Thaipusam 2021 on 28 January witnessed a great news today as Malaysian globally renowned fashion designer, Hatta Dolmat revealed that they will be taking a lead in collaboration with Ocean Hero Conservation to battle the growth of clean ocean and sustainable fashion for Malaysia. This was revealed during a virtual press conference and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony, officiated by YM Tengku Dato’ Hishammuddin Zaizi bin Y.A.M. Tengku Azman Shah Alhaj, a Royal Household of Selangor and the Patron of Ocean Hero Conservation, graced by YB Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal bin Wan Ahmad Kamal, Deputy Minister of Youth & Sports (KBS) and hosted by Mr. Idan Maat, Head of Commercial Hatta Dolmat / Vice Chairman of KL Young Designers Association.
“In preserving the national spirits of conservation, I am proud to give a sincere thank to our partners and supporters of Ocean Hero Conservation as well as the public who will be carrying out their duties as the environment protector roles in preserving our mother nature, specifically the cleanliness of the ocean. With the support, we get from the nation, every hour of your hard work will be appreciated and will be bringing us closer to a return to more normal times.” said YM Tengku Dato’ Hishammuddin Zaizi.
OCEAN’US Campaign is a privileged first initiative by Hatta Dolmat along with Ocean Hero Conservation that is in-line with the UN SDG12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG14 Life Below Water and Eleventh Malaysia Plan: Pollution control action plans towards the eradication of littering and usage of plastic bottles that will endanger marine life by transforming plastic bottles into fabric. This campaign, which is poised to be close to the hearts of nationwide fashion designers, is an effort to educate the importance of conserving marine life themed with ‘Plastic Bottles – Free Ocean’ and ocean sustainability in order to promote the green technology in converting plastic bottles to fabric.
These recycled plastic bottles fabric will be used by the top economies in Malaysia, including Fashion & Textiles, Food & Beverages, Home & Living, and among others. As we are aware, fashion is the second largest waste contributor industry in Malaysia next to Petroleum industry, Malaysia also ranks as the highest among the six countries analyzed in terms of annual per-capita plastic bottles consumption, at about 16.8 kg per person, followed by Thailand at 15.5 kg. Since the 1950s, the production of plastic has outpaced that almost every other material due to its versatility and functionality. Most of these plastics are designed to be thrown away after being used only once (single-use) which results in single-use disposable plastics waste accumulation. Only nine per cent of the nine billion tonnes of plastic the world has ever produced has been recycled. Most ends up in landfills, dumps or in the open environment.
Ms. Shirene Moong, Founder of Ocean Hero Conservation said, “With pandemic recovery underway, 2021 will be the year to capitalize on new opportunities and investments that will have a positive impact on nature and the environment. In this regard, I am pleased to have KL Young Designers Association and Hatta Dolmat jointly cooperate in promoting clean ocean and sustainable fashion through extension in pipeline of ocean projects in the region and widening their impacts. We hope that together we can built greater awareness, generate interests in creating better policies and promoting further investments in ocean health.
In an effort in working towards a more sustainable and resilient future, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between Ocean Hero Conservation; KL Young Designers Association and Hatta Dolmat himself. With the presence of Ms. Shirene Moong, Founder of Ocean Hero Conservation and Hatta Dolmat, Chairman & President of KL Young Designers Association, their ultimate objective is to signify the mutual commitment in carrying out their respective duties and functions in the perspective of helping, developing and building Malaysia to move forward towards the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, particularly in organizing campaigns, providing solutions to environmental issues, and giving awareness to the public.
The Malaysian Ministry of Youth & Sports (KBS) represented by Deputy Minister, YB Senator Wan Ahmad Fayhsal bin Wan Ahmad Kamal sent his highest commendation by saying, “OCEAN’US is truly an important initiative that will affect climate change, blue economy, and the health of the ocean, which will in time be the gamechanger in our economy. We hope this initiative will encourage more youths to come to a better awareness of the importance of sustainable development and may we save our ocean for the future generations to come.”
In conclusion, Hatta Dolmat has proudly announced that this year will be a special one where OCEAN’US will be hosting the Hotta Dolmat Digital Fashion Stage in July 2021, featuring Hatta Domat’s sustainable RTW / Couture collection made from recycled plastic bottles (RPET). The Ocean Hero Conservation and Hatta Domat Design will also expected too hold a ‘Sustainable and Innovation’ Workshop to share innovations, technologies, and special 3R methods for the public in April 2021.
Ocean Hero Conservation, established in 2017 continues to be a prime flagship Private-Public CSR initiative of Malaysia to spread awareness on the serious issues involving waste and plastic pollution and its effects to the ocean environment and marine life while protecting the eco-system and eco-tourism. Celebrated, Co-Founder, Ms Shireen Moong and her husband, Mr. Ooi Kok Tong of Blossomly Global will continue to showcase their passion in CSR projects like this one, and hope to continue providing an attractive platform for collaboration with any corporate and business partners that practice sustainable and establishing reliable branding values together with their new official strategic partners: Hatta Dolmat, KL Young Designers Association, Sunsuria Berhad, KLOTH Cares, iKHASAS group, Shaftsbury Square Cyberjaya, Shaftsbury Putrajaya, Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, Ebakz Sports, Ohsom TV and Aforadio. For sponsorship and inquiries, kindly contact: +6019-291-2746 or oceanheroconservation@gmail.com.
