New sense of style

THE perception of men’s fashion has shifted multiple times in the past decade, mainly through revivals and comebacks, notably the return of streetwear by way of Supreme and Off-White.

Emerging fashion designer Dickson Lim intends to continue riding the disruptive wave, despite continuous headlines like: “Streetwear is dead!” or “Streetwear has lost its meaning!” over the year.

“Prior to this, I wanted to start a streetwear brand but it didn’t seem right,” Lim confides.

“It’s clear that the scene is oversaturated with brands that prioritise sales over creativity, whilst pumping out generic printed t-shirts, track pants and the occasional bomber jacket. There’s just not much emphasis on the archetypal menswear in Malaysia.”

For his debut Spring/Summer 2021 collection titled Disoriented Identity, Lim draws inspiration from his own sense of identity, as well as his own attempts to grasp the humanistic relationship between creativity and philosophy.

His unwavering passion and grand ambition to become a fashion designer was met with resistance and perceived as delusional by family and friends.

This conflict caused Lim to question: “Am I living for myself or to please others’ expectations?”

“Although I did not receive formal education to become a fashion designer, I was under the tutelage of my father, a master tailor whom I greatly admire, and it affected the way I view fashion school.

“With the abundance of resources online, learning and sharing your work has never been easier.

“You don’t become a fashion designer when you graduate with a degree, you become a fashion designer when you do what you love out of passion, and not for a grade.

“The unique aspect of all creatives is our vision, and our taste is what sets us apart from everyone else.”