KLFW 2025 ignites bold new era of Malaysian fashion

Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2025 has officially returned, transforming the Esplanade at KLCC Park into a pulsating hub of style, innovation, and culture. Now in its 13th edition, the annual fashion event is once again asserting itself as Southeast Asia’s most influential platform for Malaysian fashion, attracting top designers, emerging talents, international buyers, and local fans alike.

Running from 4 to 10 August, this year’s KLFW sees an unprecedented scale and energy, thanks to strategic partnerships with Suria KLCC and KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd. The Esplanade now houses a specially constructed monochrome structure featuring a main runway, interactive zones, and—for the first time—a dedicated arrivals hall to enhance the guest experience.

Fashion meets culture

With over 55 designers and labels in its line-up, KLFW 2025 is championing a dynamic blend of heritage and contemporary design under the theme “Couture in Culture”. The show celebrates fashion as a powerful cultural narrative, rather than just seasonal trends. Creative collaborations are at the heart of this year’s showcase.

Among the highlights is a standout partnership between modern luxury label Larney and celebrated designer Afiq M, marking Afiq’s dramatic return to the KLFW runway. Meanwhile, textile conservationists Muni and Sofia Iman are turning heads with collections that revive traditional crafts—like natural dye techniques and reimagined songket—bringing Malaysian heritage to life in bold, contemporary forms.

Also making a striking debut are new-gen designers Akmal Hakim, ShazNash, Ugly Pretty, HUNTILANAK, and MOKJY. Their works reflect a fearless embrace of cultural fusion, often blending streetwear, asymmetrical cuts, and unconventional fabrics with traditional silhouettes—proving that Malaysian fashion is no longer imitating global trends, but defining its own.

Celebrated names and future icons

KLFW 2025 is also a reunion of sorts, welcoming back fashion luminaries such as Ezzati Amira, Hatta Dolmat, Maarimaia, Mimpikita, Neonate, and Private Stitch—designers whose work has long shaped Malaysia’s fashion identity. Their presence solidifies KLFW’s reputation as a platform where heritage and progress go hand in hand.

Notably, the event marks the KLFW debut of iconic couturier Radzuan Radziwill and bespoke designer Teh Firdaus, both known for dressing royalty and celebrities. Their participation underlines KLFW’s increasingly diverse audience, merging high fashion with broad public appeal.

In line with global trends, sustainability is taking center stage through the “Design To Sustain” segment. This showcase will spotlight three winners of the KLFW Designer Search 2024—Raja Irfan, Mei Mei, and Salahuddinhilmi—whose innovative and eco-conscious designs point to a more ethical future for the industry.

Each runway show accommodates up to 500 invited guests, but the glamour isn’t confined to the show tent. A large LED screen at the venue offers livestreams of the runway action, allowing the public to engage with the event in real-time.

Driving dialogue and industry growth

KLFW has evolved far beyond a traditional fashion show. It now serves as a critical forum for discussion, networking, and knowledge-sharing within the fashion ecosystem. From panels and forums to informal exchanges between designers and buyers, the event fuels collaboration across the entire value chain—from fabric suppliers to retail investors.

Tackling real-world challenges—from material sourcing costs and design copyright to export strategies—KLFW is doubling down on its role as a launchpad for local designers eyeing global markets. The event is also heavily backed by key sponsors and partners including L’Oréal Paris, Poh Kong, MOCCONA, vivo Malaysia, AirAsia, GHD, Laurier, Laurastar, Magnum, HMNS, Vida, AICB, Signature, Colgate, and Skechers.

At its core, KLFW remains a community-driven movement, one where style meets substance and ambition meets authenticity. What began as a bold idea in 2013 by founder Andrew Tan has now matured into a regional benchmark for fashion innovation and cultural pride.

As KLFW 2025 enters its second day, the message is loud and clear: Malaysian fashion has arrived—not just to follow trends, but to lead them. From songket on denim to futuristic couture, the runway has never been more Malaysian, more confident, or more ready to take on the world.