Asia sashays into the global fashion runway with MasterCard

As a sponsor of premium global fashion events, MasterCard Worldwide started this year’s fashion calendar with the Asia Fashion Exchange in Singapore where it was the official card of Audi Fashion Festival 2010 and the main sponsor and official card of Blueprint 2010.

The Audi Fashion Festival 2010, held at the Tent @ Orchard Road, featured the theme “Designing the Future” and showcased the latest collections of leading Singaporean brands as well as global fashion labels.

Definitely, it was a reflection of Singapore’s strong commitment to be in the global fashion map alongside Milan, Paris, New York and London.

Dramatically opening the festival is the DSquared2 2010 Fall/Winter Collection from iconic Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten. The audience was wowed by the sexy and provocative styles of this Milan-based brand, and equally mesmerized by the Estonian supermodel, Carmen Kass who headlined the show which featured sleek black leather suits, tight leggings and jackets that gave off a Matrix-gothic feel.

The sexy and provocative Fall/Winter collection of DSquared2 from Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten featuring sleek black leather suits, tight leggings and jackets is headlined by the Estonian supermodel, Carmen Kass.

The Singaporean fashion label that went global, Raoul, showcased a rich mix of colors and prints in its collection of cardigans and loose-fitting pieces. Pleated and tucked fabrics with fluid lines gave the collection a modern appeal.

Raoul showcases a rich mix of colors and prints with its ensemble of cardigan and loose fitting pieces.

Spanish clothing chain MANGO graced the catwalk with its Pure Light Spring/Summer Collection for men and women. Featuring pureness and simplicity as key elements, flirty skirts, denim corsets and floral sundresses captivated the crowd.

Mango’s Pure Light Spring/Summer collection features pureness and simplicity with its flirty skirts and floral dresses.

The atmosphere intensified when avant-garde British label Kokon To Zai (KTZ) paraded its flamboyant, funky clubwear on the runway. KTZ masterminds Marjan Pejowski and Sasha Besovski displayed a gala of extravagant, out-of-this-world outfits that are loved by Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.

Pure elegance was embodied by legendary jeweler Tiffany & Co., a favorite of many iconic stars from Audrey Hepburn to Kate Winslet. It was an eyeful of perfected legacy, style and beauty as models walked down the runway in glamorous Herve Leger gowns that accentuated these luxurious yet modern creations.

KTZ parades on the runway an extravagant and out-of-this-world clubwear collection.

Pure elegance is embodied by luxurious yet modern Tiffany creations. Models wore Herve Leger gowns to accentuate the perfected legacy and style of the legendary jeweler

A standout is the Samsung-sponsored Marchesa show that revealed stunning, beautifully crafted evening gowns designed by Karen Craig and Georgina Chapman. This dramatic, ultra-feminine collection consisted of pieces guaranteed to make celebrities shine on the red carpet.

The grand finale of the successful fashion festival was Roberto Cavalli’s glamorous and sexy 2010 collection. The exceptional Florentine designer took his signature bold, exotic prints straight from Milan to the catwalk of Singapore in an event which show off what he described in a conversation as “one of his best shows”. The first Cavalli show in Singapore, opened by South Korean supermodel, Song Kyung-Ah, was so sensational that it merited a 5-minute standing ovation from a very appreciative international audience.

Samsung-sponsored Marchesa reveals stunning, ultra-feminine collection of evening gowns guaranteed to make celebrities shine on the red carpet.

The sensational 2010 collection of renowned Florentine designer, Roberto Cavalli is a display of glamorous and sexy dresses with his signature bold and exotic prints.

Blueprint 2010 exhibits cutting-edge creations from 50 of the best Asian designers and labels. Among the featured designers is Thai Roj Singhakul who displayed his culture-religion inspired collection.

Another major event in the Asia Fashion Exchange was Blueprint 2010, a three-day trade show for international buyers. The exhibits and shows featured traditional to cutting-edge creations, ready-to-wear collections and mid- to high-end jewelry and accessories from 50 of the best Asian designers and labels. Also, consumers had a chance to shop for designer pieces off the runway at the Blueprint Emporium.

Natalie Lockwood, group head, Regional Marketing, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa MasterCard Worldwide, said “MasterCard understands that many of our cardholders are passionate about fashion and we look forward to bringing them many exclusive privileges and experiences with our involvement in Asia Fashion Exchange.”

MasterCard is building a strong fashion platform to stimulate demand for local and regional designers, and promote the diverse and dynamic Asian fashion scene. “Our own research shows that fashion and accessories rank among the top two spending priorities for consumers in the Asia/Pacific region and this opens up many opportunities for the fashion and design community here,” added Lockwood.

On its fourth year as a strong supporter of Singapore Fashion Festival, MasterCard has been supporting major fashion shows globally including Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, 30 Days of Fashion in New York, and MasterCard Luxury Week in Hong Kong.