Zangtoi's Fashion Show For Charity Fetches High Praise

By Manik Mehta NEW YORK, April 30 (Bernama) -- Though renowned for his commercial success in the world of haute couture, 'Malaysia’s best-known face' in the United States, as Malaysian fashion icon ZangToi is called, has also been working for charitable causes – an attribute not all successful Malaysians living abroad can claim. Toi’s interest in charitable issues was visible when he staged a fashion show recently at the Pierre Hotel on New York’s exclusive Fifth Avenue, where he was given a thunderous applause from the largely female audience at the show. The show was part of a 'Breast Cancer Service Luncheon' with proceeds funding the Appel-Venet Comprehensive Breast Center at the Beth Israel Medical Center and the Comprehensive Breast Center at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals which are Continuum Cancer Centers of New York. Toi presented his Fall Collection 2012, called 'Glamour at Gstaad',and combined his creative prowess and exquisite craftsmanship with a combination of luxurious fabrics and fine tailoring along with accessories such as furs and laces of different colours. In an interview with Bernama at the Pierre Hotel, Toi explained how he decided to help the organisers with his show: "The organisers approached me some eight months ago. I could thus fit the show in my heavily-packed schedule. There are about 600 ladies who are here, understandably, because this is an event that is dedicated to fighting breast cancer." Kelantan-born Toi, whose creations have been appreciated by Hollywood stars and other prominent personalities such as Sharon Stone, Gong Li, Eva Longoria, Heather Graham, Farrah Fawcett, Ivana Trump, Melinda Gates, etc, has captured the attention of the fashion world with his precocious aptitude and business acumen. "I consider myself blessed coming to America which has been good to me. This is my way of giving it back. Today’s event, I am told, will generate proceeds exceeding US$600,000 (RM1.8 million)," said Toi who has also done charity shows for the Lance Armstrong Foundation of Texas, a non-profit organisation that provides support for people affected by cancer. CHARITABLE PURPOSE "I have raised money for Lance Armstrong Foundation. In fact, I was a top fundraiser for them. In 2007 we raised US$265,000 (RM795,000) some US$368,000 (RM1.1 million) in 2008. I will be in Washington DC in June to host a Trunk Show called Tiffany Circle where ladies can place direct orders for my latest creations. And 25 per cent of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross. Two other companies will be joining me in that event," he said. Asked if he would do a show in Malaysia for charitable purpose, he replied: "Yes, I would be happy to do that. I love Malaysia. But because of the geographical distance, I need time and adequate notice from organisers to plan and stage a show of this magnitude which entails meticulous planning and organisation. I cannot simply fly out there at a week's notice. I maintain an extremely busy schedule," he said. Toi said that he will be organising a fashion show in Boston though some 'minor details' still needed to be finalised. The breast centres offer life-saving diagnosis and treatment, education, screenings, genetic counseling, clinical research and a variety of support groups to thousands of women year. The luncheon proceeds, as one medical doctor explained to Bernama, would underwrite extensive wellness programmes not covered by insurance providers. Alison Estabrook, a leading breast cancer specialist, who is the chief of the breast surgery division at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Centre in New York, pointed out that research and treatment of breast cancer, which afflicts thousands of women, had made tremendous progress. EARLY DETECTION "The incidents of breast cancer is going down while the survival rate is going up. This is also due, largely, to early detection and preventive care, and improved methods of treatment," she told Bernama. But Estabrook, who is also concerned about the plight of women suffering from breast cancer in other countries, called for early precautionary measures to detect and prevent the escalation of the disease. "Malaysia has good medical facilities but one has to educate and inform women so that the spread is checked in the early stage before it escalates further," she said. --BERNAMA