January 2026
PILLAR, Áraw, Silk Festival 2025, Kilomet109 and more
The new year kicks off with a series of fashion presentations and openings across Southeast Asia. Highlights include the reopening of PILLAR at Plaza Indonesia, where a refreshed spatial concept continues to position fashion alongside art; Áraw’s holiday collection in Manila, crafted in pure raw silk; and the Bangkok Silk Festival 2025, where designers reinterpreted silk through contemporary, dynamic silhouettes. Elsewhere, Malaysia-based Caro Chia debuts its first handbag, extending the label’s sculptural practice, while Vietnam’s Kilomet109 unveils a new festive-season collection, reaffirming its commitment to craft and material-driven design.
‘Through the Grapevine’ is a monthly round-up of fashion events across Southeast Asia, from collection launches to exhibitions, showcases, pop-ups, and more.
Indonesia
PILLAR’s new store. Image courtesy of PILLAR.
PILLAR
Store Re-Opening
Plaza Indonesia, Level 3, Jakarta
Home to local labels including Peggy Hartanto, Tanah Le Saé, and Gelap Ruang Jiwa, alongside exclusive drops and collaborations with designers such as Sapto Djojokartiko and ANW, PILLAR has reopened at Plaza Indonesia, Level 3, unveiling a refreshed spatial concept that retains its original spirit. Founded in 2022, the Jakarta-based multibrand retailer continues to explore the intersection of fashion and art through a gallery-like space designed by FFFAAARRR, featuring a rotating selection of artworks curated in collaboration with Srisasanti Syndicate.
Philippines
Áraw Holiday Collection. Images taken from @araw.theline on Instagram.
Áraw
Holiday Collection
Áraw is a Manila-born wardrobe label rooted in tropical ease and minimalist restraint. Named after the Filipino word araw, meaning day or sun, the brand channels warmth and light into timeless essentials designed for warm climates. Its latest holiday collection is crafted entirely from 100% raw silk, reimagining familiar silhouettes through clean, contemporary forms influenced by subtle Eastern references. Defined by gentle variations in texture and natural sheen, the limited offering favours longevity over seasonality, with pieces designed to feel relevant well beyond the holidays.
Thailand
Pyvet for the Silk Festival 2025. Image taken from @pyvet.studio on Instagram.
Shone Puipia for the Silk Festival 2025. Image taken from @shonepuipia on Instagram.
Silk Festival 2025
IMPACT Exhibition Center, Bangkok
The Silk Festival 2025 brought together Thai designers including Shone Puipia, Pyvet, and FAH CHAK WO+MAN, each interpreting silk through their own design language rather than tradition alone. Across the presentations, the material was explored as a flexible medium, shaped into structured, softened, and layered silhouettes that reflect a more dynamic, contemporary way of dressing. Together, the looks repositioned silk not as a marker of heritage costume, but as an adaptable textile that supports diverse creative expressions while remaining grounded in craft.
Malaysia
Caro Chia
Faro Bag Launch
Malaysia-based label Caro Chia, recognised for its playful construction and sculptural approach to womenswear, has introduced its first handbag. Conceived as a natural extension of the brand’s clothing practice, the debut design features a suede, softly structured silhouette accented with adjustable strap detailing. Balancing function with form, the bag reflects Chia’s commitment to thoughtful, expressive design that is distinctive and slightly irregular, marking a confident and confident step into accessories.
Vietnam
Kilomet109’s New Collection. Images are taken from @kilomet109 on Instagram.
Killomet109
New Collection Launch
Kilomet109 is a Hanoi-based fashion label known for its commitment to traditional craft, natural materials, and slow production. Working closely with local artisan communities, the brand develops its own handwoven and naturally dyed textiles. In December, Kilomet109 presented new looks from its latest collection at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi as part of the hotel’s Christmas celebration, Luminescent Dreamscape. The presentation focused on softly structured pieces layered in earthy tones, highlighting the label’s intentional approach to material and detail.