THE Penang Fashion Week 2025, themed “Beyond Boundaries: Infinite Fashion”, was held in grand style last weekend at Sunshine Central, Ayer Itam, celebrating Penang’s creative energy and craftsmanship while boldly positioning the state at the forefront of the regional fashion scene.
State executive councillor for Tourism and Creative Economy, Wong Hon Wai, said the event not only reflected Penang’s strong foundation as a cultural and tourism hub but also marked a confident step toward establishing Penang’s distinct fashion identity and creative voice.
“Penang Fashion Week 2025 is more than a style showcase – it is a powerful statement of how Penang continues to evolve creatively. It demonstrates our city’s ability to merge cultural depth with contemporary expression, giving Penang a distinctive and modern sense of style,” Wong said.
The event celebrated Penang’s vibrant creative spirit and masterful craftsmanship while setting its sights on expanding new frontiers of design. It brought together innovation and imagination to chart a new chapter for Penang as a city of fashion and creativity.
This year’s edition gathered 20 designers, 13 leading fashion brands, and over 60 professional models, alongside 50 child models, who lit up the runway with a dazzling display of diversity and artistry. From exquisite traditional textiles to dynamic urban streetwear and avant-garde haute couture, the show captured the spirit of inclusivity and creative freedom that defines Penang’s fashion ecosystem.
“Penang Fashion Week serves as an important platform for designers and models to showcase their talents, connect with buyers and media from across the nation, and elevate Penang’s fashion industry to greater heights,” Wong said.
He added that Penang has long been a crossroads of culture, ideas, and art. From the Unesco World Heritage-listed George Town to the city’s thriving creative scene, Penang continues to nurture innovation and inspiration across generations.
“As local designers share the stage with creative talents from across Malaysia and abroad, we can clearly see Penang transforming into an international fashion stage, a city that truly transcends boundaries,” he said.
Reflecting on the global fashion landscape, Wong noted that while New York, London, Milan, and Paris are recognised as the four great fashion capitals, Penang shares the same creative spirit, artistic vitality, and openness that define those cities.
“We may not yet be among the world’s top fashion capitals, but I believe that as long as we continue to nurture our creative industries and fashion ecosystem, Penang will emerge as one of Southeast Asia’s most compelling fashion destinations,” he added.
Honouring Penang’s fashion heritage: the nyonya kebaya
This year’s Penang Fashion Week also paid tribute to Penang’s rich fashion heritage by highlighting the nyonya kebaya, which was successfully inscribed in Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024.
The inscription, titled “The Kebaya: Knowledge, Skills, Traditions, and Practices”, was a joint nomination by Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, recognising the kebaya as a symbol of shared regional heritage and craftsmanship.
“The nyonya kebaya represents not only timeless beauty and intricate artistry but also the spirit of cultural exchange and shared identity across Southeast Asia. Its recognition by Unesco allows Penang to shine once again on the international stage, embodying the harmony of tradition and modernity,” Wong said.
Once the elegant attire of Penang’s Straits Chinese women, the kebaya has today become an enduring emblem of craftsmanship, femininity, and cultural confidence. Its detailed embroidery and symbolic motifs tell stories of heritage and artistry refined through generations. The kebaya took centre stage at Penang Fashion Week 2025, captivating audiences with its timeless grace and intricate beauty.
Kebaya on the world stage: Osaka Expo 2025
Wong also shared that the kebaya once again took the spotlight during Penang Week at the Malaysia Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka, where it represents Malaysia’s artistic identity and traditional elegance.
Daily fashion shows, cultural workshops, and Kebaya-wearing experiences were hosted at the Malaysia Pavilion, drawing visitors from around the world. Audiences were mesmerised by the delicate embroidery, refined tailoring, and graceful silhouette of the kebaya — making it one of the most celebrated highlights of the Expo’s cultural programme.
“For Penang, this is not merely a fashion showcase, but an act of cultural diplomacy through design. The Unesco-recognised kebaya has become a bridge between tradition and modernity, between Malaysia and the world — a vivid reminder that cultural heritage is not only to be preserved, but also renewed and reimagined,” Wong said.
Among those present at the Penang Fashion Week 2025 were organising chairman Ivan Choo, Ayer Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang, and Penang Global Tourism Pauline Yoon.
“Through events like Penang Fashion Week, we continue to strengthen our creative economy and highlight Penang’s unique appeal as a premier international tourism destination,” Wong emphasised.
Pix courtesy of Penang State Executive Council for Tourism and Creative Economy (Petace)