THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Fashionistas are flocking to Kuala Lumpur, South-East Asia’s new style mecca where East meets West, writes Julia Plevin.

ager shoppers in Singapore scour designing her own clothing before she the air-conditioned designer malls decided to launch her eponymous label. E on Orchard Road; in Bangkok they Today, traditional Malaysian costume get lost in the maze of small local designer styles motivate Saufi to make simple, shops at Chatuchak Weekend Market; beautiful heritage-inspired clothing with and in colourful Kuala Lumpur – the a modern twist. She is fond of batik prints, Malaysian capital positioned between is not averse to a bit of bling and uses South-East Asia’s two shopping dynamos industrial machines as well as indigenous – fashionistas find the best of both worlds. weaving and dying techniques. One of Kuala Lumpur offers both luxury her well-received recent collections was boutiques and crammed bargain outlets based on Pua Kumbu, the sacred woven selling cutting-edge fashion. All over the cotton blankets of the Iban tribe in the city you’ll find clothing trends inspired Malay state of . Saufi was one by ’s great cultural diversity and of the first designers to reclaim traditional influenced by three of its main ethnicities styles and patterns and now her prints – Malay, Chinese and Indian. Kuala are copied and sold in the many Lumpur combines the high fashion of commercial bazaars around Malaysia. Singapore with the creative local flair of Bangkok, and because of this it might STYLE REVOLUTION just become the next fashion capital of Along with Saufi, several other South-East Asia. Malaysian designers, including To many in Kuala Lumpur, it’s no Bernard Chandran, have made names surprise that the city is now a hot spot for themselves by creating their own for fashion and shopping. Malaysia has modern interpretations , GETTY IMAGES

always had a strong sartorial culture. of traditional clothing. A Z

Experience the Y As local designer Tom Abang Saufi says, Chandran recently new fashion ZUR

“In this part of the world, tailoring is designed Tori Amos’ hot spot that is A Kuala Lumpur. a lifestyle.” Saufi, a congenial woman gowns for her concerts Whether you who always dresses in layers of her own in Europe and Australia enjoy shopping in luxury boutiques elegant contemporary designs, grew up and served as the resident or bargain shopping with her mother for fabrics. judge on outlets, there’s something here PHOTOGRAPHY :: R In 1985 Saufi, then a housewife, was Malaysia. His chic, edgy for everyone.

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self-titled label is a favourite of Malaysian represents the evolution of THE NEXT GENERATION This page: and Brunei royalty, as well as pop stars Shopaholics Kuala Lumpur’s shopping In this multicultural city, people seem to Lady Gaga and Estelle. Still, his real claim beware! There scene, which has developed be more than comfortable embracing new are 450 retail to fame is he was the first to revolutionise stores in the since foreign department external influences while maintaining Pavilion mall the traditional long, flowing blouses in trendy Bukit stores began opening here cultural and religious traditions. Women known as kebayas and kurungs, turning Bintang. The in the late 1980s. It was a wearing burqas and carrying Birkin mall carries them into modern, fashionable outfits. both local time Saufi labels as “the bags are a common sight, and shredded Then there’s local Melinda Looi, and foreign birth of worshipping at the denim and designer headscarfs coexist fashion labels. who won a young designer award from altar of material things”. seamlessly. It’s this rich diversity of LaSalle fashion school in 1995 and has With foreign department stores came influences that makes Kuala Lumpur been making a splash in the fashion international labels, such as Issey Miyake such an enchanting fashion destination. world since. Hollywood celebrities Anne from Japan and Versace and Hugo Boss And the city’s young, cutting edge Hathaway and Mena Suvari clamour from Europe. The arrival of these global designers are taking full advantage. for Looi’s vintage-inspired couture. brands raised the bar for Malaysian While established designers such as Looi designs everything, from organic designers as it changed the way Kuala Saufi, Chandran and Looi have put Kuala cotton basics to kitchens, yet even with Lumpurians viewed fashion. “The Lumpur on the map, it’s the up-and- her wide range of interests she believes influx of fashion labels flocking to Kuala coming ones who are turning it into a that the evolution of Islamic fashion Lumpur is testimony to how it has become fashion haven. “The younger generation is the singular most interesting new a very fashionable city,” Chandran says. seems to be more ready to accept newer development in the Malaysian and Now, Tongue in Chic (www.tonguechic. design concepts and styles,” Chandran international fashion scenes. different cultures and com) is facilitating the revolution. The site says. “They are also more confident in There is great demand for long, From top: traditions truly inspires was launched in August 2008 as a guide developing their own style.” Lady Gaga intricately detailed blouses and bejewelled adores Bernard her. “You really have The influx of to all the stores sprouting up around the From Islamic fashion shows that headscarfs that comply with religious Chandran’s to come to Malaysia to city and there is a section dedicated to highlight heritage weaves, to lively street edgy Malaysian mores. “We started our first Islamic label; Melinda experience it,” she says of fashion labels ‘new on the block’ boutiques. markets blaring with indie music, there’s collection three years ago and are now Looi’s Islamic this multifaceted country. Tongue in Chic also serves as a base an intoxicating zeal for all things fashion collections flocking to focusing on designer abayas,” Looi says. focus on for Kuala Lumpur’s fashion community among the young and the old in Kuala These black overgarments are elegant and abayas that EAST MEETS WEST and the site launched an annual style Lumpur, and this has transformed the have universal Kuala Lumpur easy to wear, so they appeal to non-Islamic appeal. Today, the impressive local awards in November 2009. “The awards city into a shoppers’ mecca. Don’t miss women too as an alternative type of dress. couture rubs shoulders is testimony highlight budding talent and bring the the following shopping highlights. Cloak-like caftan dresses are also popular with edgy foreign fashion. Both Looi fashion community in the region closer with fashionable non-Islamic women. and Khoon Hooi, a local designer who to how it has together,” says Sueann Chong, Tongue SHOPPING GUIDE While Malaysia is at the forefront of has made an impact at fashion events in Chic’s managing editor. SUNGEI WANG PLAZA the Islamic style revolution, it is just one around the world, have their collections become a very Jonathan Liang, a recent graduate Jalan , www.sungeiwang.com aspect of fashion in Kuala Lumpur. Looi in ’s flagship store in the Pavilion of Raffles International College, is Across the street from the airy, glamorous says the city is unique in its “treasure- mall, which opened in 2007 in the trendy fashionable city. one of the budding talents that Chong Pavilion mall, but feeling as though it trove of cultural diversity”. She also Bukit Bintang district. The mall, housing is closely watching and she says she could be a world away, is Sungei Wang says that living in a society that not Topshop, Marc Jacobs, Paul Frank and would put her money on Liang becoming Plaza, ‘sungei wang’ meaning ‘river of only respects but also celebrates many Burberry among 450 high-end brands, Malaysia’s next big designer. money’. Bevies of shoppers flock here to

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Haggling is a must and an avid bargain hunter will come away with some great finds.

the small, crowded shops. The aroma of shops, organic restaurants and beauty fast food mixes with the fragrance of hair salons mix with retail stores. Located salons and wafts through the building. here is Sometime Boutique, its theme Haggling is a must and an avid bargain inspired by the film Somewhere in Time hunter will come away with some great (1980) in which Christopher Reeve travels finds. Most of the clothing is imported back in time to be with a woman he loves. from Thailand, China and Korea or copied The store is decorated with old suitcases from other foreign designers, but there and the garments combine classic and are some local designer boutiques too. vintage style with modern fashion.

KEY NG NURITA HARITH Lower ground floor, Sungei Wang Plaza, 10-2, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, www.keyng.com.my www.nuritaharith.com One up-and-coming designer at Sungei In addition to cute boutiques filled with Wang Plaza is Key Ng. His store carries imported clothing, shops selling goods casual but sharp work wear for men and by local designers abound in Bangsar women. Ng’s clothing is high quality Baru. Nurita Harith is a young designer but strikingly affordable, like the fashion who focuses on soft layers with a flirty, in the plaza’s other boutiques. feminine edge. She studied fashion design in London and designed for PALATE PALETTE Project Runway Malaysia. Her boutique From top: 21 Jalan Mesui, www.palatepalette.com is filled with funky, fresh everyday Shoppers throng to Sungei Wang Young hipsters in Kuala Lumpur head clothing and evening wear. Plaza to nab a straight to Lapsap’s bimonthly junkyard fashion bargain; You’ll find sale at Palate Palette, a restaurant SHOES SHOES SHOES plenty of funky and bar in the Bukit Bintang district. 31a, 1st floor, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar boutiques in the Bangsar Baru DJs Blink and Xu spin indie music Baru, www.shoesshoesshoes.com.my district. while the trendsetters chomp on tasty Across the street from Nurita Harith burgers and sift through large boxes of is Shoes Shoes Shoes, where women clothing and accessories. looking to put the finishing touch on an evening outfit seek out this store’s locally SOMETIME BOUTIQUE designed fancy footwear. 34-1, 1st floor, Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru, www.sometimeboutique.com Getting there • Virgin Blue Group interline Other gems can be found in the Bangsar partner Malaysia Airlines flies to Kuala Baru district on the small pedestrian- Lumpur from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, friendly streets right outside Bangsar Adelaide and Perth. To book your flight, Village shopping centre, where coffee visit www.malaysiaairlines.com.

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