At Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2025, the runways may have been lined with Malaysia’s most compelling designers, but the heart of the event beats in its purpose — one set by founder Andrew Tan. Since launching KLFW thirteen years ago, Tan has been steadfast in his vision: to gather the country’s brightest fashion voices under one roof and push them towards a global stage.
RELATED: The Future Is Female: How Two Women Are Changing Indonesian Fashion

Tan, a serial entrepreneur and investor, knows the value of platforms. For him, KLFW is less an event than an ecosystem—one that connects established names and emerging designers with industry eyes, media, and the audiences who will wear their work.

“After an iconic KLFW 2024, where we hosted 7 impactful days in our own purpose-built show space, we knew we had to return for another year. Staying true to our purpose to push fashion forward, KLFW 2025 marks an amplified comeback — with bigger ambitions, a head-turning lineup, bolder styles, trends, and world-class fashion. While we may be the city’s leading fashion event, at its core, KLFW remains a community-driven movement — a synchronized collective powered by the passion and dedication of designers, sponsors, partners, and the fashion-savvy community,” Tan shared.


On the reception of the 2025 edition, in which over 15, 000 guests attended, including MEGA, he said, “We are deeply grateful to the sponsors, partners, designers, and community who have been part of this journey. With Visit Malaysia 2026 on the horizon, there’s certainly more in store for KLFW 2026.”






It’s that balance of ambition and community that keeps KLFW relevant. While other fashion capitals may chase novelty for its own sake, Tan’s focus has been on nurturing talent — curating lineups that pair returning favourites with fresh voices, shifting show formats for intimacy and impact, and keeping creativity at the center.




This year’s presentations — from Syomirizwa Gupta’s shimmering after-hours glamour to Behati’s reinvented school ties and Uzair Shoid’s sweep of ocean currents — captured the breadth of Malaysian fashion. But the through-line remains Tan’s conviction: the future of style in Malaysia isn’t imported. It’s made at home
Photos courtesy of KUALA LUMPUR FASHION WEEK
Photographed by SAUFI NADZRI
Special thanks to AirAsia and InterContinental Hotel Kuala Lumpur
