Fashion designer, Melinda Looi
Melinda Looi is an acclaimed Malaysian fashion designer recognised for her avant-garde designs and unconventional style and vision. Growing up in the fashion industry, she used to help her mother with her pleating business after school, carrying out tasks like sewing buttons, pulling and cutting fabrics, and pattern placement. Fascinated by painting and sculpting, Looi initially wanted to pursue an art career, but was advised against it by her parents who felt it was not a promising career path, leading her to pursue fashion design instead.
In 1995, while still a fashion student, she took part in a fashion competition and won the Malaysia Young Designer Award, which won her a scholarship to study at the LaSalle College in Montreal, Canada. After her return, Looi worked for a year in her parents’ pleating factory before venturing out on her own to establish her brands, starting with Melinda Looi Couture which she followed with Melinda Looi Ready-To-Wear.
Always emphasising her versatility and exploring all aspects of design, Looi has branched out to design uniforms, Muslimah wear and even interior design. She has even done costume design for theatre productions and was behind Asia’s first 3-D printed fashion collection. As the president of the Malaysian Official Designers’ Association, Looi spearheaded the PPE-making initiative during the pandemic which pooled together local fashion designers to help make personal protective equipment for front-liners.
Looi is married to German-born Dirk Luebbert, who handles the business end and operations as CEO of Melinda Looi Group of Companies. Together, the couple have four children.
Awards
2009
Designer of the Year (Mercedes-Benz Stylo Fashion Awards)
2006
Designer of the Year (Malaysian International Fashion Awards)
2004
Designer of the Year (Malaysian International Fashion Awards)
1995
Malaysia Young Designer Award
Did You Know?
Looi’s signature wild hair is a result of not having the time or patience to blow out her hair every day, or going to the salon. She loves the fact that her natural hair look saves her time and is easy to style.