In conjunction with the European Film Festival (EUFF) 2022, the Embassy of Sweden, Sunway College of Fashion Design, and Miss Amazing Malaysia, a local NGO that strives to empower girls and women with disabilities, held a film screening of the Swedish documentary – CATWALK, a showcase on sustainable upcycle fashion line of adaptive clothing, and a networking reception on November 10 at GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang.

During the opening ceremony before CATWALK’s screening, His Excellency, Dr. Joachim Bergström, Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia, gave a welcoming speech. “The message of the film is all about dreams - the dream of the future. The right and possibility for everyone to live and realize your dreams, and by nature, even when life gives you some difficulties,” said Dr Joachim Bergström.

The film is a heartwarming story about determination, courage, and inclusion. It becomes even more relatable to us and touches our hearts because the film originated from Hudiksvall, Sweden, our little hometown to where Monitor is rooted.

CATWALK - a Swedish documentary film, presented by Nordic prodco Storyfire, in association with Glada Hudik-Theater, tells a story about Emma Örtlund, who approaches Pär Johansson, founder of the Glada Hudik-Theater, for help, to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a fashion model. It is an unattainable dream for most people, even more so for people with disabilities. Pär takes on the challenge with great passion, together with a group of models, who do not usually appear in the fashion world - Kitty, Alex, Ida, and Niklas, who are differently abled. Each character possesses unique personalities and stories, delivering genuine joy and inspiration to the fashion world and beyond. To fulfill this seemingly impossible mission, the group embarks on a bewildering and at times painful journey, from Glada Hudik to New York!

Emma and her friends look to break into the fashion business by challenging both social and industry norms by modelling at New York Fashion Week. The fashion industry is a massively competitive playground and often portrays an unrealistic ideal that many people struggle to identify with. The models in CATWALK demonstrate that there are ways to express oneself and accomplish amazing milestones with unique personalities, strengths, and differences.

CATWALK is a film involving all of us. It makes a statement about equal value, disabled or not. It sends a gentle nudge to tell its audience that we are all equally valuable and important, but some of us are still treated differently. Some never get a chance to be seen and heard, labelled as incapable or limited and treated accordingly. The film reflects our society today. Our diversities lay strong foundations to the evolution of society and personal encounters at the core of all integration. It is a story that would create lasting impression that changes the view of who we allow to be seen in our society.

Prior to the screening in Penang, a CATWALK fashion show featuring seven of Miss Amazing’s young talents was held at the GSC MyTown, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The Embassy of Sweden also teamed up with the Sunway College fashion school to run an adaptive fashion workshop with Miss Amazing’s ‘models. The models designed and made their own clothing by upcycling unwanted fabrics. The models showed off their clothing created from upcycled materials in Kuala Lumpur on November 4; these stunning outfits were also displayed at the GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang.

We want to help continue to spread the message to the world that every single person should be presented the same opportunities and right to their own lives, knowledge, feelings, dreams, and visions. right to shine through CATWALK's inspiring portrayal. We believe Emma and her friends from CATWALK can teach everyone a thing or two about hope, acceptance, and perseverance.