Streetwear is so in right now, it has practically embedded itself into everyday fashion to the point that it isn’t considered counter-culture anymore. Call it overrated, overpriced and mainstream all you want, but local streetwear brands stand out for being surprisingly modest with their price, rich in design and packs a punch in style.
Here are the crème de la crème of Malaysian streetwear brands (in no particular order):
1. The Covert Collective
We put them first on the list because the team behind this brand is a pair of newlyweds named Hannah and Samuel, adventurous law and engineering graduates that are all about bold looks and quirky design in a world where minimalism is the norm. This is also a brand that isn’t afraid to talk about stuff we overlook, like their ‘Real Men Don’t Buy Girls’ collection (a part of their Covert Gives line) that touches on human trafficking. On a lighter note, the brand’s ‘Tough Girls Club’ is inspired by the one and only Sheena Liam, winner of AsNTM season one.
Check out our featured interview with the co-founder here!
2. Pestle & Mortar
Of course we’d have to include this bunch, they’ve been around long enough that most people own one shirt or two from the brand. Yes, they’re everywhere, but believe in PMC for staple t-shirts that stand the test of time. You also get updated collections that come in non-offensive original designs (keyword: original), so they’re easy to match. To make things saucier, the PMC family members consists of the country’s most talented like DJ/Producer Reddi Rocket, YouTuber Harvinth Skin, and Aman Ra, rapper and songwriter. Their Evergreen collection with reverse texts of city names make great gifts to friends overseas, as well as the simple but iconic text logo tees.
3. Idotshirt
This is where you can go all out with your own design, creativity and individuality thanks to the brand’s Gameplay Experience where customers are allowed to create their own t-shirts that are made with only the highest quality materials. At the moment, there are three design options like number, box, and script for not only adults, but also kids. Idotshirts are slightly pricy, but it’s the price you have to pay for customisable tees that are entirely personal from cutting to fabric and design. If you’re still not convinced, the cotton material that’s used was designed to handle shrinkage, so the quality is class.
4. Tarik Jeans
They’re popular for their amazing denim, and for very good reason: their jeans are amazingly flattering for guys. Tarik’s signature skinny Din denims are perfect for everyday wear, while the slim Ramlee’s are great for the lads who aren’t into something tight fitting like skinny jeans. As the name suggests, Tarik is an inherently Malaysian that celebrates our country’s rich Malaysian culture, and their Batik shirt collections are enough to show that. If you’re bored of getting just plain t-shirts, then swap those with these batik shirts for a change.
5. The Swagger Salon
If you’ve seen the words LANSI on a piece of garment or cap, then you’ve received a piece of The Swagger Salon. We personally find their latest pieces to be eccentric, with caps and shirts that showcase words only we Malaysians get. Their striped tees are also a different approach from their usual plain t-shirts with the famous LANSI logo. But there’s no stopping this Penang based brand that started from only Shen himself, whose hip hop roots help kickstart a batch of caps that became an undefeated force in local streetwear.
