It’s F1 racing season again and STYLO returns as one of the main highlights of the F1 race together with KL Tourism Action Council and Turismo Madrid. Called STYLO Fashion Grand Prix KL ‘09, the week-long event beginning 28th March until 5th April 2009 will take place in 4 different locations in Kuala Lumpur.

Famous for its serene greenery and lush lake, Taman Tasik Perdana or Lake Gardens has been named the main venue for the event, which promises to bring excitement, glamour, parties, style and fashionistas under one roof.

The co-presenter of this year’s STYLO is KLGP City which will jump start the festivities with the KLGP Couture and Cuisine Festival which is set to take place at the Lake Gardens on the 298th and 29th of March.

Expect to see the STYLO Fashion Cube and the Style Village erected in the Lake Gardens . While the Style Village will form part of KLGP’s Couture and Cuisine Festival, the Fashion Cube will accommodate fashion shows, entertainment and after parties.

The other 3 venues are Hap Seng Star (for the opening party), an unknown location for the Vodafone Mercedes McLaren bash and for the final night entitled ‘The Devil Wears XXX’, the location is a secret until the date is near.

STYLO has collaborated with the Bumiputera Designers Association and the Malaysian Official Designers Association (MODA) to help propel young talents in the fashion industry. To further this goal, STYLO is the presenter for a design competition - MODA’s Young Designers Competition (MYDC), whichis one way new designers are introduced to the industry.

There will also be a fund raising presentation organised in aid of the victims of Gaza. Under the patronage of Y.A.M. Raja Dato’ Seri Azureen of Perak, STYLO will present a show themed ‘Style and Sensitivity’.

Local fashion designers as well as those around the region will also be showcasing their work all throughout the week. You can expect to see names like Michael Ong, Albert King, Amir Luqman, Jasmi Rejab from Malaysia, Martini G from Singapore and Inar Suminarsih from Indonesia.

The schedule of events is as follows:

30th March - STYLO presents “The Devil Wears …” (a party to kick-start the launch of the fashion gala)

31st March : STYLO Fashion Grand Prix KL ‘09 grand opening night - British India showcases ‘Opulence of the Raj’, paying homage to historical influences of the colonial era.

1st April : A Couture Evening presented by Visa - 120 KL socialites will strut their stuff on the runway to pay homage to 30 of Malaysia’s top fashion designers including Michael Ong and Albert King.

2nd April : Designer Grand Prix - a 12-hour fashion marathon from 10.30am showcasing Asian designers and labels.

3rd April : Mercedes-Benz Stylo Fashion Awards - the grand finale of the STYLO Fashion Grand Prix KL ‘09 sees top fashion awards being prsented to the best designers. Madrid’s fashion designers will also show their full collections.

4th April : Vodafone Mercedes McLaren Bash - The Madrid designers show their “Best Of…” collections over the years.

5th April : The Devil Wears XXX (the name of the Designer of the Year) - a celebration party for the winner of the coveted Designer of the Year award.