Malaysian fashion industry stakeholders have called on modest fashion brands to improve production capacity, business skills and market knowledge to expand their presence in the global market.
They made the call at the “Global Modest Consumer: Scaling Contemporary Fashion for Trade” forum held on Thursday during the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum was organised as part of the MIHAS Modest Fashion Week (MMFW) 2026, curated by MyFashionChamber Malaysia.
President of the Malaysian Fashion Business Development Association, Ms Bkay Nair, who moderated the forum, said fashion brands needed to go beyond creativity and visibility by developing businesses capable of meeting international buyers’ requirements.
She said understanding consumers, strengthening business fundamentals and maintaining consistency were essential for sustainable growth.
Hanis Zakaria, Manager of the Halal Integrated Platform at the Halal Development Corporation (HDC), said the modest fashion sector had opportunities to serve underserved consumer groups.
He encouraged designers to develop comfortable and practical clothing for men, persons with disabilities and other consumers beyond the traditional Muslim market.
Zakaria also introduced the Halal Integrated Platform, an online directory aimed at connecting halal industry players with potential international business partners.
He said businesses could use the platform to display their products, certifications, target markets and other credentials, adding that HDC also offered export-readiness programmes.
Fakhriyyah Muhardi of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia, called for closer collaboration between fashion institutions and industry.
She said vocational institutions were providing students with technical, marketing and technology skills to prepare them for careers across the fashion industry.
“Our aim is not to produce tailors,” she said, adding that graduates could pursue careers as designers, entrepreneurs, fashion managers, stylists and fashion technologists.
Mr Tabizi Tahir, President of the Malaysia Bumiputra Designers Association, said emerging designers often faced difficulties expanding production after securing international orders.
He advised designers to understand their costs, profit margins, target markets and production capacity before seeking export opportunities.
Tahir said a brand producing 50 pieces should have a clear strategy for handling an order for 500 pieces without compromising quality, delivery schedules or profitability.
He also urged designers to study their target markets, including consumer preferences, pricing, distribution and delivery costs.
He identified reliable supply chains as another important requirement, saying international buyers expected consistent delivery alongside attractive designs.
“There’s need for emerging designers to understand their consumers, identify their strengths, seek appropriate mentorship and use platforms such as MIHAS to engage directly with buyers and suppliers,” he said.
Earlier, Jay Ishak, Curator of MMFW 2026 and Founder of MyFashionChamber, said fashion needed to be linked to business, trade and market access to achieve sustainable growth.
Ishak said designers needed access to financing, manufacturing support, branding, business connections and markets to build sustainable fashion businesses.
“Fashion cannot grow through runway shows alone.
“We need to talk about what happens before the runway, what happens behind the business, and most importantly, what happens after the applause,” she said.
She said hosting the fashion programme within MIHAS was significant as it placed fashion within an international trade environment.
According to her, the initiative was designed to connect creativity with commerce and provide opportunities for designers to engage buyers, industry players and potential business partners.
The showcase featured Indonesian label 3Giffary, South Korea’s Alura Styles and a collaboration between Peru’s Carla Testino and Malaysia’s KN by Key Ng.(NAN)
