Ahead of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2026, Outdwell founder Oscar Lee reflects on building one of Malaysia’s most distinctive independent streetwear labels, why storytelling matters in fashion, and how culture continues to shape the brand’s evolving identity.
Giving Malaysian Streetwear a New Identity
As Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) returns to L’Esplanade at Suria KLCC from August 3 to 9, fashion enthusiasts are once again looking forward to one of Malaysia’s most anticipated style events. Spanning more than a week of runway presentations, KLFW celebrates established designers while providing an important platform for emerging talents shaping the future of Malaysian fashion.
It is also where fashion, celebrities and street style converge, transforming L’Esplanade into a vibrant showcase of creativity both on and off the runway.
Among this year’s featured designers is Oscar Lee, founder and creative director of Outdwell, a contemporary streetwear label recognised for its bold aesthetic inspired by Asian hip-hop culture, individuality and fearless self-expression. Having launched the brand at a young age, Oscar has steadily built Outdwell into one of Malaysia’s most exciting independent fashion labels.
Ahead of his KLFW 2026 presentation, we spoke with Oscar about his journey into fashion, the inspiration behind his latest collection, the realities of building an independent label, and his vision for the future of Malaysian streetwear.
Oscar admits his initial interest in fashion stemmed from a simple desire to create and alter his own clothing. However, what truly inspired him to establish Outdwell was the lack of meaningful storytelling within the local streetwear scene.
“Much of it felt like emotionless graphic T-shirts without much meaning behind them. I wanted to create pieces that tell stories, carry purpose, and hopefully contribute to changing the perception of streetwear in Malaysia,” he says.
Building a fashion brand, he believes, is a marathon rather than a sprint. One of the biggest lessons has been learning to balance creativity with business.
“One of the biggest lessons has been learning to separate emotions from business. As much as I want to help people and give every client the best experience, not every situation ends well. That’s why clear terms and conditions exist to protect both sides. Building a brand has taught me that kindness is important, but boundaries are equally necessary.”
Outdwell draws much of its identity from Asian street culture, which Oscar believes has a stronger connection to history, originality and storytelling than many Western streetwear influences.
“Recently, we’ve seen brands embrace cultural narratives, especially through Chinese New Year collections, which opened new possibilities for Asian streetwear. It showed that culture can be expressed in a modern way, and that inspired me to incorporate Malaysian culture and identity into Outdwell’s designs.”
With KLFW just weeks away, Oscar offers a glimpse into this year’s collection.
“For KLFW 2026, we’re bringing back Stars Align from Act 5. Over the years, we’ve always focused on creating something new, but this time we wanted to reflect on one of our most meaningful collections. Instead of simply reproducing it, we’re reinterpreting it with everything we’ve learned over the years, giving it a fresh perspective while staying true to its original story.”
Innovation in fabrication continues to define the brand. Oscar says Outdwell’s signature lies in combining contrasting materials to create distinctive textures and silhouettes.
“One thing we’ve always been proud of is our signature mixed fabrication, particularly combining denim with wool to create something unique in both texture and structure. Another piece we’re especially proud of is our Japanese-cut denim jacket, which has become one of our best-selling designs because of its silhouette, construction and versatility.”
Reflecting on his debut runway collection in 2022, Oscar acknowledges how much his design philosophy has evolved.
“Back then, I was focused on experimenting with tailored silhouettes and creating bold, avant-garde structures. As I’ve grown as a designer, I’ve realised my values lie in creating pieces that people can truly live in — clothing that balances casual and formal wear while expressing itself through subtle yet intentional details.”
As streetwear becomes increasingly competitive, Oscar believes Outdwell has carved out its own niche by redefining everyday formalwear.
“In Malaysia, everyday fashion often falls into two categories: casual T-shirts and shorts, or traditional office wear like shirts and trousers. Outdwell bridges that gap by transforming familiar wardrobe staples into modern streetwear pieces that are versatile, timeless and designed with thoughtful details and storytelling.”
Like many independent brands, Outdwell has benefited enormously from the power of social media.
“Social media has been one of the biggest driving forces behind our growth. While it’s made the industry much more competitive, it’s also given independent brands like ours the opportunity to reach audiences without limitations. It’s allowed us to connect with our community, collaborate with creatives and celebrities, reach an international audience, and most importantly, share the story behind Outdwell with the world.”
As Outdwell prepares to return to the KLFW runway, Oscar Lee continues to demonstrate that streetwear can be more than fashion. Through thoughtful design, cultural identity and authentic storytelling, he is helping to redefine what contemporary Malaysian streetwear can become.
Outdwell has previously participated in two runway shows in Kuching.
