ISLAMIC FASHION FESTIVAL LONDON 2012 BENEFITS TWO MAJOR CHARITIES

London, 25 April, 2012: The Islamic Fashion Festival (IFF) was presented here for the second consecutive year at the Natural History Museum this evening. The Charity Gala Dinner themed “Diversity in Modesty” is held in aid of The Duke of Edinburgh International Award for Young People and The Wessex Youth Trust. The IFF first debuted in London in July 2011. 

Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku Haminah led the list of royals who graced the high profile event. The other royals include Her Royal Highness Sultanah Kalsom of Pahang, Her Royal Highness Sultanah NUr Zahirah of Terengganu, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex, His Royal Highness Raja Muda Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin and Her Royal Highness Raja Puan Muda Perlis Tuanku Hajjah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah. Besides Malaysia, the other royalties are from Brunei Darussalam, Monaco and Saudi Arabia.

Also in attendance were IFF Patron, Her Excellency Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia the Rt. Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak (who officially accompanied Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku Haminah for this event), Her Excellency Evelyne Genta, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the United Kingdom and Mr. Wan Zawawi Mohamed, Director of Human Resource for Tourism Malaysia which is a key IFF sponsor.

The beneficiaries of the Charity Gala Dinner, The Duke of Edinburgh International Award and The Wessex Youth Trust, are focused on children and young people. The Duke of Edinburgh International Award Programme empowers 14-25 year-olds to take up life’s opportunities, regardless of their gender, background or location. Launched in the UK in 1956, more than seven million young people from over 140 countries and territories have taken part in the Award. Set up in 1999 shortly before the wedding of HRH The Prince Edward and Miss Sophie Rhys-Jones, The Wessex Youth Trust was established to help, support and advance registered charities which provide opportunities specifically for children and young people. 

The funds for charity were raised through the auction of exclusive items donated by renowned British designer Bruce Oldfield, F1 and Aston Martin, and Ascot Racecourse Limited. The items on auction were a Bruce Oldfield-designed designed couture dress, four VIP Monaco Grand Prix tickets and exclusive tour of the Aston Martin factory, and First Class service in a private box at Ascot. The guests were also able to donate funds via the purchase of tables at the event. As a token of appreciation for the guests’ generosity, a Lucky Draw was also held, with the prize of a two-night stay in a one bedroom Riad donated by Royal Mansour Marrakech. Besides Tourism Malaysia as the key sponsor, the other sponsors for IFF London 2012 are Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd, Merge Energy Berhad and Frazer Nash. 

Emceed by renowned impressionist Rory Bremner and entertained by West End dancer, award-winning choreographer and singer Stephen Rahman-Hughes of smash hit “Bombay Dreams” and male opera group Teatro fame, the London fashion show presented Islamic fashion creations by eight designers from Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Lahore and Marrakech. The theme “Diversity in Modesty” is a reflection of the diverse styles of Islamic fashion of peoples of the faith who come from diverse cultural backgrounds.  

The designers for the London show were Kuala Lumpur’s Dato’ Bernard Chandran with his collection themed “Abaya Abaya”, Dato’ Tom Abang Saufi (“Borneo”), Melinda Looi (“The Enchanting Edo Era”), Syaiful Baharim (“Sartorial Hijab”) and Yin Ping (“Flora”); Ghea Panggabean of Jakarta with “Romantic Heritage”; Nickie Nina of Lahore with “Jasmine” and Marrakech’s Souad Chraibi presenting “One Thousand and One Nights”. 

“Diversity” is a running theme of the IFF which has featured more than 250 designers and labels from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds including Kenzo, Etro and Zang Toi since its first Islamic fashion extravaganza in Kuala Lumpur. Created in 2006 by Founder and Chairman Raja Rezza Shah, the IFF seeks to promote the beauty of Islamic fashion as stylish and wearable to an international audience, and to also illustrate the gentle side of Islam through fashion. The IFF has since been successfully presented in Abu Dhabi, Astana, Bandung, Dubai, Jakarta, Kota Bharu, London, Manila, Monte Carlo, New York City and Singapore. The IFF will next travel for its debut in Bali in July before its flagship week-long fashion extravaganza in Kuala Lumpur on November.

For enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Rebecca (London) & Ms Haniza (Kuala Lumpur) 

M: +44 7976753429 

T: +60 3 42561060 / 2060

E: klj.iff@gmail.com