The month-long campaign featured 30 local designers with their latest collections. (Photo credit: NSTP)
The month-long campaign featured 30 local designers with their latest collections. (Photo credit: NSTP)

ON November 19, 2021, the Malaysian Bumiputra Designer Association (MBDA) held the closing event for MY Gaya Month, a month-long campaign to promote local fashion products and support new entrepreneurs in the industry.

MBDA is a joint venture of key fashion industry leaders to promote the expansion and innovation of the Malaysian Fashion Industry.

Consisting of Malaysian fashion designers (Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra), the association, supported by 45 active members, brings together creative names in fashion design, home appliances, jewellery, fashion accessories, as well as creative forces in the industry.

MY Gaya Month ran in conjunction with Kempen Beli Barangan Malaysia (KBBM), organised by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).

Over the past month, the campaign featured 30 local designers with their latest collections, specially designed for this occasion. It highlighted each designer's unique vision and creativity while providing the community a chance to appreciate and support the beauty born of the local fashion industry.

The Malaysian designers showcased eight items from each collection, including menswear, sportswear, modest fashion and a myriad of other fashion styles.

Baju Melayu Seaweed Green by Bon Zainal Menswear. (Photo credit: Fashionhub by MBDA)

Some designers even incorporated batik designs into their collections to show appreciation for the beauty of local fine art. The initiative also featured special collections like bespoke accessories, wedding dresses, sustainable fabrics, red carpet dresses and more.

According to KPDNHEP Minister, YB Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, MY Gaya Month was an initiative to unite local fashion and lifestyle brands, increasing the standard of excellence for fashion products sold locally and internationally.The success of the campaign also rode on the e-commerce marketplace.

During the closing event, co-founder and president of MBDA, Rasta Rashid, said that MY Gaya Month managed to rake in a combined sale amount of RM400,000 from all 30 local designers.

MBDA co-founder and president, Rasta Rashid, being interviewed during the closing event. (Photo credit: NSTP)

This includes online and physical sales, and far exceeds the initial estimated sale amount of RM250,000.

While the curtain closes on MY Gaya Month, this is just the start for local fashion brands who are bursting onto the scene and making a name for themselves, locally and internationally.

In addition, the KBBM campaign by KPDNHEP will continue, creating awareness among Malaysians to appreciate and buy local products.

To find out more about MY Gaya Month or MBDA, visit this website.