As a member of the “New Wave” of British designers, Zandra Rhodes revolutionized the world of fashion, putting London at the forefront of the international fashion scene in the 1970s. Born in Kent, England in 1940, Zandra was introduced to fashion by her mother, who was a fitter for the Paris House of Worth and a fashion lecturer at Medway College of Art. After studying textile design at Medway and later at the Royal College of Art, Zandra initially launched her career as a textile designer. Zandra soon developed her own form of fashion design, teaching herself how to create clothing on her own terms. Her background in textile design became the focus of her dressmaking as she allowed the textile designs themselves to influence the shapes of the garments. Influences on her work have ranged from the paintings of Kandinsky, Modigliani and Matisse to Elizabethan costumes in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Mexican sombreros and the safety pins and tears of the 1970s London punk scene.
In recognition of her contribution to the textile and fashion industries, Zandra was elected Royal Designer for Industry by the British Royal Society of Art in 1994 and appointed a Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth in 1997. She has designed costumes for San Diego Opera’s production of Wolfgang Mozart’s The Magic Flute (2001), sets and costumes for George Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers (2004 and 2008) and was commissioned by the English National Opera and Houston Grand Opera to design sets and costumes for Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida (2007). In 1999 Zandra founded the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, which focuses on contemporary British and international fashion, textiles and jewelry. Zandra continues her design work in her San Diego and London studios, producing two collections yearly, and lectures on her experiences in the fashion industry. Objects from Mingei International Museum’s permanent collection complement Zandra’s dynamic inspirations. Geometric designs on African kuba cloths, dynamic colors of Indian saris and the elaborate patterns of Indonesian batik highlight the wide spectrum of inspiration for her textile and garment designs.
Sebagai salah seorang pereka British “Aliran Baru,” Zandra Rhodes telah merevolusikan dunia fesyen dan meletakkan London di barisan hadapan persada fesyen antarabangsa sejak tahun 1970an. Zandra yang dilahirkan di Kent, England pada tahun 1940, mula mengenali dunia fesyen menerusi ibunya, yang merupakan seorang pengubahsuai pakaian di Rumah Rekaan Fesyen Worth di Paris dan juga pensyarah fesyen di Kolej Kesenian Medway. Setelah mempelajari rekaan tekstil di Medway dan juga di Kolej Kesenian Diraja, Zandra pada awalnya memulakan kerjayanya sebagai seorang pereka tekstil. Tidak lama kemudian, Zandra mencipta bentuk rekaan fesyennya yang tersendiri, dengan mengajar dirinya untuk menghasilkan pakaian dengan ketetapannya sendiri. Latarbelakangnya di dalam rekaan tekstil menjadi sumber utama dalam pembuatan pakaiannya, kerana beliau membenarkan corak rekaan tekstil tersebut mempengaruhi bentuk pakaian. Rekaan beliau juga dipengaruhi pelbagai hasil seni, termasuklah lukisan oleh seniman tersohor seperti Kandinsky, Modigliani dan Matisse, sehinggalah ke pakaian era Elizabeth di Muzium Victoria dan Albert, topi sombrero Mexico, serta pin keselamatan dan pakaian lusuh dari era punk London pada tahun 1970an.
Sebagai pengiktirafan ke atas sumbangannya kepada industri tekstil dan fesyen, Zandra dipilih sebagai Pereka Industri Diraja oleh Persatuan Seni Diraja British pada tahun 1994 dan turut dilantik menjadi Komander Empayar British oleh Permaisuri Elizabeth pada tahun 1997. Beliau juga pernah mereka pakaian untuk produksi Opera San Diego berdasarkan karya Wolfgang Mozart yang berjudul Seruling Sakti (2001), set dan pakaian untuk Penyelam Mutiara oleh George Bizet (2004 dan 2008), serta ditugaskan oleh Opera Kebangsaan Inggeris dan Opera Besar Houston untuk mereka set dan pakaian dalam Aida (2007) oleh Giuseppe Verdi. Pada 1999, Zandra telah menubuhkan Muzium Fesyen dan Tekstil di London, yang direka oleh arkitek Mexico bernama Ricardo Legorreta, dan ia memberi tumpuan kepada fesyen, tekstil dan barang kemas kontemporari British dan antarabangsa. Kini, Zandra masih mereka fesyen di studio-studionya di San Diego dan London, serta menghasilkan dua koleksi setiap tahun. Di samping itu, beliau turut bersyarah tentang pengalamannya di dalam industri fesyen. Objek-objek dari koleksi tetap Muzium Antarabangsa Mingei melengkapkan ilham dinamik Zandra. Rekaan geometri kain kuba Afrika, warna-warna dinamik sari India dan corak-corak rumit batik Indonesia menyerlahkan spektrum inspirasi rekaan tekstil dan pakaiannya.
Promoting Malaysia as a tourist destination is a national mission, as reiterated but YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia during the launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Promotional Campaign recently. The hosting of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 as well as the designating of 2013 as a preparatory year (VMY campaign promotional year) is timely as a means to boost arrivals in order to meet the 2020 target.
Malaysia is targeting to receive 28.8 million in foreign tourist arrivals during VMY 2014. The theme of VMY 2014 is "Celebrating 1Malaysia…Truly Asia". The focus of our campaign for VMY 2014 is: We are the host.
The Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Malaysia are wasting no time in making early preparations to woo the targeted 28.8 million tourists for 2014. We are kicking off in a big way through the hosting of several tourism carnivals to create awareness and solicit strong support from both public and private sectors.
The theme "Celebrating 1Malaysia… Truly Asia" serves to highlight the country’s pillars of strength namely the diverse cultures and multi-racial communities living in harmony and peace in one beautiful and blessed country.
The launch of VMY 2014 promotional campaign on January 19, 2013 was aimed to put all Malaysians in the state of readiness, to be part and to take the role as the host for Visit Malaysia Year. It is also to mobilised supports from all walks of life and all sectors existed in the country, not only from our industry players and partners.
It will be a platform to encourage more Malaysians to be part of VMY 2014 celebrations besides creating a patriotic sense of ownership of our beloved country.
Please send your ideas to :
Visit Malaysia Year Secretariat
Ministry Of Tourism Malaysia
Level 12 & 13, No.2, Tower 1,
Jalan P5/6, Precint 5, 62200 PUTRAJAYA
