‘Fashion in Motion’ festival by MODA celebrates fashion, culture and creativity

The Malaysia Official Designers Association (MODA), in collaboration with Pavilion Malls, launched its month-long “Fashion in Motion” festival running from October 1 to 27, 2026, bringing local designer showcases and runway events across three Pavilion Mall destinations in Kuala Lumpur.

The festival kicked off at Pavilion Damansara Heights on Oct 1 that featured the “Chapter Next” runway showcase, where 29 local designers reimagined classic denim with traditional Malaysian songket.

Throughout October, the public spaces within these malls feature runway presentations, community initiatives, a young designer competition, and a finale showcase.

Fashion in Motion is driven by MODA’s three foundational pillars of Elevate, Evolve and Empower. These pillars guide MODA’s dedication to supporting designers in developing their craft, adapting to the fashion industry, and community growth.

In his opening speech, Cyrus Chin, president of MODA, emphasized that when diverse creative talents unite, they generate value far beyond the runway – they open pathways for talent discovery, build cross-industry connections, and fuel the creative economy.

“Fashion is not only a finished garment or a moment on the runway. It is part of a wider creative ecosystem, shaped by designers, textile makers, artisans, stylists, hair and makeup artists, photographers, producers, retailers and audiences.

“When these individuals come together, we create more than a fashion show. We open pathways for talent discovery, build links across industries, and help creative businesses grow. This is how fashion contributes to Malaysia’s creative economy, and uplifts the people behind it,” he said.

He added that Fashion in Motion is a direct reflection of MODA’s commitment to advancing the local fashion industry through creative excellence and fostering collective action among local designers and industry stakeholders.

“We want designers to have the confidence to experiment, the platform to be seen and the networks to grow, by bringing fashion into the places where people live, work, shop and gather,” said Chin.

By embedding local fashion into public and retail spaces, the festival transforms this vision into a lived experience. It provides a prominent stage for designers, connects creative businesses directly with consumers, and offers the community an immersive way to discover Malaysian fashion, culture and creativity.

Following Chapter Next, the Fashion in Motion lineup continues across the three Pavilion malls.

Next Wave, held with Fiole, pairs 10 young fashion designers with 10 hairstylists to create complete, runway-ready looks. Finals take place on Oct 5 October at Pavilion Bukit Jalil.

The Unstoppable Pink is set for Oct 10, featuring a public awareness and charity walk from Pavilion Damansara Heights via MRT to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, supporting the Pink Unity breast cancer survivor group in collaboration with the National Cancer Society Malaysia, alongside a charity haircut.

The Saree Reimagined Runway takes place on Oct 22 at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, featuring 25 designers, as part of the Deepavali season.

From Oct 23 to 25, the Style Your Way Lifestyle Market takes over Pavilion Bukit Jalil with over 50 vendor booths blending fashion, food and music.

The festival closes with the Finale Party at The Arena, Pavilion Damansara Heights, bringing together the designers, partners, creatives and communities behind Fashion in Motion.