KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — For many, a sunset may simply be a beautiful sight to capture as a lasting memory. But for well-known fashion designer Hatta Dolmat, every dusk carries a story, an emotion and the faces of people who have shaped his journey through life.
From Malibu to Phuket, Langkawi and Sabah, each destination where he has watched the sun go down has served as a source of inspiration for his latest collection ‘Linger & Soul’, which was presented at Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW) 2026 recently.
Hatta, 44, whose full name is Muhammad Hatta Dolmat, said the collection also serves as a reflection of his two-decade journey in the fashion industry, as well as his love for painting.
“The ‘Linger’ (segment of the collection) is very autobiographical. I love chasing sunsets. I have been to Malibu (in California in the United States), Phuket (Thailand), Langkawi and Sabah, and each place has a different sunset.
“Some people may simply see it as a sunset, but I see the people, remember the things that happened, the moments and how I felt at that particular time.
“Just as quickly as a sunset disappears, the people who are still with us today can also be gone in an instant. After 20 years of my journey, ultimately, I came back to my family,” he said when met at the fashion show.
Hatta said his ‘Linger’ ready-to-wear (RTW) collection was also his effort to ensure that his creations are not merely displayed on the runway but could be owned and worn by the public.
He said the approach was in line with the evolution of the fashion industry, which increasingly requires designers to balance creativity and artistic value with wearability and market demands.
“I like showcasing creativity and art, but at the same time, we have to think about people who want to own the collection. They do not just want to see beautiful pieces during the (fashion) show; they also want to be able to own them,” he said.
While ‘Linger’ explores his personal side and memories, the ‘Soul’ segment of his collection provides Hatta with a platform to showcase his artistic side through the fusion of art and fashion.
Ten large-scale paintings were displayed alongside couture creations on the runway, creating an experience that made the audience feel as though they were in an art gallery and at a fashion show at the same time.
Adding to the visual impact, each piece in Hatta’s ‘Soul’ collection featured structural and organic elements, bringing together two worlds that are close to Hatta’s heart — art and fashion.
He said producing the large-scale paintings was among the biggest challenges in preparing the collection, as the creative process depended heavily on his emotions and state of mind.
“It’s not easy to make a painting and complete all the details. Only then did I realise how difficult it is to be a real artist. With clothes, you can work even when you are not in the mood and still complete them.
“But with art, it depends on your mood and emotions at that particular time. If I am not in the mood, the painting may be left untouched for three or four days,” he said.
The presentation of the ‘Soul’ collection also marked a milestone for Hatta, who received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records for the category ‘Most Couture-Art Painting Pairings in a Runway’. — Bernama