KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — With leading Hollywood artists donning their outfits now, designer duo Rizman Nordin and Ruzaini Jamil are moving closer towards realising their dream of debuting at Paris Fashion Week.
They are hoping to make it there by the time their label Rizman Ruzaini turns 20 next year.
Rizman Ruzaini has been on a streak of success since British supermodel Naomi Campbell modelled their outfit at Dubai Fashion Week last October.
The outfit, now called the Naomi Cape, is currently on display at Naomi in Fashion exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, making Rizman Ruzaini the first Malaysian designer to be part of an exhibition at the renowned museum.
In December, Campbell also wore their creation on the red carpet of Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah.
Just recently, American singer and actress Lady Gaga wore their long, red gown dripping with thousands of Swarovski gems during her Las Vegas residency.
But, none of this happened by fluke. In fact, being the perfectionists that they are, Rizman and Ruzaini leave nothing to chance.
“Have a big goal. That is the only thing that will pull you through in the fashion industry,” Rizman said, as he recalled their early years in fashion.
Both Rizman and Ruzaini, now 40, found their passion for fashion at home.
For Rizman, it was his mother’s impeccable fashion sense while for Ruzaini, it was the joy of playing dress-up with his sister and sketching a fashion catalogue for his mother when he was 13.
The duo formed a lasting friendship while pursuing their fashion studies at UiTM Sri Iskandar Perak.
After their graduation, they launched Rizman Ruzaini in 2005, following in the footsteps of Italian luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.
“When I submitted my final year collection for a fashion competition, the way Rizman helped me, made me realise that Rizman Ruzaini had a big potential.
“Many people told us to set up individual labels but I knew we had to do it together,” Ruzaini said.
Interestingly, their fashion sense is also as distinct as their personalities.
“I go for more glamorous, feminine and luxurious styles while Ruzaini goes for a more utilitarian and masculine style,” Rizman said.
Meanwhile, the coy and reserved Ruzaini described Rizman as the 'mastermind' who manages and strategises the business, allowing him to focus on the creative aspects.
Their latest Pre-Fall 2024 collection, Quelle Allure, reflects the unique synergy that occurs when the duo works together. It was inspired by a male fashion collection penned by Ruzaini during his university years.
Rizman, however, repurposed the repertoire into women’s wear for iron-willed ladies seeking versatile outfits for work and evening parties.
“I played around with ribbons, pleats and drapes to give it a feminine twist. We want women to feel empowered when they wear it,” Rizman said.
‘Middle East, Bollywood market crucial’
By the end of 2024, Rizman Ruzaini is set to open their first boutique in Dubai, where they have been gaining strong traction after their Dubai Fashion Week debut last year.
They will be returning to the premiere fashion event this year to showcase their Fall/Winter 2024 couture collection.
“Dubai is a different ball game altogether. It is a ‘see now, buy now’ market.
“Clients there want couture pieces off the rack and we will tailor to their demands,” Rizman said.
Meanwhile, Ruzaini said the fashion label plans to design for leading Bollywood celebrities such as Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt to tap into the Indian market and expand their presence in the Middle East region.
“The Middle East region and Bollywood market share many similarities, especially in terms of beadwork.
“Since our collections strongly feature these elements, we are a natural fit for both markets.
“So, collaborations with Bollywood celebrities will strengthen our presence in Dubai,” he said.
The duo also hinted on more upcoming collaborations with renowned Hollywood artists over the next few months.
They also hope to dress up British singer Adele and American singer-actress Beyoncé someday, saying that “Rizman Ruzaini’s fashion DNA suits them in every way”.
And it's not just global celebrities, they will now go after the gold in the sports arena.
It was recently reported that the Malaysian team will wear baju Melayu-inspired attire crafted by Rizman Ruzaini for their appearance at the Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony on July 26.
