ANN/THE STAR – In Malaysia, the name Nurita Harith is closely associated with bridalwear, renowned for her feminine and romantic designs that have set the tone for countless weddings across the country. However, Nurita’s journey began in ready-to-wear fashion, a path she explored while studying in London.
“I began first with that, then I branched out into custom-made – bridalwear came after,” the 42-year-old designer related, about her journey that started back in 2007.
“Having tried my hand at it, I realised that designing bridalwear is something I quite enjoyed.”
Nurita, who is born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, is now further branching out. Her Hari Raya collections are already highly anticipated each year, but she is not stopping there.
At the recent Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW), she unveiled a ready-to-wear collection in partnership with fashion brand Nichii.
There are also plans to open her first ready-to-wear boutique, plus other collaborations with known brands like jeweller Diamond & Platinum. While Nurita says that the local fashion scene is crazily competitive, she also enjoys the friendships formed with her peers.
“I think my generation of Malaysian designers have this bond with each other. We are quite close friends,” she enthused, when met for a quick photoshoot and interview at her atelier.
“Like with Syomir (Syomirizwa Gupta) and Alia (Alia Bastamam), we meet up often and visit each other often to catch up.”
In terms of having already fashioned her own legacy, Nurita still seems ever ready to push boundaries and challenge herself to achieve even more.
PHOTO: THE STAR
What are your thoughts on bridalwear? How does it compare to other segments of fashion, like ready-to-wear?
Bridalwear is more set in its ways. Designs have to follow a certain cut, for example.
Gowns need to be classic – or they cannot be too sexy, depending on your target market.
Materials that I use also have a higher cost, like silk, plus I believe that the sewing involved is more intricate. In contrast, there is room to try new things with ready-to-wear.
Do you believe that modern brides are looking for unconventional, avant-garde designs? How has bridalwear trends changed over the years?
When it comes to the brides I have met, they still like the simple or classic stuff.
That said, I think most brides will only like the things they see. They won’t be able to imagine how bridalwear can be different, when it’s not done differently yet. So, it’s up to the designers to come up with less-than-conventional creations first. Brides are moving towards modern designs (as opposed to classic), but it depends on the ceremonies.
Like for solemnisations (nikah), choices will always veer towards the traditional.
Do you feel like you’re being pigeonholed, since you have built your name with bridalwear?
Yes, sometimes, but I also see it as a blessing to be able to come off as so strong in one discipline – which then gives me the opportunity to now branch out and try different things too. This is what constantly keeps me excited.
I’m not just working on one collection throughout a year, I also have my eye on partnerships and collaborations with other brands. I’ve also designed accessories like jewellery. So, it’s not just clothes and more clothes.
Is there any Malaysian designer that you would like to collaborate with?
I wouldn’t mind teaming up with Alia – she’s also a female designer, and we sort of understand each other from a designer’s point of view.
I like her style, and as I’m more technical and she’s more sensual, I believe we would complement each other well. Also, she uses bold colours. I tend to stick to the same colours. I like black actually – I wear black all the time!
How do you see your designs evolving? How do they vary from one collection to another?
With my bridalwear or ready-to-wear Raya collections, I always play around with the idea of a soft aesthetic: pastels, chiffon, drapes. When I’m designing for a Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week show, I like to do something different.
I like to experiment with techniques like boning, or make use of sexier designs like corsets, low cuts and low backs.
What’s your view on the Malaysian fashion industry?
It’s very competitive now. There are so many new brands. Not just on the bridalwear side, but also ready-to-wear. You’ll notice that there are a lot of new cult brands around now. These have a very loyal set of fans within a specific community.
Also, they have their different ways of marketing themselves – which I’m trying to learn and keep up. For example, the use of social media. – Bervin Cheong
