Mohammad Faris’s wau bulan-inspired costume soars to victory at the recent World of Wearable Art competition. (World Of Wearable Art pic)
PETALING JAYA: When his name was called, Mohammad Faris froze. The words “culturally rooted, technically unique” hinted it might be him. But still, disbelief hit first.
“It felt very surreal,” he shared with FMT Lifestyle. “This was my first fashion competition ever. When they announced Malaysia, our ambassador was there, screaming with her friends. I was just standing there in shock. But it felt amazing, like all that hard work had really paid off.”
That hard work came in the form of Wau Bulan, a breathtaking piece that took flight at the annual World of Wearable Art (WOW) competition in Wellington, New Zealand, in September.
Every year, designers from around the world turn recyclables, fabrics, and unexpected materials into extraordinary stage costumes.
And this year, Faris’ creation – inspired by the traditional Malaysian wau bulan – soared above the rest, winning the “Air” section.
Spotting very local elements that any Malaysian would recognise – bunga raya, Minangkabau structure, Sarawakian batik – the 22-year-old’s costume stunned the global stage.
“Malaysia is very diverse and I wanted the outfit to show that. I wanted people to see the vibrance of our culture,” Faris, the second of six siblings, said.
Faris, who had never made a wau before, says he now has a greater appreciation for the art form. (Mohammad Faris pic)
Curiously, he’d never made a wau before.
“When I started tying the rattan rods together, I realised how hard it actually is! Wau making is a dying art, and it really made me appreciate how much craftsmanship and culture go into it.”
So much so that his father, who hails from Kelantan where the wau bulan is traditionally flown, told him how proud he was, “especially to see the wau bulan being represented globally and received so well”.
Born in Sarawak and now completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, Faris is a self-taught designer who stumbled into fashion through curiosity and boredom.
“When I was in college, I bought a secondhand sewing machine and started upcycling jeans and shirts,” he said. “It was just a way to express myself. Then I started doing alterations for my friends – and somehow, here I am.”
That spontaneous spirit carried into his winning costume. The idea came to him as soon as he saw WOW’s theme list.
“When I saw the ‘Air’ section, I knew I had to do it. I wanted something that’s part of me, my Malaysian identity. So I asked myself, how can I make this 2D art piece become 3D and wearable?”
It took Faris several months to put his winning creation together. (Mohammad Faris pic)
The result was a costume bursting with colour and meaning. The black, red, and gold palette was inspired by Sarawakian batik – “a nod to where I was born,” said Faris – while the shoulder pads were made of old Chinese tissue boxes he found in a thrift store. The models even wore gold Indian bangles.
Behind the glamour, though, was a whirlwind of deadlines and improvisation. Between lectures, Faris spent months cutting, sewing, and hand-painting floral motifs.
“I had to finish most of it before I left for my student exchange in Colombia,” he recalled. “It was such a stressful two to three months. Thankfully, my friend Matilda from Finland helped me finish the painting and trimmings while I was away.”
When the final piece took the stage, it stood out – bold, bright, unapologetically Malaysian.
“People said mine looked different because the Air section was mostly soft and flowy,” Faris pointed out. “Then there was this big, colourful wau flying across the stage!”
Faris’ costume stood out at the New Zealand World of Wearable Art for being culturally rooted and technically unique. (World Of Wearable Art pic)
Since his win, Faris has found himself in a new creative orbit. Designers have reached out, and he’s thinking about where to take this passion next.
“I love fashion, but I don’t want to hate it. So I’m not sure if I’ll study it formally,” said Faris.
“I just want to keep challenging myself, maybe join more competitions, or make costumes for artists and performers. I like things that are very theatrical, not commercial. I’d really love to make something that’s very avant-garde.”
For now, Faris is waiting to graduate and will be holidaying with his parents in Australia soon to celebrate his win.
Learn more about World of Wearable Art here. Follow Mohammad Faris on Instagram.
