Singapore - The Asian Couture Federation was officially launched at a ceremonial gala dinner hosted by Fide Fashion Weeks on Monday, with the attendance of the board of its governors and members comprising Asia's top couturiers and fashion entrepreneurs.

Fide Fashion Weeks is the event organiser for the Singapore Fashion Week 2013 currently at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre until Oct 19. The event boasts 11 days of 30 ready-to-wear and high-fashion shows from regional and international designers.

Founded by Fide Fashion Weeks chairman Dr Frank Cintamani, the Asian Couture Federation was formed as an initiative to promote and nurture designers in the region and their talent. The federation aims to be a "platform for recognising, promoting and nurturing the most exceptional design talent in the region", reported Chinese news site Xinhua.

Modeled after the Cambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in France, Asian Couture Federation is a non-profit organisation which is overseen by a board of governors which includes chairperson of German luxury label MCM, Kim Sung-Joo, and Dr Satoshi Onuma, president of Bunka Fashion College, a leading fashion institute in Japan.

Top Japanese designer Kenzo Takada, of high-end fashion label Kenzo under the LVMH luxury group, will head the federation as its honourary president.

The members of the Asian Couture Federation includes Singapore couture designer Frederick Lee, and other top names in the region such as Guo Pei, Sebastian Gunawan, Junko Koshino and Lie Sang Bong who all presented their fashion collection during the current on-going Singapore Fashion Week.

Dr Cintamani said, "We are where all designers should be. We are where you need to be to be global."

Addressing the audience at Marina Bay Sands Convention Hall, Dr Cintamani said that his dream is for Asia to have its own fashion centers, according to Xinhua, so that "we don't need to take you to Paris, London, Milan and Rome."

At the gala dinner, Dr Cintamani was also awarded the Chevalier L'ordre des Art et des Lettres by Mr Benjamin Dubertet, the French ambassador to Singapore. This international title is given to individuals who delivered significant contributions in growing the fields arts and literature.

The evening celebrations continued with a four-course dinner created by renowned Japanese chef, Hide Yamamoto and a high-fashion couture show by French designer Stephane Rolland.

Photos: Fide Fashion Weeks

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