Saturday 20 December 2014

Appreciation @ Fashion Asia 2014

OMG, I know this is kind of a long story with the same title, I hope it doesn't make you bored. Well, this will be the last post for Fashion Asia. As I mentioned earlier, this part will be my appreciation notes to those I am grateful. Without them, I don't think I could reach this point of success. This award is for all of you, my beloved family members, teachers and friends. 

The only reason why I wanna express my heartedly appreciation here is because I didn't give a good speech on the stage on the award presentation night. I owe them this!

First of all, I would like to give a big thanks to my greatly respected lecturer, Carven Ong who is the person nominated me to this Fashion Asia 2014, I will never forget the great experiences he gave me which money can't buy. Besides this, I am so thankful for the encouragement and cheer from 96st magazines, friends and family members. I am truly blessed to have all of you around me. Your cheers through text messages mean a lot to me. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. No words could actually well describe how thankful I am to you, everyone of you! Last but not least, special thanks go to the organizer team members who have assisted us in fulfilling all our needs and demands during these few days while we were in Chongqing. The most important thing is they have made this event a meaningful and memorable moments to me! Millions thanks again to all of you. Love you <3

It was in fact a memorable trip for me. I met up with many new friends from different countries of Asia. We had such great days being togetherness, fulfilling with laughs, joys and cheers throughout these 4 days 3 nights trip, leaving a wonderful memory in my life. Miss all of you and wish we could meet up again in the coming years!

Before ending this topic, let me share with you the lesson I gained from this competition. Grasp any opportunities which come to your way. You never know the result without trying and taking challenge yourself. Do not fear to take any challenge or risk in your life. Know yourself and set your goal well and then move forward towards it with full effort and will. Dare to fail! Even if you fail, it doesn't mean the end of the world. Stand up, recover, be strong and fight again. You will do it one day!!!

Lastly, I am going to share some media coverage from China and Malaysia. There are some video interviews which I am unable to share here, apology. Thank you.







Wish you enjoy reading my blog and also please follow some of my social media, Love you guys~<3

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.The End.

Friday 12 December 2014

Recognition @ Fashion Asia - Part 3


Finally it came to the final awesome day - The Award Presentation and Fashion Showcase Day! I woke up very early and had my wonderful breakfast before heading to the venue for rehearsal and to ensure everything was in good condition before the show started. Our schedule was quite packed that day as all preparation must be done and we needed to send all our showcase items to the venue by 4pm. By the time we finished the full rehearsal was almost 2pm already. All of us rushed back to our hotel room to dress up. I had a quick bath and dressed up myself in the best look I could. We then went back to the venue. I did my final check to ensure everything was well set up and ready in good condition, this included background music, gowns and models, etc. 

Suit, shirt, pant and bow tie from: Zara Man

How could I miss the selfie section with all the awesome people!




This year the ceremony was held at Belfry Square Nanbin Road, City Centre of Chongqing, China. The stage was well designed and organized, well done to the organizer team. The stage was built at the opened square. When the Master of Ceremony announced our arrivals, 5 of us from Malaysia were led by Sean Chia (the Person-In-Charged of Malaysian nominators), walking towards the stage through the long red carpet. There was a huge board for us to sign our names. I felt myself being treated like a Superstar! It was really a different experience for me. Cool~

I followed very closely for every announcement of the award presentation. Of cause I wish all 5 of us from Malaysia would bring home the respective awards. Our joyous moment came when we get to know Carol Lee won the Asia Top Fashion Anchor of The Year, I was really happy for her and proud of her. "Congratulations to you, Carol Lee", I whispered in my heart.








When came to my category, I need to move to the front row. From that moment onward, my body was like without soul and my mind was blank. Suddenly I heard my name was being announced. Believe me, it was really a surprise to me. I really won the award! In fact I didn't really clearly heard my name was being called, but only heard: "..... from Malaysia." It was me! I was the winner of Asia Top Fashion Upcoming Designer of the Year 2014. Thank God, all my effort was being rewarded and recognized with this award. It really meant a lot for me. 



Seriously, honestly... when I stood up and walked to the stage, I still doubted whether I was in real life or I was in my sweet dream! Please forgive me that I couldn't give a good speech that time as my mind was blank. I could only thank a few people who came across my mind and I missed out many of others. It was really happened in a sudden and was a big surprise to me because in my heart I thought nominator from China was also doing well and she was most likely to win that award.


While I was having a media interview after I walked down from the stage, I heard Alvin Tay also won the prize too. What a big good news to us, 3 Malaysians brought the awards back to Malaysia!!! We were proud of ourselves being Malaysians!



I have to stop here as it is being very lengthy, I shall come back with more sharing appreciation notes which I owe to many of them. Stay tune with me... <3



Wish you enjoy reading my blog and also please follow some of my social media, Love you guys~<3

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.The End.

Sunday 7 December 2014

New Acquaintance @ Fashion Asia - Part 2

On the first day, we were invited to attend the opening ceremony for this competition. You could also find Carol Lee, Wilson Tan, Amber Chia and Alvin Tay in the photo presented below. Of course, they were also the finalists of this competition under different categories. Asia Top Fashion Anchor of The Year - Carol Lee, Asia Top Fashion Model of the Year (Male Category) - Wilson Tan, Asia Top Fashion Model of The Year (Female Category) - Amber Chia, Asia Fashion Designer of The Year (Haute Couture) - Alvin Tay & me for Asia Fashion Up Coming Designer of The Year.


On the second day, we woke up very early just to get ourselves dressed up for the press conference. It was to my surprise that everyone of us would have to be at stage for a short self-introduction. When I get to know about it, my mind went BLANK! OMG, it's so stressful when you know you need talk on stage about yourself in front of so many media representatives and other nominators. Well, again, I was proud of myself, I did it, well enough... with a short yet straight forward self-introduction... ==lll




Selfie time with Alvin, Amber, Wilson and Carol~
Just ignore my stupid face, lol  
How the serious faces when we were having the Data in China~

Some one is missing in this picture! It's Amber, that time she went for a shop to buy something for her best friend!!!
Our joyous moments came after dinner during our free time, we decided to hang out walking around the city.  Forgot to mention, making new acquaintance was one of the most meaningful gain I get from this competition trip. The city was full of night happenings. After having fun walking and eating local food, we finally stopped at a pub enjoying drinks and chatting among us. It's kind of relax and enjoyment ~ I love it so much <3

Entering the third day, this was the most stressful day for the whole trip to me as we were having our " FITTING DAY". Model fitting is the most "adventurous" for me, this is because we had to depend on our luck in choosing models - LUCKY DRAW. This means that I didn't even know how my models look like before I came for this competition. Well, whatever, God would always guide the right way for us ~ I am not going to post any photos of the fitting process, because they are not well taken. Don't worry, stay with me till the end, I shall show you some photos of the fashion show case. You would be able to see the models and my gowns.

After model fitting section we needed to rush back to hotel to dress up again for attending jewelry show later. This show was so grand to me, besides showing the jewelry, there was a cocktail awaiting us. They served wine, coffee and some finger food to warm up our stomach as the weather in Chongqing that time was very cold. 

Jacket from: Zara Man
Shirt from: TopShop
Pant from: Topshop
Shoe from: Bonia

Let me introduce to you this special new friend of mine. Though we just met and know each other in this trip, I love her "craziness", Michelle Hee. She is a such nice friend and we kept talking nonsense and made jokes and laughs. Of course, she kept sharing with me how her working life in Singapore. She works as a stylist and needs to guide a huge team to work together with her. Such a powerful and capable girl, give her a big LIKE!!! I don't mind to tell you guys a secret about us, we called ourselves as Ah Beng and Ah Lian, lol... because we don't like to show fake face/smile or be glamorous in front of people. We would just like to be the real us at all times.



After the jewelry show, there was a short video interview! Again, I had to answer questions the reporter asked in front of the video camera. Luckily it was just a short one. 

Tomorrow would be the award presentation day. I would have more interesting experience to share. Stay with me... will be back very soon.



To be continued....

Wish you enjoy reading my blog and also please don't be shy to  follow some of my social media, Love you guys~<3

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Tuesday 2 December 2014

Nomination @ Fashion Asia - Part 1

Time flies... suddenly I realized that I have been disappeared for more than a year...

To be honest, this is because I have gone through the darkest moments in my life. It's quite sad to disclose this to all of you, however, I know it's time to share it with you what I felt in my deep heart. Nevertheless, I am very grateful as I am still standing strong despite all the unhappiness and pains which I experienced for the last 12 months. Glad to have true friends with me when I was down, pulling me up, encouraging me with countless nights, just to make sure I am fine. Thanks.

Well, I am back with something great to share with you. The story began with this ...

Last October, one day, I got a call from Carven Ong telling me that he has nominated me to join a competition which was held in China. At first I didn't wish to join because I was not confident enough to participate any competition anymore. Carven encouraged and asked me to try my best and just take it as an experience. After the phone call, I only hesitated for few moments and decided to take the challenge. Once I received the participation form from the organizer, I just filled up my personal details and emailed back to them.

Few weeks passed, I have almost forgotten about this. One day morning, I was awakened by a phone call. This time was not from Carven, but the organizer. She congratulated me and told that I was successful to get into the finalists for Fashion Asian Top Fashion Upcoming Designer of the Year 2014. She further explained to me what I should prepare for the Award Presentation Ceremony. It was really a surprise to me until I thought I was in my dream when I finished the phone call. This award is really for the whole Asia who get nominated.

To be honest, I felt great to have joined this competition and grateful that I didn't turn down when Carven called me about this. My feeling was quite complicated as during the preparation period, I was quite worry and stressed. However, thank God, I managed to go through this and selected the best 5 gowns from my collection to be showcase during the award presentation ceremony in China. Despite all these complicated feelings, I told myself win or lose of this competition is not the only core concern, but it was like a class lesson for me to learn and explore something new from the other competitors and at the same time to get to know more new friends from different Asia countries like China, Japan, Singapore, etc.

One day before I left my country to fly to Chong Qing, China, I was still busy packing my stuff. I had no idea what should I pack for this competition. I even doubted that I was in a dream. There was no words for me to explain what my feeling was, maybe only one word, which is NERVOUS!



Together with other candidates from Malaysia, on 2 November 2014, I arrived Chong Qing airport, China at 8pm and we were being welcomed by organizer at the airport arrival hall. We were then headed to check in at the hotel prepared by the organizer. The first impression to me was they were good in customer service! Let me show you how cool was my room!




Here will be my warm bedroom for the next 5 nights... it was late at night when I checked in... what a tired day... gotta stop now, but will sure bring to you more interesting stories about the whole trip. My promise to you that I will spend more time to share my experience with you. Stay with me... 


To be continue....

Wish you enjoy reading my blog and also please don't be shy to  follow some of my social media, Love you guys~<3

Facebook: Jill by Gilbert
 Instagram: Gilbertng88 
Twitter: Jilllllbert