Cambodia embraces Fashion Week in style

Cambodia's first Fashion Week has seen shows across Phnom Penh

Eric Raisina says Fashion Week will serve as a "dream and inspiration" for budding designers

Top model agent Sapor Rendall says attitudes have been changing rapidly in the country

5 November 2011
By Guy De Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh

If there were a prize for the most stylish man in Cambodia, Eric Raisina would be among the favourites.

He is dressed all in black, apart from two startling flashes of colour at his neck and feet - provided by one of his own silk scarves and a pair of vintage, multi-coloured baseball shoes.

This combination of casual elegance with a touch of the dramatic is very Eric Raisina. He applies a similar approach to the clothes he designs for women at his atelier in Siem Reap, in central Cambodia.

Cambodian modelling industry grows

Sat Apr 12 2008
ITN (UK)

The modelling business in Cambodia is growing in popularity, offering new opportunities for young women.

Long Makara, 27, is is one of the most successful models in Cambodia. She models for magazines, the Cambodian Television Network and she even represented Cambodia at the Miss Tourism Queen international beauty contest in 2005, which is aimed at boosting tourism in participating countries.

She said: "Modelling is making a lot of progress. Our models from Sapor's Modelling School get a lot of support.

"We get hired for companies' opening ceremonies and the rich people want to see how nice the new designer clothes are."

She attends classes twice a week to further develop her skills and to help the younger models.

Sapor Rendall, the owner of Sapor's modelling school, said: "I opened the school because, most importantly, I am a model myself and I was so shy in the beginning, but then later I was alright, that I felt I should create this business so young Cambodian girls can join and get jobs."

The school offers not only courses in modelling, but also in make-up artistry, hair styling, facials, manicures, pedicures, massage and cooking to students from different parts of the country.

So for Sapor's students who do not have a model's traditional attributes, like long legs and flawless skin, they can still find success in related careers in beauty shops, spas and other small businesses.

An Angkor Adventure

March 5, 2007
By Don Protasio
The News Today (The Philippines)

Siem Reap is a charming province of Cambodia and is the seat of what could be the country's most famous landmark, the majestic and awe-inspiring Angkor Wat. It was also the venue of the 4th Angkor Silk Fair and I was invited to present my Fall/Winter 2006 “City” hablon collection and my Spring/Summer 2007 “Triumph of Tradition” jusi and barong collection. Nina You and Kelly Karatau, the head honcho of the Angkor Silk Forum was fascinated with the materials I used and they wanted to have a sort of interaction with the silk producers and a foreign designer. My good friend Loven Ramos, graphic designer par excellance, sorted out my inclusion to the fair and along with his wife Faith, booked me on a flight to Siem Reap. I presented my collection at the Royal Gardens with models ranging from an ear cleaner, a cook, a barber to Ms. Cambodia and Mr. Manhunt. Loven, who art directed the show wanted a spectrum of real models and real people to give my show texture. And I'm happy to say I never felt so appreciated in all my life when I took the finale bow. Many Filipinos and foreigners watched the ticketed show. The mood music before the show of classic Pinoy disco like 'Bongga Ka 'Day!', 'Manila' and 'Annie Batungbakal' sure did help. Apsara TV covered and showed the whole show on national TV. That is how I became an ambassador of sorts for the Philippines in the name of style!

Fashion designer Jaki Penalosa and TNT's very own Marichel Magalona tagged along to experience Angkor. The organizers and the Ramos family prepared a wonderful itinerary for all of us. We visited the Institute for Khmer Traditional Textiles where Mr. Morimoto, a Japanese designer, creates traditional silk textiles using only traditional methods. Even the tie they use for tying the silk is made of banana fiber and they recycle old rusty Khmer Rouge guns to fix the dye of their textiles (retailing for hundreds of dollars). We also passed by Prolung Khmer, a pottery and cotton weaving industry where we saw pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It turned out it was the pet project of the benevolent couple. We toured all the high end hotels, bars and nooks there – Blue Pumpkin (the best vegetarian drinks and the best ice cream – ginger&nougatine ice cream!), Linga Bar (Won the best atmosphere award from Travel Magazine), Amansara (where the Pitts stayed; simply the best in chic elegance when it comes to resort hotels), Apsalu Market (where you can buy dragon fruits, fried crickets, scorpions, Jurassic-looking fishes and other exotic products found only there), One Hotel ( you pay for the whole hotel, you occupy the whole hotel!), Old Market (a treasure trove of silks, textiles, silvers and the whole gamut of Cambodian products), Hotel de la Paix (the chicest place to have dessert) and so many other places.

I could go on and on raving about Siem Reap and our Angkor Wat adventure but it would take so much more space, so many words and phrases to describe the smell (jasmine, sampaguita) , the scenery (rugged, dusty, dry), the people (trapped in time, friendly, eager), the food (minty, vegetarian, herby) and everything that makes it a wonderful place. It's a developing region and when I'm asked to describe it in the most brief way, I can only say, “There, the possibilities and opportunities are endless!”