Heritage Fashion Week 2026 Launches to Celebrate the Legacy of Kebaya Selangor and Seni Kelingkan

ASFARENA has officially marked the inaugural launch of Heritage Fashion Week 2026. Hosted at the Laman Wau, Karyaneka along Jalan Conlay, this year’s landmark event embraces the cultural theme "Festival Showcase Kebaya Selangor dan Kelingkan". Organized in a strategic collaboration with Kraftangan Malaysia and Karyaneka, the initiative represents a major milestone celebrating four years of dedicated effort by ASFARENA to lift traditional garments out of the archives of history and onto the contemporary fashion stage.  

The opening ceremony was held under the distinguished grace and presence of Y.M. Tengku Dato’ Dr. Hishammuddin Zaizi bin Y.A.M. Tengku Bendahara Azman Shah Alhaj, the Patron of Kebaya Selangor & Kelingkan D'Ehsan. Joining the royal patron to witness this cultural milestone were Datin Hezeita Mohd Hafidz; Dato' Asfarena Samion, Founder of Heritage Fashion Week and Master Couture Designer; Mr. Hairul Nizam bin Mohd Amran, General Manager of Karyaneka and Mr. Halim bin Ali, Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Pembangunan) at Kraftangan Malaysia. Their collective attendance underscores a unified national commitment to nurturing and safeguarding local heritage.  

The festival offered an immersive itinerary that seamlessly blended commerce, education and high fashion. Early attendees explored an vibrant creative craft market showcasing pieces by local artisans followed by an insightful dialogue session titled "Forum Fesyen & Masa Hadapan," presented by the Islamic Fashion Institute Indonesia and Karyaneka. Following a captivating cultural performance by artkl and official opening addresses by the key dignitaries and fashion showcase. Exquisite collections from Karyaneka, Kraftangan Malaysia, Jemel's and Dato' Asfarena Samion took center stage with musical performances by Mr Asri Badrun and legendary vocalist Dato' Khadijah Ibrahim. The event reached its pinnacle with the official officiating ceremony of the festival alongside a special prize presentation recognizing excellence in Kelingkan embroidery.  

At the heart of the 2026 showcase is a concerted effort to revive two cornerstone elements of Selangor's traditional identity: the Kebaya Selangor and the intricate art of Kelingkan. Rooted deeply in the historical 19th-century royal courts of the Selangor Sultanate, the Kebaya Selangor is celebrated for its modest, long and loose silhouette, a distinct teluk belanga or round collar and refined decorations like gold thread work (tekad emas) or delicate embroidery. Complementing this elegant attire is Seni Kelingkan, a luxurious and highly meticulous Malay textile craft where flat metallic threads of gold or silver are hand-stitched onto fine fabrics like velvet or silk. Distinguishable from the Sarawakian Keringkam by its unique flat-stitching technique, Kelingkan catches the light beautifully, lending an aura of classic grandeur to its wearer.  

Through this strategic alliance, Karyaneka acts as an essential pillar in product design, development and marketing to ensure these traditional art forms remain highly relevant both locally and internationally. By involving the public directly in the appreciation and manufacturing process of these crafts, Heritage Fashion Week 2026 successfully bridges the gap between historical legacy and future innovation, fulfilling its mission to weave ancestral craftsmanship back into the fabric of modern daily life.

Photo credit: HFW2026