WELLINGTON: Few would have imagined that the creative touch of a young Malaysian could captivate the international stage,
Majoriti reported.
Mohammad Faris Mohd Fairusham, a student at Victoria University in Wellington, made the nation proud when he won first place in the Air Section of the prestigious World of Wearable Art (WOW) fashion competition here recently.
His avant-garde creation, inspired by the traditional Wau Bulan, mesmerised judges and audiences with its fusion of cultural elegance, fine craftsmanship, and distinctive Malaysian identity.
In a video shared by WOW on
Instagram, the design featured giant crescent-shaped wings and a semi-circular tail resembling the form of a traditional kite, adorned with gold lace and shimmering tassels.
The wings and chest were embellished with pink hibiscus motifs, while a golden headdress studded with red gemstones completed the ensemble.
Faris, who hails from Sarawak, incorporated Sarawak batik into the corset as a tribute to his roots, enhancing it with intricate embroidery and blue-and-gold beadwork.
He revealed that the costume was completed within a tight schedule while juggling part-time work, even continuing his stitching during shifts before leaving for a student exchange programme in Colombia.
The annual WOW competition, held in Wellington, is one of the world’s most influential wearable art shows, bringing together hundreds of designers who merge art, fashion, and performance in one spectacular display.
