T-shirts For The Rakyat

Cool T-shirts and awesome live bands aren’t just for KL-ites you know? That’s the message that Angkatan Baju Malaya is sending to those who don’t have the pleasure of living here. Azizul Abdul Latif of T-shirt collective Pop Malaya decided it was high time they take their T-shirts to other states where most of their loyal enthusiasts live. With that, Angkatan Baju Malaya was born.

Angkatan is a T-shirt collective made up of 18 local labels comprising names like The Super Sunday, Pop Rina, Pop Malaya, Bangkit and Wearenvy amongst others. In the coming months, Angkatan will kick start their efforts to spread the creative cheer interstate by co-organising a series of events that combines live music gigs and fashion bazaar. The tour will take them to Johor Bahru (Taat House, 7 June), Ipoh (After Five Pub, 15 June) and Kuala Terengganu (Dewan Belia & Sukan, Pasir Panjang, 28 June).

Of course, good things don’t come cheap. Funding is one of the reasons behind the formation of Angkatan, as labels can now pool their resources and bear the costs collectively. Besides that, Angkatan hopes to promote the growing creative movement and create awareness beyond the local indie scene to the masses. If you'd like contribute to Angkatan’s vision, you can check out myspace.com/angkatanbajumalaya or email popmalaya@yahoo.com.

Text Didi Ramlan

Published in Issue #111