Julien MacDonald is a British Fashion Designer who launched his own label in 1998. He was named the ‘2001 British Designer’ of the year at the Elle Style Awards and received the ‘British Glamour Designers’ of the year award as well as ‘GQ Womenswear Designer’ of the year in 2003. In 2006, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to the fashion industry.

The fashion show featured Julien’s Malaysian-inspired design pieces as well as his latest collection from London Fashion Week held in September 2015.

Themed the Julien MacDonald Retrospective Exhibition, Julien’s designs were based on his past travel to Malaysia and have been worn by celebrities including Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian.

Limkokwing Fashion Design students helped to ensure that the showcase was conducted smoothly by providing backstage support during the exhibition.

“We want students to gain experience by working with us,” said Julien MacDonald. “Because behind every great designers is always a great team.”

For Diploma in Fashion & Retail Design Nur Irsalina, this exposure helped her to prepare for the industry.

“Being part of these events prepares us for the real thing,” she said. “By helping designers produce their show, we get a glimpse of what the whole event would be like if we were to have our own show.”

For Fashion and Lifestyle Creativity Fashion Coordinator Ellen Wilson, the experience allowed students to understand the inner workings of a fashion event. She also added that students could learn from behind the scenes where they could explore different aspects of the industry. 

“They get to see how things are done more closely,” she said. “They learn to work as a team while knowing the importance of attention to detail.”

Julien emphasised the importance of work experience and industry exposure to improve students’ prospective careers in the fashion business.

“I find that the Limkokwing University students did a fantastic job and they were very professional,” he added.

Limkokwing University regularly collaborates with internationally recognised brands to conduct showcases, exhibitions and events which exposes students’ to industry practices. This develops students’ networking opportunities with industry professionals to gain a competitive advantage in a globalised market.

The experience gained by students during the Julien Macdonald Fashion Show serves as a platform for the upcoming ‘Creativity In Motion’ graduate showcase to be held on 4 Dec at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur shopping centre.