[November 26, 2006]

Ong's mobile fashion connection

(New Straits Times Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) IT is the ultimate phone accessory - a dress to match. Designer Michael Ong tells SOFIANNI SUBKI of his Nokia interpretations.

A DRESS inspired by a handphone? Sounds fantastical but making dreams come true is what Michael Ong does best.

The award-winning fashion designer, who dresses the likes of Ziana Zain, Siti Norhaliza and Ning Baizura, has teamed up with Nokia Malaysia to launch a couture collection inspired by the company's latest hand-phones.

The recently-launched L'Amour Collection features three stylish hand-phones adorned with unique floral and circular motifs. The same motifs are reinterpreted in sequins and beads on Ong's designs.

For women, bubble skirts and dresses have never been so hot. They're worn on their own or over leggings, another season essential. A show-stopper is an adorable baby doll bubble dress in cream. For men, there are embroidered shorts and long-sleeved print tops. Colour-wise, cream, pink and the classic black and white combo dominate.

Ong adds a touch of drama with a range of boots that also features the L'Amour motifs. Knee and ankle length boots come in black PVC, a material he says will be the rage next year.

"The collection has a young, up-to-date and fun feel," he says. "The 12 outfits can be worn as separates." He spent a month working on the collection and except for the L'Amour motifs that came from a design team in Finland, designed everything from scratch.

"This is my third collaboration with Nokia so we work well together," he says. "I especially had fun with the men's print tops. Prints are going to be big next year so you can expect to see a lot of it in my future collections under my own label." In conjunction with the launch of the L'Amour Collection, Nokia is organising a contest targeted at local fashion students. Project L'Amour aims to encourage and nurture talented young designers by helping them explore and develop their aptitude for fashion. It will be a chance for aspiring designers to showcase their talent at a national level.

Participants will have to design one phone accessory based on a given L'Amour colour palette and motif collection. "We haven't put restrictions on the type of accessory," says Joanne Foo, Nokia Malaysia's marketing services manager. "Participants are free to design anything whether it's a dangling accessory or hand-phone cover." The top 10 finalists will get a chance to work with Ong at a oneday workshop where he will share his experience and give tips. The grand prize winner will take home RM5,000, a Nokia 7390 and the chance to see his winning entry sold as a limited edition accessory with the purchase of L'Amour Collection phones.

The contest will end Dec 5. Entry forms are available online as well as at participating fashion colleges.

"Nokia doesn't just want to talk about phones," continues Foo. "This contest is our way of giving back to the community. We have many young designers out there who have the talent but lack the platform with which to express themselves." She adds that the L'Amour Collection is all about style with substance.

The Nokia 7390, 7373 and 7360 are not just trendy, they're cutting-edge technology too. "They will appeal to both male and female consumers alike," she says. "The Nokia 7390 has even got 3G-enable connectivity, a 3 megapixel camera and music player." For more information on Project L'Amour, log on to www.nokia.com.my.

Copyright 2006 The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad. Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Intelligence Wire.

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