The New Straits Times Online......Hoping to promote local batik, the organising committee of the
Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian awards event has decided to engage local designers to come up with batik-based creations for the celebrities involved. HIZREEN KAMAL writes.
WITH the theme
Batik Glam, the
Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) 2007 on March 30 will serve as a platform to further promote local batik.
ABPBH 2007 organising committee chairman Hanizam Abdullah said due recognition should be given to local batik designs, which have been getting attention abroad.
Malaysia is never short of talented fashion designers, with some already known names in the international fashion arena, including Zhang Toi and Bill Keith, she said.
“
Berita Harian does not simply organise events just for the fun of it. Each event we do has a purpose. With ABPBH 2007, we want to showcase wonderful designs incorporating batik from our pool of talented designers.
“We hope our guests, including celebrities attending this event, will follow the code of attire set for them, which will also help elevate the status of batik,” she said, after a briefing session with 13 fashion designers who will be dressing the hosts, presenters and the finalists in the various categories.
Apart from the more popularly known local designers such as Bill Keith and Jovian Mandagie, other designers who have committed to ABPBH 2007 are Khairy Sufi, Azura Couture, Michael Shu, Rizman Ruzaimi, Shamsu Yusoff, Hatta Dolmat, Hazwani Osman, Zery Zamry, Fitri AF2 and Kenny from Lords Tailor.
Hanizam, who is also
Berita Harian entertainment editor, reminded guests that
Batik Glam does not mean that men come wearing a batik shirt, as it is a black-tie event.

Linda Onn, popular Era radio deejay, and partner, actor/host Fahrin Ahmad were also at the briefing, to offer examples of the kinds of attire to be worn for the awards show.
Linda Onn wearing a Bill Keith creation, a chiffon tunic, looked stunning with Habib Jewels South Sea pearls earrings, while Fahrin looked dashing in a blue tuxedo by Lords Tailor, with a black and yellow batik motive shirt underneath.
Habib Jewels is the main sponsor for ABPBH 2007....