As the Lunar New Year approaches, local fashion designers capture the celebratory spirit through a myriad of collections. This season, many are designing for a cultural melting pot, drawing inspiration from across the region to create pieces that resonate with today’s preferences.
Brands like Rizman Ruzaini and Behati look to neighbouring Vietnam, crafting refreshing yet distinctly different styles that merge the borders between Malaysian and Vietnamese cultural elements. Meanwhile, renowned designers such as Khoon Hooi and Melinda Looi play with effervescent colour palettes that mirror the energy of the Year of the Fire Horse.
While contemporary reinterpretation has become the norm, some labels like Maarimaia and Yuleza focus on craftsmanship and detail-oriented design. In a different vein, Fiziwoo travels back in time, taking inspiration from Hong Kong’s golden era in the 1980s to revive the suave and dazzling styles of pop figures with a touch of neon nostalgia. Together, these local brands offer a rich tapestry of options, ensuring that every festive wardrobe is as diverse and dynamic as the culture it honours.
The Local Lunar New Year 2026 Fashion Finds to Shop
Khoon Hooi
When it comes to festive dressing, Khoon Hooi is a name that needs no introduction. What really made us stop in our tracks this year are the bright, dopamine colours—apt for the Year of Fire Horse, which embraces boldness and high spirits.
This is, to say the least, a merry collection. Dresses come in a variety of styles and silhouettes. Think high necklines, cut-outs, playful polka dots and voluminous bubble hems. We are looking at a lineup that thoughtfully navigates the line between traditional and contemporary fashion—one that is done with much sophistication.
That said, these contemporary twists were made, much to our relief, not at the expense of the much-treasured traditional craftsmanship. The devil has always been in the details in the hands of the local designer, where hand-embroidered beads and hand-appliqued laces are wrought with care, while pearl and crystal detailings are pin-perfect.
Shop the collections here.
Melinda Looi
Putting Stephen Chow’s films on replay is a common Chinese New Year ritual—Melinda Looi’s family is no exception. This year, the designer takes it into her own hands with a celebratory lineup, titled the “Looi Fu Hustle”, inspired by the cinematic flair of the film Kung Fu Hustle.
Along with the traditional and intricately made form-fitting pieces, the collection also introduces fluid silhouettes—A-line dresses, puffy sleeves, or culottes—that capture the film’s martial artistry and the nostalgic touches.
The designer brand also joins the celebration with its vibrant “Mellgolian” collection for her diffusion line, Mell by Melinda Looi. Welcoming the Year of the Horse with a nomadic Mongolian spirit feels perfectly apt. This lineup is bolder, featuring brightly coloured jacquard, brocade trimmings and mesh dresses that appeal to the younger cohort.
Shop the Looi Fu Hustle collection here, and Mellgolian here.
Rizman Ruzaini
Twenty years in, the designer duo behind Rizman Ruzaini have been making their mark on the local fashion scene with designs that highlight classic silhouettes and meticulous craftsmanship. This Lunar New Year, it’s no surprise that the brand returns to its forte of intricate embellishments and embroideries with the Scion of Saigon collection.
Looking outward for inspiration, the brand draws from Saigon’s storied past for inspiration. Evening appropriate numbers take cues from traditional styles like áo dài, reimagined for modern occasions. Dresses such as the Hoang, Bian, and Nhung are lavishly adorned with the embellishments that catch the lights, whereas the Huyen, Trang or Minh turn heads with sumptuous fabrics like crepe, brocade, and velvet.
Shop the collection here.
BEHATI
This is a borderless world, and Behati brings that to life by mixing and matching all the fashion elements donned by people across the region. Photographed in the historic city of Hanoi, the Chăm collection by the homegrown designer presents a lineup that puts traditional costumes in the spotlight. The fresh approach made them a magnet for eyes, or even a conversation piece that would live beyond festivities.
Among the standout pieces is a reversible top made of Songket fabric, which reveals a Chinese brocade dragon motif when flipped. Áo Dài (in denim) is draped with a Selempang, and its front tail mimics the sirat of the Iban. Beyond the brand’s signature oversized pankou design, prints and tactile elements such as Indonesian batik, pinstriped, checkered motifs, brocade and lustrous silk are layered thoughtfully.
Shop the collection here.
Maarimaia
When it comes to qipaos, one name that immediately comes to mind is Maarimaia—a brand for which the garment has become a cornerstone as it enters a new decade. To mark a new year, the designer introduced the “Aurelia” collection, rolling out ten looks for its Privé Lunar 2026.
As the name suggests, these pieces feature lush materials, from opulent velvets to embellished brocade. Adding a touch of nostalgia whimsy to these otherwise traditional pieces, colourful feather trimmings grace the cuffs and hems, creating not just a striking colour contrast, but also a rich tactile appeal.
The ready-to-wear Lunar 2026 collection, on the other hand, offers a more casual and relaxed lineup. These qipaos underline practicality, where life-saving pockets were added, and tight-fitting silhouettes were reimagine as flaring A-line dresses that prioritise comfort and ease.
Shop the collections here.
Fiziwoo
This year, Fiziwoo toasts to the Mui and the Lau(s) that moved the needle of Hong Kong’s golden era in the 1980s, an era that captivated the world not only with Kowloon’s undimmed glow but also with the indelible cinematic films that shaped global perceptions of Hong Kong fashion.
The WOOBROTHERS line debuts a menswear collection, the Lau, drawing inspiration from Andy Lau’s suave style, while the womenswear “Mui” collection presents ten dazzling looks that channel Anita Mui’s fashion legacy. Despite her ever-changing image, the pop star remained closely associated with the cheongsam (Cantonese for qipao), both on the stage and the silver screen. Her memorable appearance in the film Rogue, for example, remains a celebrated moment in Cantopop history. The nostalgic collection is also topped by the designer duo’s adoration for scalloped hems—a detail popularised in the 1960s, adding another layer of retro charm.
Shop the collections here.
Innai Red
Innai Red is turning a new page with the new “Golden Petals” collection. Those who are familiar with the homegrown label will know that floral elements have been the cornerstone, and would be thrilled to see the new lineup, featuring pieces adorned with blooming flowers in varied textures, indicating a year of renewal.
The bloom blooms when these designs, rendered in lightweight brocades, embroidered lace, textured organza or taffeta, are dipped in a spring-like palette that includes rose, fuchsia, cherry red, cornflower, lilac and more, exuding the vernal breezes. The collection is also furnished with designs like handmade tassel florals, hand-dyed plumage, frog buttons, and beaded trimmings.
The standout pieces on our list are the Lei Lei Skirt and the Sally cheongsam. The former is a tiered midi skirt crafted with floral embroidery that transitions from a soft shade of budding roses to bright red, big blooms. The Sally cheongsam, on the other hand, is a modern approach to the traditional garment, covered with intricately made laces in a soft pastel palette that cascade in chevrons.
Shop the collections here.
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