Diane von Furstenberg Opens in KL

What is the difference between the real world and the fashion world? In real world, everything has its time. Like boarding on a train, the best should be a few minutes before the train moves to another destination. Say if you are few minutes behind the scheduled time, the train will definitely leave you and like it or not, you have to wait for another one.

But in the fashion world, the situation is different. There is nothing that is too early or too late. For example, the South East Asian fashionistas have long enjoyed the privileged of shopping for the latest runway garbs at notable designer stores like Dior, Gucci, and Lanvin ahead of India and mainland China. Now, thanks to the economic boom, these two countries too could enjoy the same privilege we had since eons ago and none were fretting about missing a slew of collections dating back to the 80’s!

Therefore, I think it is not too late for Diane von Furstenberg to open its first standalone store here despite of having being in the local fashion retailing scene since a few years back ( thanks to TriBeCa at Suria KLCC). Located at the ultra posh, ultra sophisticated, and ultra elegant Pavilion KL, right in the heart of Jalan Bukit Bintang, the DVF shop is set to put KL on the must-shop destination map once again, along with our traditional rivals – Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and also the inevitable Tokyo.

Although the press kit and the official photos or artist rendition on the store’s interior have not been released yet for media perusal, I am positive that the Pavilion store might be the third DVF shop in the world to be designed by Dan Wood and Amale Andraos of WORK.ac architecture firm.

When I passed by the storefront last Friday (on my way to TENC’s Boys Night Out party), it seemed that the store is not as big as its world flagship in New York but could well-accommodate lots of people should the brand throw its end season sale around February or March next year.

While the word ‘flagship’ could mean a plethora of specially-designed items might wait inside the store soon, seriously I don’t think there will be any. But here’s good news if you happened to share the same passion with Diane herself on the legendary DC character called The Wonder Woman. As a way of giving back, Diane has collaborated with DC Comics to produce a special comic called “Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be: The Adventures of Diva, Viva and Fifa”.

Written by Diane herself and illustrated by renowned comic illustrator Konstantin Kakanias, the comic, which sells for US$25.00 (RM88.00) at DVF stores and online store, centres around three characters—Diva, Viva and Fifa—as well as previously published material by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston, comic historian Les Daniels, TV Wonder Woman's Linda Carter and women's rights advocate Gloria Steinem.

"The collection and stories that I have created are really about empowerment and finding our inner strength," says Furstenberg. "The truth is that there is a little bit of Wonder Woman inside each of us."

To ‘strengthen’ the comic’s presence, Diane also created a couple of special edition goodies as well as a full clothing collection inspired by Wonder Woman. Among things that will receive the most attention from DVF fans would be the fully-illustrated Wonder Woman Tote.

Also illustrated by Kakanias, the tote illustration also features the animated image of Diane herself. The tote, which is available now at DVF online stores, retails at US$165.00 or approximately RM 581.22. There’s also an illustrated Wonder Woman tee (US$46.00/RM162.00) up for sale.

The total proceeds from the sale of the comics and the special collection will benefit Vital Voices, a pre-eminent non-governmental movement that identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the globe, enabling them to create a better world for us all.

These highly-anticipated collectibles, along with the entire autumn/winter 2008’s “Foreign Affairs” ready-to-wear and accessories collection will be made available to you once the DVF shop at Pavilion KL opens this autumn.

*Photos courtesy of DVF.com and Style.com

Diane von Furstenberg – Lot 3.33.00, Level 3, Pavilion KL, 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.