Clothes are lovely, but putting them on for the purpose of simply having something to wear does not do much to tickle the senses. If you are going to wear an outfit, wear it with a sense of pride. “I bought this. I own this. I get to tell a story of who I am when I wear this”.
Style gives us a sense of pride and knowledge of who we are and what we like. So, it only makes sense that every now and then we expand our fashion vocabulary by exploring new clothing brands. This time, we venture beyond Malaysia into a few Southeast Asian brands.
1. Our Barehands, Singapore
Our Barehands is a Singapore-based, slow-fashion house that makes simple and basic pieces for men, women, and children. Trust these silhouettes to be anything but boring, with each design a staple addition to your closet.
Thanks to linen, the chosen material, these clothes are perfect all year round for residents of this often humid and subtropical region of Asia. All their clothing pieces are made to order and will be shipped within four to seven weeks of purchase.
Address: North Bridge Rd, Unit 02-22 FUNAN, 107, Singapore 179105
Contact: +65 8758 2461
2. Araw The Line, Philippines
Yet another brand designed with the tropics in mind, Araw is a vintage-inspired clothing brand emphasising comfort, accessibility and clothing that is made to last. The clothes draw inspiration from reliable basics and are given a modern-day touch.
Imagine sartorial elegance made for monsoon showers and humid summers. Designed in the Philippines, the garment fabrics are light and minimal yet sophisticated for daily wear. Now that sounds like the stuff we need in our wardrobe, stat!
Available at Tropa Store: 117 Aguirre Street, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.
3. Anaabu, Malaysia
We love a good unisex clothing brand and love it even more when made locally. Anaabu checks both boxes as an independent androgynous apparel brand made in Malaysia. Minimally adorned garments and muted tones make perfect pieces for those building a capsule wardrobe.
Made primarily with linen and cotton, the brand focuses on designing practical, comfortable, and versatile collections. It also designs delightful pieces for children with Anaabu Kids. Picture your little ones trotting in these fashionable rags—they’ll be the most stylish kids in town.
Address: 13, Jln Sin Chew Kee, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: +60 3 2110 0121
4. Kilomet109, Vietnam
There’s something thrilling about owning a couture piece made closer to home. It evokes a sense of pride knowing something you’re wearing came from the mind of a fellow Southeast Asian citizen and was made with us and our needs in mind.
Thao Vu’s designs are familiar, drawing inspiration from Vietnamese design while retaining a sense of modernity and wearability for daily life. The eco-conscious label masterfully balances basic and statement pieces that will likely become a classic go-to for when you want to don something special.
Address: 64 Quang An, Tay Ho, Hanoi
Contact: +84 91 237 09 02
5. Rimmba, Indonesia
Floral-dyed silk dresses and mango leaf-coloured corduroy jumpsuits are just a couple of ways Rimmba celebrates its appreciation for nature. By incorporating natural dyeing methods into its garments, Rimmba ensures that every piece of clothing is not only eco-conscious but also feels deeply connected to the earth.
All their garments are handmade in Bali by the brand’s founder, Karunia, and local artisans whose vision for the slow and sustainable fashion line brought about Rimmba. If beautiful hand-dyed slip dresses, indigo-dyed silk chiffon blouses, and flowy jumpsuits sound like they have your name on them, hurry on over to their website and start adding your dream item to your cart.
Address: Jl. Raya Sanggingan No.36, Kedewatan, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561, Indonesia
Contact: +62 813 3887 3123
6. Day And Night, Indonesia
Neutral-toned style and sophistication take centre stage with Indonesian brand, Day And Night. Founded by two sisters, the duo provide timeless looks with a modern touch. Their clothing is meant to be worn during the day and seamlessly switched up at night for comfortable yet refined evening wear.
Selling pieces that are simple and classic, each design is easily worn and styled in various ways, creating the perfect base for a capsule wardrobe.
Address: Jl. Cendrawasih V No.10 5, RT.5/RW.3, Gandaria Sel., Kec. Cilandak, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12420, Indonesia
Contact: +62 813 9891 1944
7. Greyhound Original, Thailand
Fashion does not always have to be basic or timeless. It can be unpredictable, bend the rules, or, in fact, look odd, as long as you are having fun with it. Greyhound understands this better than most. Founded by four friends in Bangkok, the brand’s aesthetics are highly informed by varying interests in art, music, and architecture.
The results are nothing short of an explosive and chaotic expression of colour, perspective, shapes, and textures. It is an entirely thrilling, bold, and, at times, intimidating and joyous ode to fashion lovers all over the world. Find Greyhound Original store locations here.
