LETTERS: After wrapping up my news writing class recently, I decided to spark a discussion among my students, all in their 20s, about the Met Gala, formally called the Costume Institute Benefit.
It is an annual fundraising event held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in Manhattan. I was curious to hear the students' thoughts on whether Malaysia could hold a similar event. To my surprise, the class spoke with a unanimous voice, disagreeing with the idea.
Their reasoning was simple: events like the Met Gala, with their extravagant fashion, don't align with Malaysia's core values and cultural identity. Trying to replicate it would feel forced and out of place in a society where simplicity and modesty often take precedence over flamboyance.
Personally, I grew up with a deep love for fashion. I devoured fashion magazines, honed my sewing skills under my mother's guidance and even created garments for my sisters. I admired the hand-sewn creations of my aunties and cousins.
Amidst this appreciation for fashion, I felt disheartened by the idea of Malaysia rejecting the possibility of a Met Gala-worthy event. I'm not denying that we are a country where tradition and heritage hold significant sway, but the extravagant and avant-garde nature of the Met Gala seems out of place.
Perhaps it's time for Malaysia to create its own version of the Met Gala, one that reflects our unique cultural tapestry and celebrates diversity.
There's a light-hearted joke circulating on X (formerly known as Twitter) that our Hari Raya celebrations could be seen as our own Met Gala. While there's some truth to this jest, as the festivities display a dazzling array of traditional attire, it's clear that our current fashion landscape lacks true innovation.
Yes, every year we get to see a bunch of baju kurung and kebaya designs, all decked out with new hijab prints and materials. But let's be real, does it really push the boundaries of creativity?
Does it make an impact on a global scale? The answer is no. Our traditional attire, while deeply rooted in heritage and symbolism, sometimes feels limited to specific communities and lacks that bold, avant-garde spirit you see at events like the Met Gala.
During a discussion with my students, I realised that they were unaware of the existence of National Textile Museum in Kuala Lumpur and the Sarawak Textile Museum in Kuching.
It surprised them to learn that these places were open to the public. This got me thinking about the issue of visibility and exposure surrounding these museums.
As I pondered on how to bridge this gap, an idea popped into my head — what if we organised an annual event for the National Textile Museums, inspired by the famous Met Gala?
This event wouldn't just be a celebration of Malaysia's rich textile heritage, but also a platform for fundraising, following the successful model of the Costume Institute Benefit.
By adopting a similar approach, our textile museums could reduce their reliance on public subsidies and ensure their continued operation. This would empower our cultural treasures and invite everyone to appreciate the beauty and significance of Malaysia's textile traditions.
MUHAMMAD NAIM MUHAMAD ALI
Media and Communication lecturer,
MILA University, Negri Sembilan
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times