J Spring Fashion Show finale - Jessica Minh Anh wearing the phenomenon cake dress by Just Heavenly bakery - photo by John Oakley
On the 19th March 2012, global fashion entrepreneur and model Jessica Minh Anh made history with the first ever fashion show on the SkyBridge of the world’s tallest twin structure, the PETRONAS Twin Towers, 175 metres above street level. The hotly anticipated red carpet event showcased collections from ten different countries, marking a new height in fashion and the latest triumph of rising star Jessica.
“The entire production was flawless and the collections were spectacular, but we were most amazed by the fact that Jessica Minh Anh managed to get the permission to host such a show on the landmark bridge, on which no one was even allowed to put a single chair before”said Allan Yap, CEO of Just Heavenly Malaysia. Tipped by the UK press as representing a new generation of fashion talent after a landmark event on London’s iconic Tower Bridge with the 2011 J Autumn Fashion Show,Jessica wowed guests with a colourful swimwear collection from New York Fashion Week luxurious brand and marketing leader Gottex – raising eyebrows and pulses in demure Malaysia. Ending the show with a bang, Jessica presented a dress made out of cake and sugar on the 58-metre catwalk, in front of a string of VIPs including ambassadors, ministers, international designers and top press.
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Addy van den Krommenacker - J Spring Fashion Show
Chula - 5 looks - J Spring Fashion Show - photo by John Oakley
Paul Costelloe signature dress - model Jessica Minh Anh - photo John Oakley
Limkokwing - J Spring Fashion Show by J Model Management
The grand show opened with Taiwanese fashion brand Shiatzy Chen, bringing a distinctive style combining the rich heritage of Eastern aesthetics with contemporary Western cuts. British fashion leader Paul Costelloe, who skipped London Fashion Week this year to focus on the Asian market, followed with his new vintage Parisian chic collection which celebrates strong feminine silhouettes: voluminous dresses and skirts with luxuriously layered fabrics in a neutral palette, punctuated with coral, pink and green. Katelyn Aslett’s collection was cheeky, romantic and joyful. They are soft and feminine with fly away silks and subtle detail of beads and hand crafting. The wild flowers abundantly placed in the hair create a visual feast. Indian sensation Smriti Gupta showcased a red, gold, and black collection which reflects the incredible culture, spectacular locations and celebrated rituals of India.
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Georgian brand Maicco focused on silk, cotton and satin fabrics, with each piece featuring innovative wing zippers. Spanish fashion house Chula presented a collection which connects the colourful world of Spain with the hand sewing and embroidery techniques of Asia. The young London talent Susanna Bettencourt used bold jacquard and intricate webbed patterns which showed unique conceptual art for her knitwear aqua green collection. Limkokwing represented Malaysia with a special edition which combines Chinese, Indian, and Malay influences. Finally, Dutch celebrity designer Addy van den Krommeker returned to the J Model fashion scene with a glamorous couture collection using lace in its many forms: rebrodee, ricamato and macramee.
Shiatzy Chen - Jessica Minh Anh wearing the poster dress - J Spring Fashion show by J Model Management
Susana Bettencourt - J Spring Fashion Show - photo by John Oakley
Smriti Gupta 2 - J Spring Fashion Show by J Model Management
Kately Aslett 1 - J Spring Fashion Show by J Model Management
The show was supported by L’Oreal Professionnel, Shu Uemura, Citroën, Orange Events, Corus Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Colourman, Celebrity Fitness, Umai-ya, Shogun Saisaki, Beaubelle, Shoeville, Fashion One TV, Marie Claire, Icon, Glam, NTV7 and 8TV.J Spring Fashion Show is part of a series of four high-end fashion shows at the world’s most outstanding venues in 2012. Hosting the event, J Model founder and model Jessica Minh Anh declared this show to be a major step up. “Many people have asked me if bridges are my thing” smiled Jessica. “I say I’ll host the show wherever my imagination takes me. You gotta dream big!” NOTES TO THE EDITOR: 1.Jessica Minh Anh is a model and the young director of J Model Management. She opened the company just 1 month after finishing her master’s degree in Marketing Communications in Birmingham, England in 2009.
The press at the time called her the representative of the multitalented young generation who “focused on Beauty, not Recession” — Insight magazine, United Kingdom. She immediately organised a series of highly successful fashion shows at the most outstanding venues inthe heart of England and “put Birmingham on the map” — BBC WM, United Kingdom. She was invited as a judge at Miss England’s national grand final at the end of 2010 and a front row VIP at various London Fashion Week showcases at the beginning of 2011. She then gained an international success with the J Summer Fashion Show at the world’s celebrity destination, Savoy London, showcasing “mind blowing collections in a spectacular setup” — The Independent newspaper, United Kingdom – in June 2011 when she moved the company to London. In October 2011, “Jessica Minh Anh made history on England’s iconic Tower Bridge 44 metres above the river Thames” — Drapers magazine, United Kingdom – when she became the first ever fashion show organiser to turn the famous bridge into a glamorous 62 metre long catwalk.
The show was covered in the press of 15 countries and showcased the latest collections by designers from 5 continents. Jessica Minh Anh, according to Paul Costelloe, is “talented, ambitious, and full of surprises. She will definitely continue to amaze the world in years to come”.
Maicco - J Spring Fashion Show by J Model Management
Gottex & Gideon Oberson - J Spring Fashion Show - photo by John Oakley
Gottex & Gideon Oberson signature piece - model Jessica Minh Anh - photo John Oakley
Limkokwing signature dress - model Jessica Minh Anh - photo John Oakley
2.The PETRONAS Twin Towers: Standing at a height of 452 metres above ground, the PETRONAS Twin Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world. The towers, which were completed in 1996, are situated in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre on the northern boundary of the Multimedia Super Corridor. Equipped with the state-of-the-art communication facilities, the Twin Towers are a national landmark and a symbol of Malaysia’s socio economic progress and achievements.The floor-plate of the Tower is designed based on geometric patterns common in architecture of Islamic heritage. It is composed of two rotated and superimposed squares with small circular infills. These geometric figures have been described by architects as symbolizing unity, harmony, stability and rationality – all important principles of Islam. Like the exterior design, the Towers’ entrance design was also inspired by the country’s cultural heritage, incorporating contemporary Malaysian motifs adapted from traditional handicrafts such as songket and timber carvings. The overall character of the building is high-tech and international but distinctively Malaysian.
3.Pre-show coverage Jessica Minh Anh’s video interview with Marie Claire
(Malaysia — 17 Mar2012): http://bit.ly/GzGx0R Jessica Minh Anh on The Breakfast Show NTV7
(Malaysia — 20 Feb 2012): http://bit.ly/xva0Ss Borneo Press
(Malaysia — 18 Jan 2012): http://bit.ly/A7hdfW J Models’press page: http://bit.ly/yK5VJ3
4.Previous show coverage ITV News
(England – 20 Oct 2011): http://bit.ly/rGeb9Q CNC News
(China — 20 Oct 2011): http://bit.ly/v237ZF IMEDI News
(Georgia — 21 Oct 2011): http://bit.ly/xTtYvU
J Model Management Kuala Lumpur Office: Level 36, Menara Citibank,165 Jalan Ampang, 50450, Malaysia London Office: Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, W1 1BD, United Kingdom
Filed in: fashion / klcc / petronas / Petronas Twin Tower
