Fazura Sharifuddin, Rizman Nordin and Wan Mohd Ruzaini Wan Jamil, Mohd Hafizi Radzi Woo and Izree Kai Haffiz, Vie Shantie Khan, Fatimah Rahmad, Adli Afandi, Ummi Hafilda Ali, Noorma Yustie Abd Majid, Scha Salleh, Erny Yusmiarty Erizal, Nancy Jullok and Datin Sharifah Shawati Syed Mohd. Designers whose clothing will be featured at NYC @ Live on Sept 13 will be Azwin Shafinaz, Datin Norliza Razali, Yen Lee and Shiau Lee, Zsimon, Kiran Tuljaram and Datin Norita Anis.

Also present at the event was Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof and Malaysia External Trade Development Corp lifestyle and life sciences director Abu Bakar Yusof.

Mohd Redzuan said the current export values are not very encouraging for local small and medium enterprises.

“However, when you have showcased your designs and arts in New York as what Malaysians can do, and you come back and find you need help, perhaps then the ministry will try and facilitate professional experts to help you out,” he said.

In 2017, the highest export segment under the lifestyle sector comprises textiles, apparels and fashion items, which hit RM15.33 billion out of RM39.18 billion.