Omar Ali boutique was established in 1935 by the late Hj Omar bin Ali. He used to be an apprentice for a Japanese lady who specializes in creating women’s ballroom gowns, especially for the wives of British expatriates living in the country back then.
1935
As World War II loomed, the Japanese seamstress had to leave the country and return to Japan. Consequently, before her departure for home, she had bestowed Hj Omar with her tailoring business and had already imparted her tailoring skills to him during his apprenticeship.
As World War II continued with expatriates leaving Malaya in droves, demand for ballroom gowns had dwindled completely.
Hj Omar then had to concentrate on the next best skill he had mastered, which was making the traditional baju Melayu. He opened his 1st shop within the Masjid India enclave in 1935 and successfully built a reputation as a maker of good quality baju Melayu.
1950
Haji Omar bin Ali juggled running his boutique while raising his 11 children. His unwavering dedication to his craft and family was a testament to his resilience and determination.
Despite the challenges of the era, he continued to cater to his loyal customers, solidifying Omar Ali’s reputation as a trusted name in traditional and bespoke clothing. His ability to balance family and business laid the foundation for the values that continue to guide us today.
1970
By the early 1970s, he pioneered the practice of making “ready-made” Baju Melayu available in set sizes such as Small, Medium, and Large.
Previously, customers had to “custom make” all their baju Melayu, as such attire was not readily available off-the-rack.
THE TUNKU COLLAR
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj was a customer of Omar Ali. He requested to modify the traditional 5-button baju Melayu into a 3-button version with a Mandarin collar as he feels more comfortable with such a design.
We named this design the “Tunku Collar” baju Melayu, however now it is more popularly known as the “3-button” Baju Melayu.
2024
Sulaiman, grandson of Haji Omar bin Ali, has embraced his family’s legacy by pursuing a prestigious tailoring course at Maurice Sedwell, 9-10 Savile Row in London under the guidance of Sir Andrew Ramroop, Master Tailor, Officer of the British Empire (OBE).
His dedication to mastering the art of bespoke tailoring ensures that the craftsmanship and tradition of Omar Ali live on in every piece we create.
LORO PIANA COLLABORATION
We also embarked on an exciting collaboration with Loro Piana, renowned for their exceptional fabrics.
This partnership marks a significant milestone as we expand into suit making and proudly create the first-ever Loro Piana Baju Melayu.
By blending Loro Piana’s premium materials with our heritage of meticulous tailoring, we craft timeless and sophisticated pieces that honour tradition while embracing modern elegance.
We cater to both traditional and modern apparel for men, ladies, as well as kids.
It is within our integrity to always strive to maintain the highest quality in our clothing line, which is why it is no surprise that we are already catering to the needs of our customers who are into their 4th generation.
