UNIQLO leans into Oriental Kopi hype with latest collab

Global fashion retailer UNIQLO is celebrating Malaysia’s culinary heritage through a new collaboration with Oriental Kopi, one of the country’s most iconic Hainanese kopitiams. Launching tomorrow on 17 October, the partnership brings Malaysia’s favourite local flavours to LifeWear, blending fashion and food culture in a playful and creative way.

The collaboration features nine exclusive designs inspired by Oriental Kopi’s signature dishes, including nasi lemak, polo buns, and egg tarts, capturing the nostalgic charm of Malaysia’s beloved kopitiam culture.

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The designs are available through UNIQLO’s UTme! customisation service, allowing customers to co-create their own T-shirts and tote bags by mixing and matching graphics to reflect their personal taste and favourite flavours.

For those who prefer ready-made options, pre-printed T-shirts and tote bags featuring the Oriental Kopi-inspired designs are available at UNIQLO Mid Valley Megamall and UNIQLO Suria KLCC, while stocks last.

This collaboration highlights the simple joys that bring Malaysians together and demonstrates how fashion can intersect with local culture in meaningful ways. By turning iconic food moments into wearable art, UNIQLO invites customers to carry a little piece of kopitiam culture wherever they go, while giving them the freedom to personalise their style.

Oriental Kopi has been a buzzing brand across Malaysia and Singapore, with the kopitiam chain operator logging a 30% increase in quarterly net profits for Q3. It is also planning further expansions, after it debuted on the ACE Market earlier this year. The brand has opened two outlets in Singapore, at Bugis Junction and NEX. 

Meanwhile, UNIQLO's dip into local kopitiam culture and heritage is nothing new. For Singapore's 60th birthday, the brand celebrated the festive month with a hyperlocal twist, partnering with heritage breakfast brand Ya Kun Kaya Toast for a limited-edition UTme! T-shirt collection that spotlights Singapore's well-loved breakfast staples.

The collection featured six exclusive designs that pay tribute to Ya Kun Kaya Toast’s 80-year legacy and Singapore’s iconic kopi and teh culture. Three designs draw on the brand’s rich heritage, with scenes inspired by its original Far East Square store, while the other three showcase local coffee shop lingo from milk types to sweetness levels riffing on the breakfast brand's "Order coffee like a pro" concept.

More recently in October, UNIQLO Singapore also teamed up with homegrown food brand Old Chang Kee to launch a playful collaboration celebrating the city’s culinary heritage. The partnership introduced seven UTme! T-shirt designs and six embroidery options featuring Old Chang Kee icons such as the Curry’O and its heritage store at REX. Designs were created in collaboration with local studio Wheniwasfour.

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