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This Spotlight is sponsored by Taylor's University.
Meet Enya Chok and Giok Wan Chee Aurelia, two Malaysians turning their fashion dreams into global success stories
Enya Chok receiving the 'Most Promising Designer' award during THE SHOW Graduate Showcase 2025.
Image via Taylor's UniversityAt just 22, Enya has already achieved milestones that many designers only dream of — from designing for Miss Plus Malaysia 2023, reaching the Top 15 in Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) Designer Search 2024, to being crowned Most Promising Designer at THE SHOW Graduate Showcase 2025. Her journey has been nothing short of inspiring.
She later showcased her collection at Indonesia Fashion Week 2025, alongside six peers from Taylor's University — the only Malaysian institution featured at the event — and took part in the KLFW x L'Oréal Paris "Walk Your Worth" initiative, a platform celebrating women's empowerment through fashion.
Enya designed bespoke couture for Maheswari Jaganathan, an oncology nurse leader, and actress, Zahnita Wilson for the L'Oréal Paris x KLFW "Walk Your Worth" initiative.
Image via Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2025, L'Oréal Paris Malaysia, and Taylor's UniversityMeanwhile Aurelia, 21, has already achieved international acclaim. While in her first year, she clinched First Place in the Female Trendy Category at the 2024 International Footwear Design Competition in Guangzhou, China, thanks to her innovative use of digital prototyping.
Aurelia's winning design in the Female Trendy Category at the 2024 International Footwear Design Competition in Guangzhou, China.
Image via Taylor's University
Aurelia's athleisure-inspired designs at the Converse Athleisure Showcase 2025.
Image via Taylor's UniversityThis year, Aurelia made her runway debut at the Converse Athleisure Showcase 2025, while also becoming a finalist in the Malaysia Airports Corporate Batik Design Competition 2025.
One thing that Enya and Aurelia have in common?
They're both part of Taylor's University's Bachelor of Fashion Design Technology (Honours) programme.
Recognising that fashion is more than fabric and flair, Taylor's University launched Malaysia's first fashion design programme in 2020 — a programme built on creativity, technology, and sustainability.
"Technology has become a powerful enabler, opening limitless possibilities for experimentation and innovation. At the same time, sustainability is no longer an option but a necessity," shared Programme Director Maria Sandra Wijaya.
"By merging these elements into one forward-thinking programme, we aim to empower young designers to lead, adapt, and make an impact both locally and globally," she added.
Maria leads Malaysia's first Fashion Design Technology degree, driving a vision that combines creativity, technology, and sustainability.
Image via Taylor's UniversityFrom curriculum to hands-on industry opportunities, Taylor's University sets up its students for success
The three-year programme is co-led with KLFW and designed to mirror the realities of the fashion industry from the get-go.
Through collaborations with KLFW, Barbie, Mattel, OPPO, Converse, and Diamond & Platinum, students work on live, client-driven briefs that demand both creativity and commercial awareness.
"Students receive mentorship not only from academics but also from leading industry partners, which accelerates their ability to translate ideas into tangible outcomes," Maria explained.
Students train at Mayamode — Malaysia's first co-working fashion studio — where they have access to industry-grade sewing machines, digital plotters, and pattern-making technology.
Mayamode, an open-concept fashion studio where students learn garment construction, pattern-making, and fabrication using industry-grade machines and digital tools.
Image via Taylor's UniversityFor Enya, technology became a creative catalyst, "With the help of technology, designers and manufacturers can now create textiles or generate designs that were once impossible or too expensive to achieve."
CLO, a cutting-edge 3D fashion design software, was instrumental in enabling her to conceptualise her graduate collection using advanced clothing simulation technology — a feat that earned international recognition.
Aurelia agrees, "The Design Multifunction Printer at Mayamode allows me to print out digital patterns in a short time, saving tremendous effort and letting me focus more on creativity," she shares.
Sustainability is woven into every part of the curriculum. Through the Ethical and Sustainable Fashion module, students learn to transform waste into wearable art, use eco-conscious materials, and design timeless pieces that go beyond fleeting trends.
It is no surprise that Taylor's University is ranked among the World's Top 100 for Art and Design in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 — a testament to its forward-thinking approach to fashion education.
If you're looking to pursue a career in fashion design, be sure to find out more about Taylor's University's Bachelor of Fashion Design Technology (Honours) programme today!
Applications for the 2026 intake are now open. Join us at Taylor's Open Day on 6–7 and 13–14 December to explore the campus, meet programme advisors, and discover how you can turn your passion for fashion into a purpose-driven career.
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