FLORA Cheong-Leen has set herself a big task with her autumn/winter '95 fashion collection.
'I want to draw a line that depicts the modern world, the East meets West, the yin and yang of life.' She starts by including every conceivable fabric to represent 'the conglomeration of the world'. The next step is to only include what is useful and necessary and to reject the extra baggage - anything overly fancy, bright or just plain weird.
This translates to a pared-down silhouette which is wearable but not without its fun elements. For example, a see-through knit under a fake fur jacket, or silk with leather and Chinese embroidery.
A veritable melting pot of fashion influences from different cultures: merry England meets the mysterious Orient.
'I've always done Armani-like things for my stores, but this collection has given me the fun and witty side,' Cheong-Leen said.
The individual pieces were still executive-style but, put together, they acquired a more cultivated look, she said.