KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Known for using bright colour blocks, flares, slits and prints, local couturier Syomir Izwa excels at making edgy and bold clothing designs. His brand, Syomirizwa Gupta celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

In today's fashion world where trends come and go, Syomir continues to put bright hues at the forefront of his designs. At the recent Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2022, he made a statement that his jewel tones are here to stay.

Never one to give in to seasonal fads, Syomir sends a clear message that there is no reason to be afraid of bold shades, and that only colours can bring out one's personality.

"Wherever you go, you always come back to colours. People should chill and have fun with it. Dress for your personality, not just trends,” he told Malay Mail.

At his showroom in Bangsar, Syomir's new collection exudes a vibrant mood; bursting with tones of ballerina pink, serene aqua and burnt orange. All of his outfits spell gender freedom and celebrates people from all walks of life.

"With the world buzzing again after the Covid-19 pandemic, isn't this the best time to play with colours?” he asked cheekily.

"Colours are part of our nature and rich cultural background ... I personally feel this year is the right time to wear colours,” he added.

Syomir first shot to fame after he designed modest yet stylish clothing for Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna. He found further commercial success with online retail companies like Zalora.

Having made his name in the late 90s, Syomir marked another milestone in 2020 when he launched Gupta Homme, a menswear line in collaboration with corporate magnate Datuk SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin.

Celebrating two decades

After graduating from Raffles Lasalle International Design School in KL in 1998, Syomir founded his brand Syomirizwa Gupta in 2002.

Syomir, who has a diploma in fashion design and women's wear, is described as a designer with a multicultural background who creates outfits with a classic and modern twist.

Syomir's father is Indian while his mother is Indonesian; his blended heritage plays an influential role in his brand. Nowhere was this more evident than at his KLFW showcase, which became one of the most talked about events.

To wear his designs, Syomir engaged models of all body shapes and nationalities. From headscarf-wearing models to mothers and non-binary people, diversity was indeed represented on the runway.

The showstopper was well-known transgender model Lily Noir, who previously earned the moniker 'Asia's Naomi Campbell'.

"I have worked with Lily before in the early 2000s. Her dark skin, bloodline and the gender she stands for is what made me use her as my showstopper,” Syomir explained.

There was also top model Vanizha Vasanthanathan, who continues to fight against dark skin discrimination. Also featured was Carey Ng, a mother of two who represented Malaysia at Miss Universe in 2013.

Other celebrities included actress and TV host Sherry Alhadad, who previously collaborated with Syomir on designs for curvier women. Twin sisters Thanuja Ananthan and Anuja Ananthan, who are models and hosts, also strutted the runway.

"Celebrating all these models and inclusivity is what my brand is all about and it will continue to stay that way. Fashion may be a superficial platform but I am using it to remind people of what is important in life,” he said.

His inspirations

For Syomir, his inspirations are fluid and they can be any subject that he comes across.

"It can be the art I see, paintings, the people I meet, their stories or something I feel connected to while on Spotify. I take inspiration from all these things around me,” he mused.

As a child, Syomir's ambition was to become an animator for Disney as he loved drawing Disney cartoons.

He used to sketch illustrations of Disney's Snow White and Cinderella, and changed their iconic outfits when he got bored.

"Both sides of my family are big on dressing up; my dad’s side with their jewellery and my mum’s side with their outfits. They really looked after their appearance. It was so much fun seeing them get ready, doing their hair and the women picking up their earrings. I grew up with a lot of that.

"Not to forget how my parents' multicultural background inspired my colours. I grew up feeling that colours are romantic, nostalgic and always a visual memory,” he said.

In the future, Syomir will continue to celebrate people of all gender identities, including the non-binary. He also wants to remind people of their history and heritage, through the clothes they wear as well as the stories behind them.

"As a designer, we are giving choices to people who are sidelined or not heard of. I am here to cater to the majority and minority; all the segments,” he concluded.