KPDN champions local products through KLFW 2026
The ministry's tie-up with Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2026 features over 50 local designers and brands, including a first-ever Malaysian batik segment.
KUALA LUMPUR – The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) is stepping up efforts to promote the use and purchase of local products through a strategic collaboration with Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2026, a platform to bring local brands and fashion designers to a wider audience.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the initiative forms part of the Jom Beli Produk Malaysia (JOM MALAYSIA) movement, the transformation strategy for the Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign.
He said the movement's main objectives are to encourage Malaysians to prioritise local products, reduce dependence on imports, and strengthen the competitiveness of local industries and entrepreneurs in both domestic and international markets.
KLFW 2026, held at Esplanade KLCC from Monday until Sunday, brings together more than 50 local fashion designers and brands with about 800 creative designs over the seven-day run.
"Through this strategic collaboration involving 28 segments, one segment featured specially for the first time is Fashion Forward Batik Malaysia.
"This segment showcases 10 local fashion designers with 30 contemporary batik designs using authentic batik textiles from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia," he said today.
Armizan said the growth of the country's cultural and creative industry underlines the sector's huge potential, with the Culture and Creative Satellite Account Report 2024 recording a contribution of RM130.7 billion, equivalent to 6.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Based on KLFW 2025's achievement of a media value of USD32 million, he said the latest collaboration is expected to widen the market reach of Malaysian batik domestically and globally.
He added that the effort is in line with the establishment of the Cabinet Committee to Empower the Use and Purchase of Local Products, decided by the Cabinet on July 15, to strengthen promotion, boost domestic sales and exports of local products, and reduce import dependence.
"Through JOM MALAYSIA, KPDN will continue to strengthen cooperation with industry players, the private sector and strategic partners to reinforce the ecosystem, ensuring Malaysian products are more sustainable and competitive at home and abroad," he said. – Quotes translated from Malay.
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