Featuring ten stylish personalities from Ampang, Syomirizwa Gupta this year will be presenting her Aidilfitri collection with the theme ‘The Ampang Girls’. Taking inspiration from the early and current days of Ampang, the collection boasts ten latest designs consisting of traditional and modern baju kurung, kebaya, kaftan, baju Kedah and several separate pieces that can be styled with other items from your very own closet. The brand, which is well known for its use of bright, fresh and vibrant colours and patterns, continues to retain those elements that are clearly synonymous with Syomirizwa Gupta’s signature style.
The name ‘Ampang’ comes from the word ‘empangan’ in Bahasa Malaysia. In 1857, Raja Abdullah, a representative of the Selangor Sultanate, opened the Klang Valley as a tin mining area where Chinese miners explored the area by walking through the jungle and found that the Ampang district was quite promising. Apparently, the mining industry became very successful in the district, thus becoming a major contributor to the development of Kuala Lumpur.
“I have always been fascinated by history, which is clearly evident from my previous collections. From the many pre-war and British colonial buildings along the Ampang Road, the first known merge of the lifestyle of locals and expatriates in old Kuala Lumpur, the Selangor Turf Club which is a former horse racing venue and one of the most popular landmarks in Ampang to the celebrated entertainment clubs such as Tin Mine where the rich and beautiful hob nobbed back in the 1980s. Add in the infamous traffic jam on Jalan Ampang, the embassies, the glorious Ampang Park shopping centre, the renowned Ampang Yong Tau Fu, the majestic art deco style brick building that is the Rubber Research Institute designed by Arthur Oakley Coltman in 1936; and the list goes on, all of these are close to the hearts of many Malaysians. One could tell from the transitioning of geometric print to floral and colour blocking that this is the spirit that I would like to highlight in ‘The Ampang Girls’ collection”, said Syomir, the owner and Creative Director of the brand.
For this campaign, Syomir and his creative team have carefully selected the ten personalities that will represent the spirit of Ampang who is also the beauties that live in Ampang. Sharifah Ervinna, Natasha Ozier, Iman Moy, Mizar Hamzah, Raja Hazlyn, Datin Eileen Unwin, Emma, Azalea aka Cho; and siblings Mawar and Melati Proehoeman were featured in a glamorous photography session by Malaysia’s famous fashion photographer, Bibo Aswan.
“These are ladies from different walks of life, but what they have in common is the lively energy and fashion sense that makes them stand out in a crowd. Due to various restrictions, we shot the campaign at my apartment in Keramat – which is a stone’s throw away from Ampang. It’s perfect since we would still need to adhere to the ‘stay-at-home’ health confinement. Having said that, this should never be a reason for us not to dress impeccably and elegant while celebrating Aidilfitri at the comfort of our own homes with our family, friends, and loved ones. Using cosy fabrics such as crepe blend, cotton, and silky rayons, they are not just comfortable but easy to move around in”, explains Syomir.
With prices starting from RM290 and sizes from S to XL, Raya shirts from this collection are indeed designed for women of all seasons. It is limited and bookings can be made starting March 5, 2021, exclusively on the website www.syomirizwagupta.com
“This collection is for everyone. ‘The Ampang Girls’ is an ode to love and life. It personifies our positivity to push through the tough times and come out the other side as a winner. That is also the quality that we embrace throughout the holy month of Ramadhan and celebrate in the month of Syawal. Whether it be personal, business, mental or emotional, there are lots of variables and unknowns, but we must all persevere and push through. So why not do it in style?” enthused Syomir with a smile.