Cover For Salomé Das, home is something she carries with her
For Salomé Das, home is something she carries with her
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We speak to Salomé Das, and the ‘Back 2 Malaysia’ singer shares how traditional jewellery, sarongs and handmade keepsakes have shaped her personal style
Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves. For Salomé Das, home is something she carries with her. It lives in the jewellery she wears every day, the sarongs she styles in her own way, and the handmade pieces that hold stories of where she comes from.
The singer, model and actress has always seen fashion as more than just clothing. For her, it is a way of expressing identity, memory and the places that have shaped her. Having moved to Malaysia with her family when she was just three months old, Das grew up with the country as the backdrop to her childhood, creative journey and sense of self.
Now, with the release of Back 2 Malaysia, a love letter to the country that raised her, Salomé Das reflects on the cultural influences and everyday pieces that have become part of the way she expresses herself.
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Growing up between Malaysian, Indian and French influences, Salomé Das has always been surrounded by different expressions of style. While many might assume her French heritage has had the biggest impact on her wardrobe, she says it is actually her Indian roots that have shaped her style the most.
Some of her earliest memories are of watching her mother get ready for dinner, or seeing her aunties and grandmother in India carefully dress for the day. She was captivated by the colours, fabrics and jewellery around her.
“As a little girl, my eyes couldn’t get enough of the sparkle,” she recalls. “My aunties and grandma would take me shopping, dress me up in new outfits, and I honestly felt like a little doll playing dress-up.”
Above Salomé Das wears IAMGIA dress and bangles from Greater Action Organisation
Salomé Das wears IAMGIA dress and bangles from Greater Action Organisation
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That love for detail has stayed with her, with jewellery becoming one of the most recognisable parts of her personal style. A quick scroll through Das’ social media shows that traditional Indian jewellery is not reserved for weddings or special occasions. Whether she is attending an event or making a quick trip to the bazaar, earrings, bangles and statement pieces are often part of her everyday look.
For Das, wearing these pieces has always felt natural. “They never waited for a wedding or a special occasion to wear beautiful jewellery,” she says of the women she grew up watching. “Putting on earrings, bangles or rings was as natural as putting on a pair of shoes.”
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Above A batik find from Terengganu, reworked into a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects Salomé Das' personal style
Above Traditional Indian jewellery from her collection
A batik find from Terengganu, reworked into a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects Salomé Das' personal style
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That same connection to heritage eventually found its way into her music. While Das has always explored different parts of her background through her artistry, Back 2 Malaysia marked the first time she wrote about the place that raised her.
“I’d spoken about who I am, but never about where I came from,” she shares. “That’s really how Back 2 Malaysia started.”
The song also influenced the way she approaches dressing today. It encouraged her to embrace Malaysian elements more openly, from wearing sarongs to experimenting with batik prints and reinterpreting traditional pieces in her own way.
Above Salomé Das
Salomé Das
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More than anything, it made me realise that my heritage isn’t something I only sing about, it’s something I want people to see the moment I walk into a room
And while her wardrobe celebrates heritage, not every meaningful piece comes from a designer label. Some of her favourite finds come from local communities and independent sellers.
“I just stop off to the side of the street when I see an aunty or uncle selling cool pieces and I buy it,” she shares. “It’s never from a brand, always handmade and super local.”
For Das, these pieces are special because of the stories behind them. They are reminders of the people who made them, the places they came from and the memories attached to finding them.
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Above A local find: a kebaya and sarong set discovered from a local seller
A local find: a kebaya and sarong set discovered from a local seller
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When asked which piece in her wardrobe best represents home, her answer comes easily: the sarong. Worn almost every day, it has become more than just a garment. It represents the country that shaped her and the identity she continues to carry with her.
For Salomé Das, home is not just a place she returns to. It is something she wears, celebrates and makes her own.
Credits
Photography: Amru Shakir
Aliya Qarina is the Junior Style Writer at Tatler Malaysia with an interest in fashion and beauty. Her writing often focuses on contemporary style, beauty culture and emerging trends.
