For the fifth consecutive year, APOM (A Piece of Malaysia) is bringing Malaysian creativity to the forefront with their beloved #empatbelas campaign, perfectly timed to celebrate Merdeka and Malaysia Day.
This year’s theme, “Kita Banyak Pattern,” beautifully captures the rich tapestry of Malaysia’s 14 states through the artistic medium of scarves.
The 2025 campaign has generated unprecedented excitement, drawing over 70 submissions from designers across the nation. From this impressive pool of talent, 14 designers were carefully selected to represent their home states, each creating original artwork that celebrates local pride through vibrant colours, meaningful motifs, rich textures, and compelling storytelling.
Since its inception in 2021, #empatbelas has become an annual creative celebration that showcases Malaysia’s diverse states through design. Each year brings a fresh creative canvas – from stamps and pantuns to movie posters – and 2025 introduces the elegant and versatile scarf as the featured medium.
Showcase Details and Innovation
The #empatbelas 2025 showcase will run from 22 August to 16 September at MyTOWN Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur, with MyTOWN serving as the official venue sponsor. This partnership demonstrates MyTOWN’s commitment to championing local creative expression and providing Malaysia’s arts and design community with a prestigious national platform.
This year brings an exciting innovation to the merchandise lineup. While the traditional collection of scarves, T-shirts, and tote bags will be available, 2025 introduces a groundbreaking new product: the scarf bag design.
This ingenious creation transforms the scarf into a functional, foldable bag, allowing supporters to literally carry a piece of Malaysia wherever they go. This versatile item seamlessly blends style with practicality, turning bold state-inspired artwork into an everyday essential.
Celebrating Malaysian Diversity
The campaign’s theme, “Kita Banyak Pattern,” speaks to Malaysia’s incredible diversity – from the various dialects spoken across states to traditional dress, customs, and the unique quirks that make each region special. Each designer has channelled their deep connection to their home state, creating artwork that tells the story of their heritage through visual design.
The complete merchandise collection will be available at the showcase venue, in APOM stores, and online at apom.my, making these unique pieces of Malaysian creativity accessible to supporters nationwide.
APOM (A Piece of Malaysia) continues to delight audiences as a local brand known for its humorous and witty merchandise that celebrates Malaysian culture in all its quirky glory. Through #empatbelas, they’ve created more than just a campaign – it’s become a movement that brings Malaysians together in celebration of what makes each state uniquely beautiful.
