Malaysian Bumiputra Designer Association (MBDA) officially launched MY Gaya Month 2023 for the third consecutive year today. This month long event is launched by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Domestic Trade & Cost of Living, Yang Berbahagia Datuk Azman bin Mohd Yusof, bersempena Kempen Beli Barangan Malaysia (KBBM) 2023. The event is aimed at promoting and making Malaysian products at the forefront of the retail industry through careful curation of Malaysian brands offering products in the fashion, lifestyle and technology whilst giving new entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their products and services at an elite retail space in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. This event also takes the opportunity to train fresh graduates from academies and universities in the reality faced by fashion & lifestyle entrepreneurs by providing first hand “on the job” experience. They will be able to conduct trial exercises such as research and development of future collections based on the data collected from patrons to their stalls during this month long period.
The KBBM campaign was initiated to realise several objectives set by the Ministry: to increase patriotism amongst Malaysians so that they have a strong belief and pride in Malaysian products and services to be able to vouch, support and endorse; provide a much needed contribution to the nation’s economic growth and increase domestic consumer and purchasing behaviour; increase knowledge and understanding of Malaysians and tourists on the increasingly high quality of Malaysian products and services that enable these products and services to compete in the international market; provide assistance to local entrepreneurs (cottage industries included) to bring their products and services to market.
“My Gaya Month is one of the methods in which the Ministry employs to achieve KBBM’s strategic objectives, whilst at the same time always striving to promote inclusivity in its policies by working with strategic partners in a plethora of different industries and market segments. This allows a larger community to participate, bring their products and services to the attention of the Malaysian market,” stated YBhg. Datuk Azman.
This initiative brings together a capsule of 31 designers from the fashion industry, entrepreneurs and brand owners from the lifestyle industry and local fashion academies; showcasing current collections and new products that have been created exclusively for this campaign with the thematic focus being fabrics with a heritage or “warisan” element. For a period of a month, this event will allow designers and entrepreneurs freedom in creative direction in their offerings to local consumers and tourists that flock to Malaysia. These identified target group will be able to enjoy the beauty and finesse of ideas birthed by our local designers and entrepreneurs from the fashion and lifestyle industries. My Gaya Month is an initiative that not only focuses on sales and creativity, but exists as a platform for the free exchange of ideas through a live and interactive forum/ panel discussion. This year the forum/ panel discussion will focus on four key topics at the forefront of the Malaysian creative scene with panel experts made up from the following:
- Forum Panel 1: Fashion in Malaysia- Prospects & Issues
Panel Experts: Mr Faizal Hamid (UITM); Ms Suraya Sharifuddin (Artful Brains/ Maslea); Ms Nurul Zulkifli (Mimpi Kita)
- Forum Panel 2: AI, Technology & Sustainability in Fashion
Panel Experts: Mr Nik Faiz Nik Amin (Ruzz Gahara); Ms Nina Faressa (Bejute); Dr Thomas Ong (Nanotextile)
- Forum Panel 3: Cross Branding & Collaboration in Fashion
Panel Experts: Dato’ Lewre Lew (Lewre); Datin Azrene Ahmad (Three Little Ahmads); Encik Leslie Variyan (Variante)
- Forum Panel 4: Business in Fashion & Academies
Panel Experts: Mr David Liew (UNITAR); Ms Amizah Amir (KVERT Setapak); Mr Izree Kai Hafiz (FiziWoo)
The highlight of MY Gaya Month 2023 culminates in a stunning Fashion Showcase on 10 September 2023 di Farenheit88 that will be covered by RTM and blasted on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, Instagram (amongst others). Each participating designer’s pieces will be available for purchase via online platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, Zalora and their respective websites. This is in addition to selected pieces being available for purchase on site at Fahrenheit88, Bukit Bintang for the period that MY Gaya Month 2023 runs. The average price range for these products and services range from as low as RM 15 to RM1500. Designers and entrepreneurs have also ensured that there are promotions such as Merdeka Day Sale, Malaysia Day Sale and have all collectively undertaken that at least one product available for purchase at their booths at Fahrenheit88 will be sold “rahmah” prices. MBDA targets total cumulative sales for the length of My Gaya Month 2023 to be at RM1,000,000.
My Gaya Month aims to promote brands, labels and Malaysian made products through the support of the following designers and entrepreneurs in the fashion & lifestyle industry:
AD Kalima Curve by HHM Ghadeez Batek by Rasta Rashid Bon Zainal FiziWoo Izwani Kahani Maswira Majid Awear Blue Molly Nusantara Kal Anesh Huda Hassan Hasfitri Ghaania Evita Mairesse Thalia Bidwin Molundim Azhar Zainal Arakis Ilham Echenta Masterpiece by Masrina Abdullah JayK Lady Qomash Obi Universiti Teknologi MARA Management & Science University UNITAR International University Kolej Vokasional ERT Setapak UCSI University
Each designer will put forward 8 “looks” or designs in their showcase made up of a selection of different categories: Menswear, Streetwear, Ready- to- Wear, Red Carpet, Couture, Bridal and Modestwear. Entrepreneurs from the Lifestyle & accessories category will be showcasing their products in collaboration with the fashion designers.
For its third year run, MBDA has attracted the attention of prestigious strategic partners, collaborators and sponsors such as Fahrenheit88 (venue partner), RTM (media partner), Beast Cosmetics (sponsors) and Grande Cosmetics (Sponsors). Grande Cosmetics are the recipients of the SMEs Bestbrands Award for the years 2022 and 2023, respectively, despite only being in the market since 2020. Interestingly, this year, SukaSucré Kuala Lumpur has stepped forward and answered the Ministry’s call to prepare “Menu Rahmah” packs for the participating models, MUAs and hairstylists as well as respective crew members involved in My Gaya Month 2023 on the day of the Opening Ceremony, Press Conference and Forum as well as Fashion Showcase.
For more information on My Gaya Month 2023, its participating designers and their collections, please visit www.mbdamalaysia.com or each participant’s official website.
