Catwalking down the ramp at the LaSalle-DHU International Design College''s 8th Graduation Show on Friday night, students checked out the meaning of fusion.

Colors clashed, fabrics contrasted all in a mixture of styles. It was a night of parading and opportunity.

“The collection was creative, imaginative and had broad appeal,'''' said Marco Cappellini, general manager of SASCH, TXY Italian Garment Co Ltd. Cappellini was just one of the representatives from more than 100 garment and textile companies that attended the event.

“It went from the fun and flirty to retro designs imbued with modernism.” Gao Jieyun, a graduating student. As with most graduate shows there were the far-out fashions as well as clothes that reflected current trends.

The design school also established the Levi''s Denim Series Creativity Competition Award which this year went to Zhang Chen, for a piece which combined the soft element of a Picasso painting with the straight and tough lines of a Chinese chessboard.

Zhang Weiyuan, vice chairman of the Chinese Association of Fashion Designers and one of the judges, applauded those who are bold and design for real people.

“They tossed aside some of the rules based on size and shape, and celebrated diversity in their models,” he said. But Zhang warned that creative freedom doesn''t always exist in the professional world and students need to have a business focus.

He warned saying, “They should know that their ultimate goal is not only to show their work but to merchandise and market their designs.”
Garment companies had a fair representation as they had come to see graduates having a well-rounded education.

“Those who have `got it'' will never again set scissors to fabric without knowing who their customer is,” said Eugene Tan, Vice Dean of LaSalle-DHU.