Cover The Malaysia dUCk takes inspiration form Malaysia's kopitiam culture (Photo: The dUCk Group)
The Malaysia dUCk takes inspiration form Malaysia's kopitiam culture (Photo: The dUCk Group)
1 / 1
These local designers show us how to celebrate Malaysia’s 66th Merdeka in style
From nostalgic prints inspired by our favourite childhood snacks to references to our rich history, local designers have put their all into crafting their Merdeka-inspired collections this year.
Our June 2023 cover star Vivy Yusof and her team at dUCk pay homage to kopitiam culture with The Malaysia dUCk, a series of headscarves in colourways inspired by iconic Malaysian drinks, such as teh tarik, kopi o, cham and barley, paired with prints of instantly-recognisable symbols including the Sultan Abdul Samad building, the traditional board game congkak, kampung house on stilts, and coconut and banana trees.
Trailblazers in modernising the traditional batik fabric, Batik Boutique and Kapten Batik pay homage to beloved Malaysian foods: the tropical pineapple fruit and ang ku kueh respectively. The batik can also be found in Machino’s limited edition release of its shoe designs, Lucky, Grateful in Hana and Loved in Hana.
Modest fashion brand Calaqisya takes a more historical approach with its collection of headscarves and pins, Senafas, to “illustrate how lucky we are to be able to live in peace as a result of the bloody sweat of our ancestors who fought for independence”. Each design, Nyawa, Jiwa, Hayat and Pujaan, features sketches from that era.
See also: Usher in Merdeka with these delicious dining promotions
Take a look below.
1. The Malaysia dUCk
Above The Malaysia dUCk is a collection of headscarves paying homage to Malaysia' kopitiam culture
The Malaysia dUCk is a collection of headscarves paying homage to Malaysia' kopitiam culture
1 / 2
Above The Malaysia dUCk collection includes Merdeka-inspired charms to personalise your headscarf
1 / 2
To celebrate Merdeka, dUCK is also taking over Pekan Lama Cafe in Ipoh until September 17, 2023 with a special menu of teh tarik, roti bakar, bahulu sundae and lempeng nyok for its patrons.
You can shop the collection at Pekan Lama Cafe. You can also find it at dUCk's nine stores across Malaysia and Singapore and online at get.ducked.com.
See also: Cover story: Vivy Yusof embraces a new era with a goal to go global
2. Batik Boutique
Above Batik Boutique's Pineapple prints come in a range of colours (Photo: Batik Boutique)
1 / 2
You can shop Batik Boutique’s Pineapple collection at its store in 3, Jalan 26/70a, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, or its official website, batikboutique.com.
See also: A US-based Malaysian artist tells her story through batik art
3. Kapten Batik
You can shop Kapten Batik’s Kueh 2023 collection at its flagship store in Publika Shopping Gallery, its six stores across Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and its official website, kaptenbatik.com.my.
Related: How to style batik for the modern man, according to Kapten Batik
4. Calaqisya
Above Calaqisya's Senafas collection is a tribute to Malaysian history
Above Photo: Instagram/@calaqisya
Calaqisya's Senafas collection is a tribute to Malaysian history
1 / 2
You can shop Calaqisya at its five outlets in in Shah Alam, Johor Bahru and Ipoh or online at calaqisya.com.
Don't miss: The secret dress code of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif's royal wedding in Jordan
5. Machino
You can shop Machino at its store at 84, Jalan SS 2/55, SS 2, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor or online at machino.com.my.
Based in Kuala Lumpur, Zue Wei Leong is the senior style writer at Tatler Malaysia. Read her stories on the latest in fashion, beauty and jewellery or follow her on Instagram at @fshnbrnr.
