On any given weekend, the real runway is not cordoned off by velvet ropes but unfolds in the corners of concept stores, up narrow staircases above cafes and across Instagram feeds.
This is where the Gen Z style codes are being written – in real time.
There are certain areas in the Klang Valley that have become fashionable hotspots of the young and hip.
One short street in Petaling Jaya’s Taman Paramount is among them.
It may seem peculiar that an old row of shoplots would be an attraction for the youths, but this is where they gather to shop and be seen.
“Stylish”, “chill” and “eclectic” are all words that come to mind when frequenters were asked to describe the fashion scene there.
It hosts a large variety of stores known for curated vintage thrifted pieces, and specialised fashion boutiques.
Outside fashion, it still has much to offer particularly in food and beverages.
Artisanal cafes are widespread throughout the area, all carrying a chic atmosphere within.
Twenty-one-year-old Evan Goh says he loves visiting One Half Coffee and the thrift store, Fifth.
“The curation of clothes is quite interesting and they even carry certain designer labels that you don’t really see often,” he relates.
Goh has made many good memories ever since he started frequenting Taman Paramount in 2023.
“I got to know lots of people and reconnected with a few of my friends that I have not seen for years. It was quite a surprise to see them”.
When asked if newcomers to Paramount would feel intimidated by its fashion scene, Goh answered yes, but also stated that with enough time the feeling would go away.
“It’s basically like trying out something new, you would feel weird about it at first but as you do it more, you’ll be more comfortable,” he adds.
For context, it is an area many young people say demands a certain level of style just to step into.
Some fashion-conscious youths even note a constant sense of being judged if they are not at the top of their fashion game.
Eunice Chan has a more relaxed view about the area’s reputation.
“People nowadays are more open-minded and less judgmental. It feels more welcoming,” she says.
The 18-year-old has been working at the aforementioned thrift store Fifth since last December, but she first dipped her toes into the Paramount fashion scene in 2023.
For Chan its significance lies in a sense of belonging.
“My favourite memory is meeting all my friends in Taman Paramount and realising we share the same interests. It felt special finding people who were into the same things, especially fashion.”
“Chill” is the one word Chan believes encapsulates Paramount’s aura.
“There are food spots and clothing shops everywhere, so there’s always something to explore,” she notes.
“Most of them are following trends and smaller groups of people are wearing full-on designers”.
When asked if Paramount is indeed a hub for fashion Chan notes that it has “made a lot of fashionistas”.
“People dress for themselves rather than to fit into one specific aesthetic,” she says.
Chan also believes that Paramount is not exclusively a fashion hub for young people.
“I see middle aged people dress stylishly as they should, but the youths are still the ones who are more experimental and visible with styles.” Chan adds, laughing.
For Aidan Jitt, what draws him to the location are the events.
“It brings the community together like a neighbourhood, with all your friends there and you get a chance to connect with other people as well.”
Jitt, 20, is currently a university student studying advertising and design. He also runs the online thrift store Sacred Sound.
For him, memories of the events he hosted with his friends there will always be significant.
He believes Paramount can be intimidating to newcomers, but with enough interactions with the community the fear fades.
“I think the first few times yeah... cause it can be a bit overwhelming and intimidating at first but once you get to know the people there and converse – it’s chill,” Jitt states.
Shifting scenes
Although all of them still have a soft spot for Paramount, they shared a similar sentiment when asked whether the scene has changed since they entered the community.
Paramount has lost some of its vibrance, it seems – the crowds have noticeably thinned in recent days, and the buzz of excitement it was once known for has softened.
This shows how, like fashion trends, even the most beloved spaces are subject to cycles of hype and decline, constantly evolving with the tastes and energies of a new generation.
Goh explains that one possible reason people no longer frequent the shops at Paramount is the growing number of alternative options available.
“The turnout for crowds when Paramount had pop-ups used to be mad huge, but now there is a saturation of pop-up markets, for example, Slaymaa, almost every other month.”
Slaymaa, now known as Slayworld, is a prominent fashion pop-up event that has drawn the attention of fashion-crazed youths in Kuala Lumpur, particularly with their event last December at Odeon KL.
Like Paramount the event is known for vintage and thrifted clothing, but it also hosts tattoo pop-ups and DJ sets which Paramount seems to be lacking these days.
One might say it has claimed the fashion crown as the hub of hip and young Malaysian fashion in the Klang Valley.
Ella Matahara, a DJ who worked the crowds at Slayworld at the last event, thinks these two spaces have their own respective roles in the fashion ecosystem.
The 24-year-old, who also models, describes Slayworld as being very chill but energetic, youthful, colourful but disagrees that it will replace Paramount.
“Disagree mostly,” Ella says, explaining that Slayworld attracts a larger, more mixed crowd which has the effect of inviting unwanted judgement into the scene.
She thinks, unlike Paramount, some of Slayworld’s broader crowd misunderstands alternative and goth fashion – leading to some negative experiences to people who dress outside the mainstream.
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“Paramount has, at least, created a safe space for people to mingle and dress however they want without being judged,” Ella states.
Still she does not see these two as competitors but two entities that can co-exist.
“We should appreciate each of them for what they are.” Paramount is quieter these days, but the coolness the scene exuded still lingers in its streets.
As for Slayworld, its pulse is loud and immediate, built on the momentum of packed halls, bass-heavy DJ sets and the thrill of the next drop.
Perhaps that is simply the rhythm of youth culture.
One space offers familiarity and community, while the other thrives on spectacle and scale.
Both, nevertheless, reflect a generation that dresses not for approval, but for self-expression – whether in the tucked-away shoplots of the Paramount neighbourhood or the glitz and glare of a new pop-up event space.
