BUDDING M'SIAN DESIGNERS CAN USE HK TRADE FAIR FOR INT'l LAUNCH By Manik Mehta

HONG KONG, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The crop of young and aspiring Malaysian
designers of fashion clothing can use the Interstoff Asia Essential -- " home of
original, innovative and niche fabrics in Asia and meeting point between fashion
and function", as the organiser Messe Frankfurt (Hong Kong) describes it -- to
showcase their innovations and designs before a discerning audience of buyers
worldwide.

"I'd very much like to urge young Malaysian designers to showcase
their
innovative designs at the Interstoff Asia in Hong Kong," said Edison Choong,
Hong Kong-based Malaysian trade commissioner, in an interview with Bernama at
his office closely located near the gigantic Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention
Centre where the Interstoff Asia is being held.

Although no Malaysian exhibitor is currently participating in the fair,
Choong was making his rounds at the exhibition hall and gathering first-hand
information based on discussions with a number of people, including Messe
Frankfurt (Hong Kong) representatives.

Describing the Interstoff Asia as a "good show", Choong said: "The show
affords an opportunity to discover trends and innovations if one wants to stay
ahead. It will give Malaysian designers the opportunity to enter a highly
competitive and discerning but also rewarding environment.

"Fabric is an important part of clothing but the application of fabric is
equally important. Indeed, Malaysian designers can do business with the buyers
on the spot."

One of the major themes at the show is eco-textiles. With the growing
emphasis on "greening" as many segments of our life as possible, organic
production, devoid of the use of harmful chemicals, is now embracing the textile
trade after becoming an integral part of the food trade since years.

"I would like to urge Malaysian designers like Edric Ong of Sarawak, an
established authority on eco-textiles, to take advantage of the audience at
Interstoff Asia in Hong Kong," Choong said.

Since Malaysia is one of the world's pioneers in many ecologically-oriented
product manufacturing, eco-textiles could become a force of Malaysian exports in
the future and reverse the trend of the textile industry migrating to low-cost
production sites in other parts of Asia.

"Eco-textiles could become Malaysia's forte," Choong averred, citing the
propensity among consumers for eco-clothing.

"Eco-textiles and manufacture of value-added fabrics could be our response
to low-cost manufacturing from some countries that have offered fierce
competition to Malaysian suppliers in the past," Choong said.

Although Malaysia's textile manufacturing has over the last two or three
decades migrated to low-cost production sites such as China and Vietnam,
Choong envisions a renaissance of Malaysia's textile industry through products
such as eco-textiles.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Malaysia and Hong Kong amounted to US$
11.3 billion in 2007, a seven percent increase over the previous year.

Malaysia's imports from Hong Kong jumped 15 percent to US$3.238 billion in
2007, while exports to Hong Kong rose by 4.1 percent to US$8.054
billion.

Malaysia is the seventh largest exporting nation to Hong Kong.