Malaysian group turns food waste into trashy fashion

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (MNTV) — An anti-food waste group in Malaysia has taken an unconventional approach to raising awareness: turning unsold and discarded bazaar food into a fashion statement. 

The vibrant Ramadan bazaars that draw thousands with their irresistible spread of traditional delicacies also generate staggering amounts of food waste. In 2024 alone, more than 60,000 kg of food was wasted at 147 bazaars across Malaysia—an amount that could have fed 120,000 people, Sinar Daily reports. 

MYSaveFood has come up with BazirRamadan, a trashy yet thought-provoking clothing collection designed to make people stop and rethink their food consumption habits.  

The name BazirRamadan is a clever play on words, inspired by how the Malay word ‘bazar’ is just one letter away from ‘bazir’, meaning waste. 

Instead of silk and embroidery, the BazirRamadan collection features garments made from discarded bazaar food, styled into avant-garde outfits meant to shock and provoke conversation. 

The campaign debuted through a ‘trashwalk’ at the Pantai Dalam Ramadan Bazaar, where the campaign’s spokesperson and his friends strutted down a makeshift red carpet dressed in food waste couture.
Ainul A’syara Kamal of MYSaveFood says that food waste during Ramadan remains a persistent challenge. “People know of it, but not many have done something about it. That is why we took a bold approach with this stunt to bring attention to the issue.

“For nearly a decade, MYSaveFood has been working closely with Ramadan bazaar vendors to salvage unsold food and redistribute it to those in need. As of March 16, our volunteers have collected 46,208 kg of unsold food from 108 bazaars around Malaysia.

“This surplus food is then distributed to those in need,” she says.

MYSaveFood is actively recruiting volunteers to help collect and distribute surplus food from Ramadan bazaars to underprivileged communities.