Six Bag Brands Born and Bred in Malaysia That Are Trending Right Now

If you're looking to explore this scene but didn't know where to start, fret not, as you have come to the right place. Here are six trending bag brands that are proudly owned by Malaysians.

1. BRIK

Perhaps one of the most popular local bag brands these days, BRIK was founded by two sisters, Sabrina and Syakira Ridzal, back in 2023. Despite being only two years in the game, the bag's popularity skyrocketed due to their effective and calculated marketing by creating a sense of scarcity and consumer excitement.

BRIK captivated attention with its glossy Chroma shoulder bags that come in a variety of eye-catching colours. An upgraded version of these bags soon follows with various sizes (petite and upsize) with bold textures like denim.

Local brand SAOI got their name from an Irish Gaelic word that directly translates to ‘grow wiser’. SAOI is the brainchild of beauty content creator Wan Nur Syaira that aims to offer essential pieces that cater to everyday needs.

Although SAOI was known for its high heels, this brand also boasts an impressive selection of bags that blend simplicity and functionality. At SAOI, not only can you find the bags to spice up your everyday outfit, but they also have bags to fit all your work essentials.

Despite having little background in fashion, Johor-born designer Nazifi Nasri persevered and managed to make a name for himself. Founded in 2014, the eponymous brand began its journey as a brand of men's sandals and footwear. But in 2021, Nazifi Nasri started focusing more on women's products.

Their Oked bag, which is the bag that skyrocketed Nazifi Nasri's brand, was inspired by the Y2K-style moon-shaped shoulder bag. In an interview, Nazifi explained that he reinvented the bag to look more minimal with fewer frills to stay true to the brand's minimalist concept.

If you are a fan of woven bags, you might want to check out Nobat.

This local brand was founded in 2020 by two artisans with a mission to honour the traditional art of ‘anyaman’ while giving it a modern touch. According to their website, all the bags in their collections were carefully handmade in-house.

Sometime by Asian Designers gained popularity by collaborating with renowned Malaysian designers and fashion icons such as Rizman Ruzaini and Alia Bastamam to create beautiful handbags that blend multiple styles.

Founded in 2019, this brand has a number of showrooms in the Klang Valley area, where you can visit to browse their products yourself. To add a personalised touch, many of their bags can be customised with a name, word or chosen symbol.

While the brand name MUI can be translated to ‘sister’ in Chinese, MUI was actually founded by two best friends named Liyana Rozan and Qalisha Ray.

The brand debuted with dazzling rhinestone-studded handbags. MUI's collection also included handbags made with luxurious satin that can elevate any outfit for any occasion and timeless leather designs that exude a classic and sophisticated aura.