Malaysia’s 10 Best Contemporary Designers: Fusing Luxury and Edge

Helen Armitage

Multicultural Malaysia is fast becoming one of the design and fashion world’s hotspots. From the innovative, inspired interior designs of paul+pris, the natural, handcrafted decorative items of Jurema Creations, to the internationally renowned fashion designers Melinda Looi and Bernard Chandran, we present ten designers shaping Malaysia’s art and design landscape.

Kuala Lumpur

paul+pris

Paul+pris are Pauline and Priscilla Ng, two sisters who share a passion for creating designs that are daring and imaginative. Both Pauline and Priscilla were educated in the United Kingdom and gained considerable experience in architecture, branding, and interior design with firms in both Malaysia and overseas. Upon setting up paul+pris in 2008, the sisters decided to specialize in interior design and bespoke furniture with the intention of creating spaces and objects for commercial and residential purposes that are both relevant and exciting. Their designs have been featured in the magazines Home and Décor and Commercial Concept, and in 2012 their design for DiGi Telecommunication’s office was highly commended in the Office Interior Design category at the Asia Pacific International Property Awards. The inspiring and fun office design featured bright accent colors, faux grass carpet and communal ‘pods’ for relaxing or brainstorming with colleagues.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Slant Table

Fusionwave

Fusionwave is a digital creative agency and the brainchild of Luk Chee Chew who founded the company in March 2002. The company’s services include web and interactive design, motion graphics, print media and product development. Team members from Fusionwave are frequently invited to teach multimedia courses in local schools and universities, helping to inspire the next generation of Malaysian designers. In 2010 the company developed Dweey, a product and brand conceived by Chee Chew, which was acquired by toy production company Toy Minister in the same year. Dweey is a cute and fun ‘art toy’ collectible range in a number of eye-catching designs and colors that started life as a cartoon giraffe character. The range currently includes handmade soft toys and practical 8GB USB flash drives. In 2012, Dweey was nominated in the Best DIY Platform Toy category at the USA’s Designer Toy Awards.

Dweey

Studio Bikin

Established in 2011, Studio Bikin is a multi-disciplinary firm specializing in architecture, interior design and furniture design. Talented founders and company directors Farah Azizan and Adela, who were both educated at London’s Architectural Association and the University of Cambridge respectively, are passionate about the art of design and committed to creating works that mix work and play. Their architectural and interior design projects to date include the stylish yet relaxing Hit & Mrs restaurant in Kuala Lumpur and the futuristic-looking façade of Kuala Lumpur’s Maarof Gallery. The studio has recently developed Kedai Bikin, a line of Malaysian-crafted furniture items, light fittings and accessories created in collaboration with local designers and craftspeople. The Kedai Bikin range includes Mr Gould 2, a relaxing, low-slung chair made with a solid steel frame and rattan weave seating.

Mr Gould 2

Jurema Creations

Jurema Creations is an innovative one-woman operation that creates quirky yet beautiful objets d’art from entirely natural materials. Run by artist and designer Jurema Walendowsky Baker, who is originally from Brazil but now calls Kuala Lumpur home, all of Jurema Creations’ products are made from recycled tropical foliage including palm tree bark, coconut shells, bamboo and upeh, the Malaysian word for coconut tree bark. From these materials, Jurema crafts a variety of decorative items including sushi trays, fruit bowls and candleholders. These items are then lacquered several times to ensure their durability, such as the stunning Palm Frond Sculptural Bowl. Jurema’s designs have been featured in exhibitions at Malaysia’s heritage trust Badan Warisan Malaysia, and she was asked to create palm tray centerpieces for banquet tables at the ninth Sultan of Selangor’s coronation.

Palm Frond Sculptural Basket

Lain

Lain is a furniture design company established by accomplished designer Hani Ali, who also provides services including product design and interior planning and design, with a focus on creating unique, simple and beautiful designs. Hani brings a wealth of experience to the company. She trained professionally at the JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design center in Adelaide, Australia, which has nurtured many successful contemporary designers. Her work experience includes a role as interior designer at textile design giant Laura Ashley’s Malaysian branch. The company name derives from a Malaysian word meaning ‘unique and exquisite’ and Hani hopes to reflect in her designs the unique and exquisite multicultural traditions of Malaysia. Among Hani’s bespoke, custom-made designs for Lain are the White Vanity Table, a charming antique feel table emboldened and updated by bright flashes of hot pink.

White Vanity Table

Ideation

Ideation, set up in 2010, is a furniture, interior design and production company overseen by industrial designer and company director Zafri Zakaria Merican. With innovation at the core of its design ethos, the company brings together a talented group of designers who have honed their skills through studying prestigious design courses and work experience in the design industry. It is not surprising, then, that Zafri, on behalf of Ideation, was called upon to conduct a talk at the Malaysian chapter of the World Industrial Design Day 2013 event. Working with a range of commercial and private clients, Ideation uses state-of-the-art technology to produce furniture, fixtures and merchandise display units. Ideation are behind the arty, surreal design of the Sculptural Bench, an outdoor furniture item in the shape of a female figure in dark wood, complemented by solid teak seating.

Sculptural Bench

Melinda Looi

It seemed like destiny that Kuala Lumpur-based designed Melinda Looi would work in fashion. The daughter of a tailor, Melinda was catapulted into the fashion world when her graduate design collection scooped the Malaysia Young Designer Award in 1995, earning her a scholarship to Montreal’s La Salle School of Fashion. Since then, Melinda has gone on to win the prestigious title of Designer of the Year at the Malaysia International Fashion Week Awards twice and has established an impressive international clientele, dressing the likes of actors Cameron Diaz and Mena Suvari. Her design collections include couture, bridal and basics ranges and she recently collaborated with 3D printing innovators Materialise Malaysia to present Asia’s first fashion show featuring 3D-printed designs. Melinda’s designs, which were based on the theme ‘birds’, included the Let Her Shine skirt – a stunning swan-like design mixing fashion, art and technology.

Let Her Shine

Farah Khan

Since establishing her self-titled brand in 2007, fashion designer and entrepreneur Farah Khan has become one of the most important people on not only the Malaysian fashion scene, but also on the international front. Farah creates bold, lavish fashion items for the modern woman that often feature her signature style detail – intricate and beautiful Asian beadwork hand-sewn by local craftspeople using centuries-old techniques. Her eye-catching designs have been featured on the pages of high-profile magazines including Vogue, Marie Claire and Tatler and her styles have been worn by celebrities including Paris Hilton and Selena Gomez. Farah’s Resort 2014 Collection is perfect for the vacation season and features her trademark beadwork in refreshing, summery blues, pinks and lilacs. When she isn’t designing, Farah acts as President of The Melium Group, Malaysia’s leading fashion retailer that handles the Malaysian portfolio for brands such as Hugo Boss, Givenchy and Saint Laurent.

Courtesy of FARAH KHAN

Jarumas

Jarumas, established in 1992 by fashion designer Nor Aini Shariff, is one of Malaysia’s long-standing fashion brands. Jarumas’ styles combine both traditional and contemporary influences in exclusive hand-painted and block-painted Malaysian batik designs, with a ready-to-wear collection and an exclusive service offering personal design and custom tailoring through the Kuala Lumpur-based Jarumas boutique. With Nor Aini’s trademark features, including flowing fabrics, detailed beadwork and vibrant and varied colors, Jarumas stays true to Malaysian culture by creating locally inspired sarong suits, pantsuits, casual smarts and evening wear. Jarumas participated in the 2012 Islamic Fashion Festival, which is held annually in Kuala Lumpur, with a range of African-inspired designs created under the festival’s theme ‘Hakuna Matata’, which combined earthy and natural tones of brown and green with bright oranges and pinks.

Islamic Fashion Festival Collection

Bernard Chandran

Hailed as Malaysia’s King of Fashion, Bernard Chandran’s illustrious career began locally while studying at Kuala Lumpur’s International Fashion Training Centre before gaining a place at the renowned Paris Fashion School in France where he went on to become the first non-European winner of the 1991 Open European Contest for Look of the Year. Bernard has since won a plethora of awards including Designer of the Year at the 2003 Malaysian International Fashion Awards, and has become something of a TV personality appearing as chief designer on Project Runway Malaysia and a guest judge on Britain’s Next Top Model. Bernard’s designs have become a favorite with contemporary pop icons, with Lady Gaga, Rhianna and Estelle frequently seen in his creations. His Autumn Winter 2013-14 collection, shown at London Fashion Week, is a contemporary interpretation of femininity featuring sophisticated silk designs in browns, whites and blacks.

Autumn Winter 2013 – 2014 Collection
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article