Fashion and style have evolved over the years. Nothing stays the same and even when they bring back an old fashion trend, there’s always a new twist to it. With that being said, perhaps some things should always remain the same as we’ve seen some questionable modern twists to traditional outfits.
While there’s technically nothing wrong with giving traditional costumes a new modern look, it’s probably best not to go overboard. A certain fashion brand has been receiving some heavy criticism not only for its new collection of baju Melayu but as well as the way it was being promoted.
Malaysian fashion brand Behati is known for its traditional futurewear and for being the creative team behind several stage outfits worn by artists like Aina Abdul and Dato Seri Vida. Recently, the brand came under fire after debuting its new Behati Pelangi Collection for the Raya holiday celebration later this year. The upcoming release features modernised baju Melayu in vibrant colours of the rainbow, as the name suggests.
To promote the new collection, the traditional-modern apparel company had models, local celebs, and influencers posing in them in the middle of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur as seen in the videos and photos posted on Instagram. Although they may look interesting and unique, the rainbow-themed outfits did not receive many positive reviews from netizens.
After the fashion company announced the new Raya collection, many criticised it for tarnishing the traditional Malay costume. Some said that the bright colours made the clothes look cheap and of low quality while others accused the brand of insulting the Malay culture. Netizens also criticised the catwalk presentation as it was apparently done at the pedestrian crossing which made it difficult for others to cross the road.
Time org nak lintas pi pavilion depa pi buat runway pic.twitter.com/xhPEHv1Ybi
— Syarol Kyle (@iSyarolKyle) February 18, 2023
At the time of writing, Behati has yet to respond to the backlash for the designs as well as obstructing traffic. This is however not the first time the brand has come under fire. Kel Wen, who founded the company in 2018, was previously criticised for his choice of outfit during the KL Fashion Week last year. What do you think of the new Behati Pelangi Collection?
Sources: Instagram(1)(2), Twitter(1)(2)
