Influenced by his mother’s impeccable sense of style and her regular visits to the tailor, Leslie Variyan developed an early appreciation for the art of dressing well. Photo: AM Studio Photos/AIZUDDIN MUHAMAD FARIDZ WAJDI
For 20 years, local brand Variante has been dressing the modern, urban woman with a taste for classic tailoring.
Helmed by creative director Leslie Variyan, the brand has become synonymous with style, sophistication and a touch of glamour, reflecting his belief that every woman possesses her own kind of beauty.
This conviction continues to shape each design in a brand that caters to modern empowered woman.
Ready-to-wear collections blend versatile silhouettes with a contemporary edge, designed to take one effortlessly from home to the office to evening events.
Meanwhile, the couture arm of the brand captures the true essence of femininity through intricate detailing, luxurious fabrics and embellishments – creating pieces that are undeniably elegant and memorable.
The blueprint for Leslie Variyan's latest capsule collection in conjunction with Pink October, he says, was inspired by the strength and resilience he sees in survivors. Photo: AM Studio Photos/AIZUDDIN MUHAMAD FARIDZ WAJDI“Our fashion is modest, our clothes can take you from work to functions, to a holiday at a resort. I think comfort plays an important part in deciding on a garment today,” says Leslie.
Influenced by his mother’s impeccable sense of style and her regular visits to the tailor, Leslie developed an early appreciation for the art of dressing well.
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These formative years nurtured his eye for detail and laid the foundation for the designer he is today.
A regular at local fashion events such as the annual Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week (KLFW), intimate showcases and most recently, the Lego Botanicals Glassroom fashion show, Leslie is certainly a busy man.
With ready-to-wear collections being released on the regular and a resort collection in the works, he also makes time for philanthropic causes.
This year, the brand continues its longstanding collaboration with Pink Unity, a support group for women cancer survivors, under the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).
Operating on the principle “by survivors, for survivors”, Pink Unity provides socio-emotional support for women living with cancer through community-based, educational and recreational activities.
Under the “Fashion Fights Cancer 2025: Raising Awareness with Icons” campaign, a group of inspiring women from diverse industries are featured in a powerful photo series: entrepreneur Eryna Su, Dr S Prasannah, internet personality Alana Dunsmore, Pink Unity president Mahani Kassim, Pink Unity former president Lena Abdullah and singer Noryn Aziz.
Celebrating resilience, beauty and solidarity, the Fashion Fights Cancer movement began in 2013, when Leslie partnered with Pink Unity to champion cancer survivors through fashion.
The blueprint for his latest capsule collection in conjunction with Pink October, he says, was inspired by the strength and resilience he sees in survivors.
“The tenacity and playfulness that you see in the pieces reflects the strength and confidence of a Variante woman and at the same time reminds us of the fragility of life,” says Leslie.
“I always talk about how I want a woman to feel strong, and alive in my clothes, but at the end of the day, a woman needs to feel strong and alive within herself.”
How has your design style evolved over the years? Would you say your creative vision has changed along the way?
My style has definitely evolved. Listening to customers’ needs and wants, and translating them into garments keeps the brand relevant.
Fashion changes so fast, one has to be open minded, able to receive constructive criticism gracefully and use that to churn out beautiful garments.
We have to know what sells and yet remain contemporary and stylish.
What’s your take on the current Malaysian fashion landscape and the rise of new homegrown brands?
Malaysia has many, many, talented designers. The landscape is interesting and colourful.
We have great resources for inspiration with our multicultural heritage.
I see huge opportunities as we have the world as our customer. We can sell online and reach customers everywhere.
We should also be responsible and not exhaust our planet’s resources and do our part in keeping fashion sustainable as much as we can.
Leslie Variyan (centre) in a campaign visual for Pink Unity. Photo: AM Studio Photos/AIZUDDIN MUHAMAD FARIDZ WAJDIHow do you keep Variante timeless yet relevant in a constantly changing industry?
I am always in my stores and hands-on in managing the business.
We have data that we use to create the next collection where we minimise wastage and reduce dead stock.
Listening to our customers is very important, as well as listening to feedback from the team.
For example, being willing to make changes that are required in creating a new design.
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How are Malaysian shoppers responding to the ideas of slow fashion and sustainability? What do you think designers can do to encourage more conscious buying habits?
Variante makes every effort to be part of the solution. Consumers nowadays are more aware of the importance of sustainability.
We have been a centre for collecting garments for more than two years now.
We encourage our customers to give us clothes that they are not using so it does not end up in landfills. This creates awareness.
After 20 years in the business, what’s next for you?
Twenty years is a milestone to celebrate and I feel grateful.
What’s next? Reaching a greater market and becoming a household name for modest wear and collaborating with other brands to create excitement.
And also to work with local artisans to add depth to the Variante story in order to reach a new and wider audience.
