Noticing that not many women wear kebaya these days, a 22-year-old from LASALLE College of the Arts came up with a new idea to make the kebaya popular again.
Iris Zulfa tries to accomplish this through a kebaya collection she designed for her final year project.
Photo: BERITAmediacorp
Dubbed ‘Sunburnt Heart’, it features the kebaya with a “new” look while retaining some of its original features.
Interestingly, Saloma, a singer and icon of Malay women in the 1960s, became the biggest source of inspiration for her work.
"The collection is an expression of the perseverance and persistence of the modern Malay woman who needs to constantly change or ‘adapt’ to the present, which is rife with technological advancement, and also to face up to very challenging times," Iris shared with BERITAmediacorp.
“This is also a collection that shows that even though the world today is becoming more modern, we still hold fast to our identity and our Malayness,” she added.
SHE RESEARCHED SALOMA'S STYLE TO PRODUCE HER FINAL YEAR PROJECT
In order to produce her final year project, Iris shared that she had to do a lot of research, and she especially focused on studying Saloma's style.
She did this by poring through materials from archives and museums.
Photo: BERITAmediacorp
“I noticed that she was someone who made and sewed her own clothes and she often used Malay fabrics such as songket or batik,” said Iris.
The young woman also acknowledges that not many women nowadays still wear kebaya.
“Therefore, I use the idea of the kebaya and combine Malay fabrics such as batik in my collection to bring back the concept of wearing ethnic clothing into the present,” said Iris.
810 LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS STUDENTS RECEIVE DEGREES AND DIPLOMAS
Iris was among 810 students who received degrees and diplomas in-person at this year's LASALLE College of the Arts convocation held at the Singapore Expo.
Iris receives her BA(Hons) Fashion Design and Textiles today (Oct 14).
Nevertheless, the student's journey did not come without challenges.
“In Singapore, there aren't many factories that would help students like me because most of the clothes are sewn or made abroad because it's cheaper,” said Iris.
"Therefore, I think the fashion industry in Singapore in that sense is very small and the challenge for me at that time was financial because it was very expensive," she added.
FARIZI NOORFAUZI BUILDS AN OLD KAMPUNG STRUCTURE USING RECYCLED WOOD
Another graduate this year, Farizi Noorfauzi, received a BA(Hons) first class degree in Fine Arts.
His interest in the architecture and structure of old buildings, such as the kampungs of yesteryears, motivated Farizi to redesign those buildings using wood for his final year project.
Photo: BERITAmediacorp
“I noticed that such structures can no longer be found in modern times. So, for my final year project, I tried to build these structures,” shared Farizi, 24, with BERITAmediacorp.
“I used wood that is recycled, which could be found everywhere in the school,” he added.
The relationship between identity and memory becomes a source of inspiration for his work.
“I noticed that there is not much discussion about the relationship of the self with past histories and when I try to recollect the memories of these past times and try to understand my emotions, I get inspired to create works in my artistic practice,” said Farzi.
Engaging in this kind of art, Farizi admits that he faces challenges.
Photo: Farizi Noorfauzi
For example, it took him a year to produce his final year project, which was the longest he has ever taken for a project.
Prior to this, Farizi had also been involved in various exhibitions including the 'Objectif' exhibition in 2019, where he shared his opinions on the diverse definitions of the Malay identity with the aim of developing a greater understanding.
THE ARTS SERVES AS A MIRROR OF SOCIETY
The convocation ceremony held today (Oct 14) recognises individuals who stand out and exhibit excellence in their respective artistic fields.
“The value of the arts is far-reaching. The arts serves as a reflection of society, and binds people together. It plays a critical role in promoting discourse and mutual understanding,” said Dr Maliki Osman in a video-recorded speech to the graduates.
“Like many before you, your education will serve you well. You are well placed for the journey ahead. As an artist, the perspective you bring is invaluable because it has both breadth and depth,” he added.
In the meantime, Dr Maliki also advised the graduates to always look for new opportunities, open their minds and continue to maintain their interest in learning.
