Kava

Black is always best, according to Kava. This homegrown brand walks the fine balance of combining casual and edgy. Think contrasting silhouettes and materials like faux leather with soft, draping fabrics that paint its wearer with an essence of style and boldness that the three-woman team behind Kava (Nazy, Kymia and Ivy) acknowledge as their design philosophy. “We wanted to challenge the gender and racial stereotypes like Muslim women couldn’t do or wear streetwear, or that our designs were for men or women only,” explained Kava’s founder and designer, Nazy Sam. They are quick to point out that Kava clothes are for both genders; their popular slack pants modelled on men and women, to drive the point home. With these driven #girlbosses behind the curtains, it’s no wonder that they have been invited to showcase their designs twice in Kuala Lumpur.

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IG: @kava.bn

BTHC.Moshware

Originally a band community, Belait Town Hardcore Moshware has been around since 2008 but turned their sights to fashion after a decade. The Kuala Belait-based clothing line is focused on producing a combination of street and athletic wear in simple, functional cuts. Items like the t-shirt hoodie and the “You Don’t Have To Be Blood To Be Family” mesh shorts seem like staples that could fit in at the gym or on a coffee run.

IG: @bthcmoshware

Yuth

Some might call him ‘crazy’ but Yuth’s founder doesn’t mind. “Oh yeah, a lot of people do but it’s just (a way) to express my feelings, what my clothing is all about,” Fuad tells me with a chuckle adding that while the Yuth brand identity may seem outrageous to some, “we’re not doing anything illegal here, we’re doing something that we love.” Heavily influenced by music and the cultural representation of the ‘youth’ experience, the brand was established in Brunei but has already achieved international reach with feted pop ups in key Asian markets like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bali, Indonesia, where he studied. Fuad also hopes to eventually bring his love of men’s high fashion into Yuth’s future designs, trilling off a heavy designer inspiration list that piques my interest. Alexander Wang but ‘street’? Consider my wallet yours.

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@bthcmoshware

IG: @yuth.ltd

Fyre Lyfestyle

Afiq N. launched Fyre Lyfestyle launched in 2019 with a series of rap and grime inspired jewelry that immediately set the ‘ganas’ tone he wanted to have for the brand. “I’ve always been into street fashion and it was eyeopening (at college) seeing how everyone dressed… I’m trying to do something that nobody else is doing,” he explained to me about his vision. While some items, like the gun-slinging ‘holster bag’, may seem slightly shocking or impractical, Afiq is conscious of creating exclusive items that still embody the soul of a street warrior, just one that is always best dressed for the occasion.

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Options

“It means there’s something for everyone here”, owner Sheikh Said explains about the brand name. Originally a thrifting business in 1999, Said changed direction to producing ready-to-wear clothing and accessories, after realizing he wasn’t happy wearing thrifted items. “I love buying new stuff and found there was more value in that,” he said adding that his initial collections have completely sold out two weeks after launch, thanks in part to the help of his friends and brand ambassadors, @Kurapak and @Aliqpombunai, who are both social influencers. Said also works with his Indonesian design partner who runs the Bandung-based brand, Badger Invaders, from Indonesia. Options’ logos and design aesthetic references the Badgers gritty, streetsmart branding, but have been adapted to local style trends for an exclusive partnership between Badger Inv. and Options.

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Super Thirteen

IG: @option_s_

As one of the longest running streetwear brands here, founder Tarmizi Bahrin started Super 13 with the objective to support and associate the brand with local youth and giving back to the community. His passion for collecting band merchandise, and growing up in an underground culture, significantly influenced him and after visiting the Southeast Asian streetwear festival, Tempatan Fest. Tarmizi decided to unleash his creativity through clothing and street wear, working closely with his in-house creative designer. Many of the collections or events under the brand support social causes or provide funding and support to in-need communities and local businesses. “We’re looking to work with (local) artists here to produce the first ever ‘Artist Series’ that includes designers, creatives and curators,” Mizi revealed about upcoming plans for Super Thirteen.

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IG: @super.thirteen

IG: @fyre.lyfestyle

@super.thirteen