PRINTCAST

@ Halal | July-August. 2026

The modest fashion is getting attention. Now, Malaysia wants to turn that attention into brands, business and global opportunities.

BEYOND TRENDS: Designing modest fashion with culture, comfort and purpose in mind.

TITLE

MODEST FASHION: BEYOND THE TREND Defining modesty, understanding Shariah considerations and positioning Malaysia designers for the global stage at MIHAS 2026

HOST Shaza Dzulkifly ∙ @ Halal

Industry Panelist

Jay Ishak ∙ Co-Founder & CEO, MyFashionChamber

Knowledge Panelist

Head of Corporate Communication, Halal Development Corporation Berhad

For Malaysia, the bigger question is whether it can convert its strengths in the halal economy, multicultural identity and fashion talent into a serious, export-driven industry.

That was the central theme of the debut episode of The Halal Majlis, a printcast series powered by @ Halal and Malaysiakini, moderated by Shaza Dzulkifly.

Joining her were Jay Ishak, co-Founder and CEO of International Fashion Chamber Malaysia( MyFashionChamber), and Faridah Mohd Ali, Head of Corporate Communication at Halal Development Corporation Berhad( HDC).

Shaza opened the discussion by asking how modesty is defined in fashion— and who ultimately decides whether an outfit is modest: the wearer, the designer, the wider public or religious authorities.

" Is this modest?" Shaza ' s opening question, directed at her own outfit, captured the difficulty behind a term used freely by designers, brands and consumers.

" We simply slap the word modest on everything, to a point that we all may not be talking about the same thing."

The question immediately exposed the complexity behind a seemingly straightforward fashion category.

Jay said modesty could not be determined by a marketing label alone.

" Modesty is found in the complete look, not simply the length or the thickness of the material," Jay said, pointing to coverage, fit, opacity, movement, styling and context.

Faridah similarly cautioned against auto-

matically connecting modest fashion with religion.

" For me, modest fashion is actually a fashion approach for consumers to have their own preferences in terms of what they wear and how comfortable they are," Faridah said. The distinction is important. Islamic or Syariah-compliant fashion carries specific religious considerations, while halal fashion can raise questions about textiles, materials, and production processes. Modest fashion, however, potentially crosses religious and cultural boundaries.

As Jay put it: " Modest fashion is for everyone."

A MALAYSIAN OPPORTUNITY

That broad appeal presents Malaysia with an opportunity.

Faridah noted that HDC already regarded modest fashion as an emerging sector with considerable commercial potential.

" It ' s a lucrative business," she said. " This is an opening market."

Malaysia also brings significant advantages— an established halal ecosystem, multicultural influences, heritage textiles, and a strong international reputation in the Islamic economy.

Jay believes these strengths can help Malaysia create its own distinctive modest fashion identity.

" We have our own story," she said, highlighting opportunities around tropical modest wear, contemporary interpretations of batik and songket, specialised textiles and niche production.

Shaza summed up the challenge neatly: " Our enabling ecosystem is strong, but we have not yet converted that into fashion market leadership."