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Gen Z Designers Gave the Kebaya a Bold New Glow at OPPO’s OOO Music Festival 2025
The OPPO Kebaya Fashion Show was a stunning throwback-meets-tech statement that brought Malaysian heritage into the TikTok era. Held during OPPO’s OOO Music Festival 2025, the event celebrated UNESCO’s recognition of the Kebaya as a Multinational Intangible Cultural Heritage, reimagined through the eyes of 37 young fashion design students.
And yes, it was giving culture meets couture.
Kebaya Meets Iridescent Mermaid Energy
In collab with the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO and Taylor’s University’s The Design School (TDS), OPPO turned the spotlight on youth creativity. The show pulled major inspo from OPPO’s newly launched Reno14 Series 5G in its iconic Iridescent Mermaid Design.
🔥 The students redefined 4 classic Kebaya styles:
- Kebaya Pendek
- Kebaya Nyonya
- Kebaya Labuh
- Kebaya Kota Bharu
Each piece shimmered with bold color stories and tech-style aesthetics, proving that tradition doesn’t have to stay in the past, especially when Gen Z is involved.
Moments That Slayed the Runway
🎤 Singer-songwriter Naki joined 22 models for a performance that was part runway, part cultural flex.
💬 “Their work shows how tradition can be redefined with modern creativity,” said Monica Qin, OPPO Malaysia’s Marketing Director. “It’s the heart of OPPO’s design DNA.”
And the vibe wasn’t just visual. The deeper meaning? Culture, innovation and the future, all stitched into every design.
Real-World Fashion, Real Cultural Impact
For the student designers, this wasn’t just an aesthetic moment. It was hands-on, real-world fashion innovation:
“Our students got to honour tradition while shaping the future of fashion,”Dr Luqman Lee, Head of TDS.
This project was more than runway drama, it built bridges between tech and tradition, and gave these young creators a seat at the table of cultural legacy.
Why This Matters (Still)
Even though the event has passed, the impact stays real:
- It sparks national pride for Gen Z Malaysians
- It shows how brands can respectfully remix heritage
- It proves fashion can tell deep stories without losing its edge
As Fadzilah Fadzil, Secretary-General of MNCU, said:
“The Kebaya is more than an attire, it’s a living expression of our heritage.”
