Six Distinguished Fashion Designers to Showcase Their Creations at SIFMA 2025

KUCHING, 2 December 2025 – The Sarawak International Festival of Music and Art (SIFMA) 2025 is set to elevate its creative landscape with a curated fashion segment featuring six exceptional designers from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Each brings a unique artistic vision, cultural influence, and design philosophy to the runway, adding a compelling visual dimension to this year’s festival.

From couture mastery to sustainable innovation and modern Muslimah fashion, these designers represent some of the region’s most inspiring creative talents.

1. Ulfa Mumtaza — Modern Muslimah Fashion with Wastra Nusantara Elegance (Indonesia)

Graduating from LPTB Susan Budihardjo Surabaya, Ulfa Mumtaza has been shaping Muslimah fashion since 2009 by transforming wastra nusantara — Indonesia’s traditional textiles — into contemporary and globally relevant attire.

Her work combines cultural heritage with modern aesthetics, resulting in designs that are modest, expressive, and unmistakably Indonesian.

Ulfa has earned several recognitions, including: 

• Positive News Maker 2021 (Times Indonesia) 

• Indonesian Inspirational Woman (PII) 2023 from IPEMI, Jakarta

Her dedication to honouring traditional fabrics while embracing modernity makes her a standout contributor to this year’s SIFMA fashion segment.

2. Dicky Ishak — The Couturier of Emotion and Elegance (Singapore)

Born in Singapore, Dicky Ishak is a distinguished couturier whose work goes beyond fashion to explore beauty, emotion, and individuality. Known for his bespoke bridal and evening gowns, Dicky’s creations embody refined craftsmanship and timeless elegance.

His journey began with an early fascination for texture and fabric, eventually growing into a lifelong pursuit of couture as a language of confidence and self-expression. Every gown he designs is a delicate composition — precise, expressive, and deeply personal to the woman who wears it. Dicky’s presence at SIFMA brings a touch of artistry steeped in intimacy and couture heritage.

3. Dato’ Raymond Jolly — A Sarawak Icon With Global Footprints (Malaysia)

Sarawak-born Dato’ Raymond Jolly launched his label, Von Jolly Couture, in Bangsar in 2004 and has since become a prominent figure in both the corporate and creative spheres. His experience spans multimillion-dollar international projects and cultural missions across China, Taiwan, Türkiye, Peru and Europe.

Celebrated for his mastery in batik, Dato’ Raymond won national and international batik awards in 2005 and 2006, paving the way for global showcases in London, Paris and Jakarta. His influence extends beyond design — he founded ALTA MODA Sarawak 2019, serves as a fashion consultant at CENTEXS, leads Miss International Sarawak, contributes to Miss International Malaysia 2024, and heads Miss Kebaya Sarawak. He also represented Sarawak at the TFE Fashion Show at KL Tower in 2023.

A visionary in both leadership and creativity, Dato’ Raymond’s contribution to SIFMA highlights Sarawak's growing presence in global fashion.

4. Gilbert Headhunter — Contemporary Wear Rooted in Bornean Heritage (Malaysia)

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Gilbert Headhunter is a fashion brand celebrating the richness of Borneo culture through a modern lens. The brand is known for its sustainable approach, incorporating natural materials and traditional textiles such as Pua Kumbu into contemporary silhouettes.

Driven by a passion for cultural storytelling and youth empowerment, Gilbert Headhunter’s designs honour the past while embracing innovation. Each piece carries the spirit of Borneo, positioning the brand as a meaningful ambassador of Malaysian heritage on the global stage.

5. Jeny Tjahyawati — Indonesia’s Trailblazer in Modern Muslim Fashion (Indonesia)

A celebrated and award-winning designer, Jeny Tjahyawati is a prominent name in Indonesia’s Moslem fashion industry — one of the country’s most influential design sectors. Known for her modern, progressive aesthetics, her pieces blend modesty with bold styling, making her one of Indonesia’s leading fashion voices.

A top graduate of ASRIDE ISWI Jakarta and an alumna of IKJ, Jeny has expanded her influence through her labels “JenY by Jeny Tjahyawati” and “Etnicant.” She is also the author of Gaya Praktis Berkerudung (“Simple Style for Hijab”).

Her achievements include: 

• Rising Star, Indonesia Fashion Week 2019 

• Luxury Award, Torino Fashion Week 2017 

• Multiple national design competition accolades

Her participation brings a sophisticated, global outlook on Muslimah fashion to SIFMA’s showcase.

6. Steffi Necole — Sabah’s Rising Designer Born From TikTok Creativity (Malaysia)

Steffi Necole’s fashion journey began unexpectedly during the lockdown. While the world slowed down, she sped up — selling clothing online, experimenting with sewing, and sharing her creative growth on social media. A simple TikTok of her early tailoring work went viral, opening doors she never imagined.

Originally studying Hotel Management at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Steffi eventually embraced her true passion and enrolled in Fashion Design at UCSI University. Today, through her account @snp.co, she shares Sabah-inspired contemporary wear, bridal designs, and her evolution as a young designer shaping her own identity. Her work reflects authenticity, digital-age creativity, and the spirit of a new generation of Malaysian designers.

A Celebration of Culture, Craft and Creativity

Together, these six designers will bring a dynamic tapestry of cultures, styles and artistic voices to SIFMA 2025. From couture mastery and batik innovation to modern Muslim fashion and Bornean heritage narratives, the showcase promises to be one of the festival’s most anticipated highlights.