Fasion Forces

The Harper’s BAZAAR Asia NewGen Fashion Award 2019 winners and finalists take modern design to new heights and depths.

- Jeffrey Yan

WINNER: KELLY VALLERIE INDONESIA

With a subdued palette of black and neutrals, Vallerie created a collection of high-impact pieces that can be transformed via snap buttons and zippers to birth new shapes and functions—a clever two-pronged strategy that allows individuality to shine through and gives bang for the buck for her customer.

FIRST RUNNER - UP: LE HOANG SON VIETNAM

Son’s shimmering Swarovski crystals set against black are meant to evoke starry skies and glinting city lights in the night. The designer has a fascination with darkness, envisioning it as a kind of armour in which his women come alive.

SECOND RUNNER - UP: RENA KOK SINGAPORE

Kok’s vision of the future was composed of techie, synthetic fabrics, such as neoprene, latex and high-shine PVC, that she employed on sports-inflected pieces like mini dresses, biking shorts, bra tops and structured trench coats.

Saturation and overconsumption in the fashion industry means it is no longer enough for designers to produce desirable garments; there also needs to be a convincing reason for those garments to exist in the first place. What newness are they bringing to the table? What fresh point of view are they adding to the dialogue? From sustainability—not just in terms of material choices, but also in terms of their businesses in the long run—to conversations around craft, technology and supply chains, the designers at this year’s Harper’s BAZAAR Asia NewGen Fashion Award had much to say, with each bringing a distinctive perspective to the sixth edition of the regional competition.