ACF INAUGURATION

Inspiring and celebrating Asia’s fashion design

The Asian fashion industry has been given a glamorous boost – thanks to the newly-minted Asian Couture Federation (ACF). Inaugurated during the Singapore Fashion Week 2013 that took place this past October, the independent federation aims to raise the profile of the most exceptional of Asian fashion talent regionally and internationally by providing a platform for these creative geniuses to promote their craft.

Inspired by the Council of Fashion Designers (CFDA) and La Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, the concept of the ACF was birthed primarily due to the lack of recognition of Asian couture. Comprising a board of Governors representing some of Asia’s most authoritative, respected and lauded individuals in the fashion arena, the formation of the federation marks a historic milestone for Asia and the fashion industry.

The board includes fashion luminaries such as Kim Sung-Joo, chairwoman of luxury fashion label MCM, Dr Satomi Omuna, President of Bunka Fashion College (alumni include Kenzo Takada, Junya Watanabe and Yohji Yamamoto) and Kullawit Laosuksri, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Thailand. Legendary Japanese fashion maestro Kenzo Takada shows his invaluable support by serving as the organisation’s Honorary President.

It is the first organisation in Asia to acknowledge, support and promote Asian couturiers who exhibit the highest level of artistry in fashion design, with well-established designers denoted as Asian Couturier Extraordinaire (ACE), as well as Invited Members who are deemed the next generation of Asia’s top couture design talent. At the Press Conference held in Tokyo on 24 September 2013, the ACF was formally endorsed by His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Japan Prime Minister.

ACF Founding President Frank Cintamani says, “I am extremely excited to see the creation of the Asian Couture Federation. Asia has always produced some of the most exceptional fashion talents in the world. However, they have not received the attention and support that they rightly deserve.”

The mission of the ACF is to inspire, support and promote the highest levels of Asian-based fashion design artistry to the Asian and global markets. Frank Cintamani adds, “The creation of the ACF is an important milestone in formally establishing an internationally recognised platform to both promote and develop this creativity. With increasing global interest in Asia, this is the perfect moment for the Asian Couture Federation to come to fruition.”