Looking Like a Holiday: 5 Malaysian Brands That Dress the Part (And Then Some)

In the gleaming archipelago of Southeast Asia, fashion has always told stories—of place, people, and belonging. And if summer were a story, it would be a simmering one and endlessly dressed for the occasion.

VMAN Southeast Asia traces the sartorial cartography of the region through its local brands, beginning with Malaysia—whose designers have long woven climate, culture, and confidence into their creations.

Here, five labels prove that being vacation-ready isn’t a seasonal condition, but a state of mind.

Whether you’re sun-drenched on an island or just dreaming of one from your apartment balcony, these are the clothes that make you feel like you’re already away.

Rizman Ruzaini

Imagine entering a villa carved into the Amalfi cliffs, except the drama is yours, and the villa is wherever you happen to walk. Rizman Ruzaini makes that fantasy tactile.

Known for their opulent glamour, the design duo has recently pivoted towards a kind of luxe resortwear that doesn’t just suggest a holiday—it commands one.

Their pieces are crafted with fluid fabrics that move like whispered secrets, embellished just enough to catch light without begging for it.

Think wide-legged trousers in satin that kiss the ankle, diaphanous kaftans in saturated jewel tones, and silhouettes that exhale luxury without stiffness.

Bernard Chandran

If Rizman Ruzaini is the movie star by the pool, Bernard Chandran is the director behind the scenes—visionary, specific, and impossible to ignore.

A master of structured silhouettes and detailing, Bernard doesn’t do quiet luxury. He does loud elegance.

His recent work leans into travel-forward fashion that fuses Eastern elements with couture construction.

Statement jackets in embroidered brocade, shirt-dresses that feel like contemporary kebayas, and trousers that elongate the body and exaggerate confidence.

Syomirizwa Gupta

There’s a stillness to a Syomirizwa Gupta design. A clarity. Clothes that feel composed, as though they already know who you are.

Drawing on his roots, Syomirizwa reimagines traditional Malaysian and regional silhouettes with modern tailoring that speaks in soft, exacting tones.

His designs often flirt with symmetry—clean lines, clever pleats, collars that sit just so—and explore cultural nostalgia with a forward gaze. The result? Outfits that feel like a love letter to the past, written in the language of now.

Whether it’s a relaxed baju kurung in breathable cotton or a sharply tailored jumpsuit with echoes of songket, Syomirizwa’s vision is one where tradition is essential.

ANAABU

Rooted in a philosophy of intentional living and slow fashion, this unisex label crafts pieces from natural fibres—cotton, linen, sometimes raw silk—designed to age, crease, and soften beautifully with time.

There is no urgency here. No performative trend-chasing. Just timeless shapes—slouchy tunics, elasticated trousers, breezy coats—that feel almost ceremonial in their simplicity.

BritishIndia

BritishIndia has always occupied a particular aesthetic space—one where linen reigns and leisure is dignified. But don’t let the name fool you.

This Malaysian brand has evolved far beyond its colonial-era references into something wholly contemporary: a wardrobe for those who want their comfort served with a side of timeless style.

Billowing kurtas, crisp safari shirts, and longline blazers in sun-bleached neutrals. Their designs are breezy without being basic, and often unisex, with tailoring that flatters across form and function.

Summer, but always

In a region where the sun rarely takes a day off, “vacation-ready” becomes less of a fashion category and more of a design imperative.

These Malaysian brands understand that beautifully. They offer not just clothes, but states of being—stylish, considered, and ready to escape (or embrace) the everyday.

So whether your next holiday is booked or only exists on your Pinterest board, start dressing for it now. After all, looking like you’re on vacation is half the getaway.

Special thanks Mughni Che Din

Photos courtesy Rizman Ruzaini, Bernard Chandran, Syomirizwa Gupta, ANAABU, and BritishIndia