TRADITION MEETS CONTEMPORARY
Known for his expressive and experimental approach to fashion, designer Waiian is entering a new phase of his creative journey. With his latest collection, he moves towards a more wearable wardrobe while continuing to shape a perspective entirely his own.
“Wearing traditional garments isn”t just about style; it”s a form of cultural storytelling and preservation.”
Fashion is rarely a straight line, and Waiian”s journey has never been about following one. From his early exploration of expressive silhouettes, experimental details and unexpected textile combinations to his growing presence within the contemporary fashion conversation, the designer has continued to build a creative language shaped by contrast, curiosity and personal experience.
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After studying Fashion Design in Berlin, Waiian developed his perspective between different creative worlds. His work reflects an interest in both classic and contemporary fashion, while his experience as a designer from Myanmar continues to shape the way he looks at culture, textiles and identity.
But this latest collection marks something different. It is not a complete departure from the Waiian people have come to know. Instead, it signals a shift in perspective’a designer beginning to think not only about the idea behind a garment, but also about the life it might have once it leaves the studio.
A NEW CHAPTER, A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
For Waiian, this moment is less about making a dramatic announcement and more about understanding where he is now.
“To be honest, I am not very sure if I would call this collection my step into the international fashion scene. Myanmar audience is also very much a part of my mission.”
What has changed, however, is the way he thinks about fashion. This time, Waiian was less interested in creating fashion for fashion”s sake. He wanted to create something closer to a wardrobe”clothes that could exist beyond an image, a runway or a creative concept.
An important part of this new perspective is the business side of fashion. For the first time, he has begun to consider how a collection can work not only creatively but also commercially, thinking about the people who will wear the pieces and how they might fit into an everyday wardrobe.
FROM EXPRESSION TO EVERYDAY LIFE
Looking back at his earlier work, Waiian describes it as more expressive through colour, volume and textiles, often taking a more avant-garde direction than what Myanmar audiences were accustomed to seeing.
That instinct to experiment has not disappeared. His aesthetic, which he describes as “controlled chaos”, brings refined tailoring together with experimental design, balancing contrasts with a deliberate touch of imperfection.
Today, however, he is approaching that creative instinct from a different perspective. The question is no longer simply how far fashion can go, but also how it can become part of someone”s life.
“I wanted to make something that feels more like a wardrobe rather than “fashion” fashion’something that people can actually live with and wear in their daily life.”
This shift is reflected in the collection”s familiar silhouettes and considered combinations. Rather than abandoning his experimental approach, Waiian is finding new ways to translate it into garments that people can wear beyond the runway.
TRADITION MEETS CONTEMPORARY
This new wardrobe brings together traditional Myanmar longyi fabrics with wool, jersey and deadstock materials associated with contemporary Western dress. Familiar pieces”shirts, trousers, jackets and coats”are reworked through subtle changes in cut, detail and combination.
For Waiian, heritage is not something to simply reproduce. He wants his work to reflect the present while continuing to create space for Myanmar textiles and local craftsmanship.
His interest in traditional textiles also comes from recognising the skills of local artisans. He sees opportunities to bring these materials into contemporary fashion through an innovative approach, allowing traditional craftsmanship to engage with a different design language.
As a designer who appreciates both avant-garde and classic fashion, as well as European culture and Myanmar traditions, he continues to explore the possibilities of bringing these influences together.
At Ease. No rush.
At Ease. No rush.
At Ease. No rush.
“နွေမိုး” collection
CREDITS
Designer: @waiianaung
Photographer: Bwar @khame.bw
Styling: Maximilian Kim @maxiginn
Styling Assistant: Nan Aye Thatar @nanayethatar
Cast: Mark Huhn @mark.hhn @modelwerk; Kim Koohgilani @kim_.k.__
Hair & Makeup: Zhena @moturnachka
Shoes: Dr. Martens @drmartensofficial
Paintings: Maximilian Kim @maxiginn
Textile: Minayar
Project Collaborator: Ritsuko Matsuoka @ritsuko_47
Waiian”s Latest Collection, 2026
WAIIAN SAYS
“I don”t want to be seen merely as a Myanmar designer. If I want to push myself further, I need the global audience to see me as a designer first.”
For Waiian, developing an international identity does not mean leaving his cultural roots behind. Myanmar remains an important part of his creative journey, and he continues to look for ways to bring its textiles and cultural perspectives into his work.
He also recognises that introducing Myanmar”s fashion and heritage to international audiences is a collective effort, with designers contributing in different ways to greater visibility for the country”s creative industry.
“I want my work to reflect what is happening now rather than simply representing tradition.”
A QUIETER WAIIAN
As Waiian looks towards the international fashion scene, he is also thinking carefully about identity. Myanmar remains part of his story, but he does not want it to become the only way his work is understood.
He is still exploring, still questioning and still building his own language. But this time, the expression is quieter’and perhaps closer to the person wearing it.
Perhaps the most revealing thing about this collection is how Waiian describes it himself: “a more subtle version of me.”
Rather than telling people what they should remember, Waiian would rather let the collection speak for itself and leave each person to take away their own feeling.
IN CONVERSATION WITH WAIIAN
For LUSH Magazine, Waiian talks about his latest collection, everyday dressing, Myanmar culture and finding his own place within the international fashion landscape.
Interview & Words
Ariel Thi
Editorial Director, LUSH Magazine
