Souls of ANCESTRY

A cult favourite across Southeast Asia, Anaabu re-interprets heritage codes through contemporary silhouettes. Rooted in kinship and collective memory, the Malaysian label's designs become vessels for stories both personal and shared.

- NURUL FIRDOUSEE

A cult favourite brand regionally, Anaabu is known for its novel take on recrafting heritage codes. But how did it all start? With a deep sense of kinship, one that translates beautifully into every thoughtfully designed silhouette. The magic of it lies in Ana, the founder's deep ties to kinship, her family and the world she grew up in.

"I founded Anaabu from my passion for thrifting, which blossomed into a love for styling. Growing up surrounded by garments, I was influenced by my father, a Cambodian immigrant who made a living selling bundles at night markets throughout Malaysia. I would accompany him in the van, selling various types of clothing," she recalls. Her grandmother also shaped her world. "My grandmother ran a small booth at a local market, selling tudung, kain sarung and kain pelikat. After school, I often played around her booth, immersing myself in the vibrant world of textiles." Those early experiences seeded her instinct for styling and a lifelong appreciation of garments as carriers of memory and connection.

This understanding of kinship is evident in the Malaysian brand's collections. The recent Kongsi Masa collection celebrates "shared time" across generations. "Kongsi Masa was inspired by the beauty of togetherness—moments of gathering, eating, praying or simply being present with family. I wanted the collection to feel like wearing memory, with each piece holding space for connection across generations." By blending Chinese and Malay elements through a current lens, the collection embodies unity in everyday life and festive rituals alike.