Celebration OF CULTURE

A diverse kaleidoscope of heritage seamlessly folds into an expression layered with tradition and modernity in Bernard Chandran's latest collection, Unmatched.

- KAAVYA RAVINDRAN

As the range’s title suggests, Bernard Chandran’s unmatched skill and perspective remain a regal ode to contemporary Malay fashion, where old and new come together. The collection honours traditional Malay wear while broadening horizons to carve its space in the modern fashion realm.

It all started when Chandran was once faced with the suggestion that Malaysian women who wear the outfit tend to be nondescript when reflecting on traditional Malay wear. “I thought I would never come back to Malaysia. It was freedom,” shares the designer in a statement as he reflects on his days as a student in Paris in the ‘90s. “But when I was there, I learned that their fashion reflected their lifestyle. When I realised that, I felt that I needed to come back to Malaysia, which is my own culture. Malaysia needed me more than Paris needed me.”