Cover Here are some of the details and design directions that stood out across the KLFW 2026 runways (Photo: Isetan)
Here are some of the details and design directions that stood out across the KLFW 2026 runways (Photo: Isetan)
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KLFW 2026 may be over, but we’re still thinking about what came down the runway
It has been a hectic week indeed. Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2026 brought together a packed schedule of designers, collections and plenty of looks to take in, with familiar names such as Rizman Ruzaini, Teh Firdaus and Fiziwoo returning to the runway alongside a new generation of designers making their debut. Anisah Farid for Plaza KL, Emran Rijal for EMRI, Billy Chow for CDH and Jeffery Goh for Inisaya were among the fresh faces making their mark, adding another layer to a week centred on celebrating and supporting local fashion.
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And for those who showed up, there was plenty to look forward to beyond the front row. KLFW is as much about discovering what’s next as it is about supporting the designers who have been shaping the local scene for years. With each show, there was another collection to watch, another designer to put on the radar and, naturally, a few pieces that had us thinking about what might be worth adding to the wardrobe.
As the week came to a close with Hatta Dolmat’s final show, KLFW founder Andrew Tan left the room with a simple reminder: look beyond the noise on social media and keep supporting local fashion. And perhaps that is what KLFW is really about— showing up, paying attention and recognising the hard work, heart and soul that goes into every collection.
Behind every look is a designer, a team and countless hours of work that often don’t make it to the runway. So, with the shows wrapped, here are some of the details and design directions that stood out across the KLFW 2026 runways.
Colour, turned up
Above Syomirizwa Gupta (Photo: Instagram/@klfashionweek)
Syomirizwa Gupta (Photo: Instagram/@klfashionweek)
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If there was one thing that was hard to miss at KLFW 2026, it was colour. Bright fuchsia made a comeback across the runways, with Syomirizwa Gupta, Atelier Melson and Rizman Ruzaini all bringing the vivid shade into their collections in different ways.
Of course, muted and neutral colours were still very much around, but there was something refreshing about seeing the brighter shades we remember from the 2000s make their way back onto the runway. Think bright fuchsia pink, sunny yellow and colours that are hard to miss. Maybe it’s time we brought a little more colour back into our wardrobes.
See also: Dubai Fashion Week 2024: Unpacking the Rizman Ruzaini spring-summer 2025 collection
Velour galore
We understand that velour might not be the first fabric you’d reach for in our humid weather, but when it looks this good, it might just be worth the heat. With its soft, plush finish and subtle sheen, velour catches the light beautifully and gives even a simple silhouette a little more depth.
Zaimi Zukilfi, Fuzana Mokhtaza and a few other designers brought the fabric onto the KLFW 2026 runway, showing off its richer, more tactile side. And it wasn’t just the usual deep shades we tend to associate with velour. Teal, one of the standout colours of the year, made an appearance alongside lighter, softer shades that gave the fabric a fresher feel. Velour may have a nostalgic quality to it, but with the right colour and silhouette, it can feel far from dated.
Lining, but make it unexpected
Above Amelia Henderson in Fiziwoo (Photo: Instagram/@ameliath)
Amelia Henderson in Fiziwoo (Photo: Instagram/@ameliath)
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Who said the lining has to stay hidden? Asymmetrical lining has definitely became part of the design itself, appearing around the waist, across tops and peeking out from unexpected places. Fiziwoo was among the designers playing with the detail, using the contrast of fabric and placement to give the silhouettes a little more dimension.
The asymmetrical lines also change the way the silhouette looks. When placed diagonally or vertically, they draw the eye up and down, giving the illusion of a longer frame and making the overall look feel more defined.
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Tradition with a twist
Above Uzair Shoid's BAYU collection (Photo: Saufi Nadzri)
Uzair Shoid's BAYU collection (Photo: Saufi Nadzri)
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With this year’s “Destination: Home Ground” theme, Malaysian heritage naturally took centre stage at KLFW 2026. What stood out was seeing local craft celebrated as part of fashion, rather than something reserved for special occasions.
Batik has always been versatile, and with the right styling, there’s no reason it can’t be part of the everyday wardrobe. Behati and Uzair Shoid also highlighted Malaysian craftsmanship in their collections, with Uzair’s intricate beaded top nodding to the country’s long-standing beadwork traditions, including those found within Peranakan communities and indigenous groups in Sabah and Sarawak.
Batik is heritage, but it is also fashion. And they understood the assignment.
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.
