FASHION, MUSIC AND FUN CONVERGE AT THE HIP PARADE

Fashion, music and fun converge at a colourful fashion carnival, The Hip Parade. For the first time, designer labels – Armani Exchange, BOYCOTT, OZOC, Blackjack and Island Shop will showcase their latest Spring/Summer 2001 collections on the same stage at Zouk’s carpark on Saturday, 24 March 2001. The Guest-of-honour is Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Singapore Tourism Board.

Over 100 models will take to the 30-metre catwalk parading some 140 outfits. The evening’s fun and entertainment will hit a high note with performances by three star impersonators - Prince, Madonna and Ricky Martin.

Armani Exchange opens the hour-long Hip Parade with 50 of their latest men’s and ladies’ casual street-wear. This collection is a mix of bright candy colours and looser fabric shapes that is anything but ordinary – from chintzed cottons to heat-treated textures. Celebrities Wang De Yuan, Jeff Wang, Joey Swee, Florence Tan, and Vivian Lai will be taking on the roles of models that evening, donning AlX designs on the catwalk.

Befitting The Hip Parade atmosphere are more than 10 labels carried by Blackjack. Among the 35 models parading 70 looks, expect to see TV personalities Ix Shen, Vincent Ng and Robin Leong on stage spotting street and club styles.

Also featuring casual wear is BOYCOTT – a brand that is targeted specifically for the new generation male who is fashion-savvy, cosmopolitan and has a distinctive sense about fashion. Leading the BOYCOTT parade is popular TV host Bryan Wong.

Wrapping up the evening’s fashion show is OZOC’s latest Spring/Summer 2001 collection of two distinct themes – neo classical and avant-garde. Some 35 models will showcase elegant and body conscious styles such as fitted tops teamed with flare skirts. Part of the OZOC contingent of models are well-known TV artistes Lynn Poh and Lina Ng, together with up and coming artiste Jeanette Sim.

Home-grown label Island Shop will feature their signature Asian, ethnic designs in a fantasy-themed show earlier in the evening. It promises to be avant-garde and theatrical with each of the 25 models transformed into a ‘diva’.

The Hip Parade is the second fashion presentation in a series of events that is targeted at consumers throughout the two-week long Fashion Festival 2001.

Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Singapore Tourism Board, said that,” The Hip Parade reflects the evolving trends of the fashion and lifestyle scenes in Singapore. The statement is that fashion is an integral part of our lifestyles, and the format of an out-door party reinforces the colour and festivity that mark the celebration of fashion.”

Mr David Lim, CEO of MS Twilight Pte Ltd, the organiser of Fashion Festival 2001 commented that, “A part of fashion is very much a culture intertwined with music and clubbing. By organising the Hip Parade at a popular nightspot such as Zouk, and having a co-ordinated presentation of fashion collections of five labels all on one event, we hope to show that fashion is identifiable, accessible and most of all, fun!”

“We are thrilled to be a part of the first large-scale outdoor fashion show in Singapore as AlX and Blackjack exemplify perfectly the perception of trendy street wear. The idea of an extensive catwalk at Zouk is in line with the image of the brands – casual, bold and fun. We are also proud to be a part of Singapore Tourism Board’s first effort at a nationwide fashion festival, and hope that this will bring more awareness to fashion brands in Singapore,” said Monica Alsagoff, Marketing Communications Manager of Club 21 that carry the two brands.

“We are very pleased with this opportunity to showcase our BOYCOTT and OZOC fashions to a very appropriate audience and participate in the highlights of the Fashion Festival 2001,” said Mr John Ng, General Manager of Sidefame, the managing agent of the two labels.

Gerry Rezel, Vice President (Marketing and Communications), C.K. Tang Limited said, “As the only local participating label, we are very proud and honoured to have this opportunity to showcase Island Shop together with the international brands. This is an excellent platform to present our Spring 2001 collection and for us to stamp our Tangs name on the global fashion map.” Island Shop is exclusively available at Tangs.

Fashion Festival 2001 is held from 16 to 31 March 01. It is a fashion extravaganza which has its role in reinforcing Singapore’s global image as a city that welcomes the latest and the best from the international fashion circuit. The Festival hopes to ride on the strategic timing in March when the season’s Spring/Summer collections arrive in the stores. This provides a co-ordinated platform that will create a fashion frenzy and, hopefully, will in turn boost retail sales and tourists arrivals.

Fashion Festival is supported by Singapore Tourism Board.