Every year the Macao Fashion Gallery (MFG) holds its 'Brand Story' exhibition, featureing the latest creations of local fashion designers. And despite the challenging start to the year, MFG is pushing forward with its plans, and hoping to bring some postive vibes to visitors, through colorful and original clothes and products on display.
With the first phase already complete, the second phase of “2020 Brand Story—Macao Original Fashion Exhibition II” kicked off on May 16, featuring the designs of Isabella Choi and her label Nega C. Her Spring/Summer 2020 collection of tops, pants, skirts and dresses, presents pastel coloured chiffon materials with youthful floral patterns.
“It is coming to Spring so we decided to do a daisy collection,” says Isabella. “I normally don’t do a lot of prints, but because of the virus, all of the factories and our suppliers stopped from January to March, so we actually couldn’t produce any fabric or accessories to make clothes. And all our workers stopped throughout February. It actually worried us a lot, but the only shop that was open was a digital printing place. I really wanted to try printing, so this was actually a good chance for me to do it.”
As well as her clothing range, Isabella is also presenting a line of scarves, bags and other small items, all emblazoned with the very sweet image of her dog, Bobo.
“Bobo’s is turning 10 years old this year, and I’ve had him since he was a puppy, so that’s why I decided to use his image as a theme in the designs. I wanted to make something for the exhibition that was more personal and cute as well!”
Born in Macau, Isabella moved to the UK when she was 15 years old to finish high school. She then went on to do her BA in Fashion Design at Kingston University. Upon returning to Macau, she started her Nega C brand around eight years ago and then opened her shop a couple of years later.
“I’m currently working full-time as a designer, and I consider myself quite lucky. I’ve had a lot of support from my family and friends,” she notes.
Isabella has worked with MFG since it started, as her shop opened at around the same time.
“Presenting at MFG is great because it’s kind of like a standard now for local designers. Every season you have to apply for your place in the exhibition, and they have a certain standard, so if you can put your designs in their gallery, it’s like a recognition of the quality of your work as a designer,” she comments.
“It helps with our business too, because there are many locals and tourists who have come to know about our designs through MFG. Quite a few customers who see our designs at MFG will then walk down to my shop because it’s quite close. It’s very hard to be a successful local designer if you just try to do it alone.”
In addition to the gallery, this year MFG is also featuring a sales space named “2020 Exclusive Fashion Collections—Showroom” set up to expand the sales channels of original brands, which brings together clothing and accessories from 34 local brands.
Nega C from May 16 to July 5
Opening hours: 10am – 8pm (closed on Mondays, open on public holidays) Venue: Rua de S. Roque, No. 47, Macao
Enquiries: (853) 2835 3341 (during office hours)
Website: www.macaofashiongallery.com
Free admission
