Imagine launching a fashion brand at 19, in the middle of a global pandemic, from a small town in Malaysia where people once thought folks lived in trees. That’s Dickson Lim’s story—a self-taught designer from Kuching, Sarawak, who turned skepticism into stardom with his label, DL. In an exclusive chat with The Vanilla Issue, he spills the tea on his wild ride: from hypebeast beginnings to dressing celebs like Bretman Rock for the Oscars, all while crafting sustainable, futuristic designs that have landed him in British Vogue. Buckle up—this isn’t your average fashion tale.
Dickson’s love for style kicked off as a teen, caught up in the sneakerhead wave sparked by Kanye West’s Yeezys. But it was Virgil Abloh’s gig at Louis Vuitton that flipped the switch. “He showed me fashion wasn’t just sneakers—it’s the whole vibe,” Dickson says. Growing up around his parents’ tailoring biz gave him a hands-on edge, though his big dreams stretched beyond Sarawak. He found a muse in filmmaker James Wan, a Kuching native who conquered Hollywood with Saw and Aquaman. “Seeing him make it globally lit a fire in me,” he admits. That fire burned bright when he launched DL in 2020, battling self-doubt and naysayers who called him delusional. No fashion school? No problem. He devoured books on entrepreneurship and psychology, posted his work in Facebook groups, and watched a fan base bloom from nothing.
His designs are anything but ordinary—think asymmetrical cuts and sci-fi silhouettes that scream rebellion. Inspired by heavyweights like Rick Owens and Yohji Yamamoto, he’s all about igniting passion. “Every collection is a piece of me,” he says, crafting each one solo, from sketching to stitching. Take his Spring/Summer 2025 drop, Mutation of Love, in the Sands of Time—inspired by shifting dunes and a breakup, it’s got hoodies, 3D-printed eyewear, and a Celestial Blazer that mimics sand’s texture. Sustainability’s his jam too; every piece is made-to-order, with scraps reborn into new creations. “It’s art,” he insists, tailoring each garment to the wearer’s body with a personal touch that’s rare in today’s fast-fashion frenzy.
The milestones came fast and fierce. At 22, he was the youngest designer to hit Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week, strutting out a mix of past and future collections in 2022. Then he snagged the World Federation of Master Tailors’ Creative Design Competition in Italy, blowing minds in tailoring’s heartland. “It felt surreal,” he recalls, especially when his suits caught eyes used to classic cuts. His Instagram game brought organic wins—Bretman Rock and Reece Feldman rocking his looks, no PR push needed. “I never thought I’d see my stuff at the Oscars,” he laughs. Add features in Hypebeast and Tatler Asia to the mix, and his family’s early doubts turned to pride.
Now, Dickson’s eyeing more than just runways. With DL WORLD, he’s rolling out luxe hoodies and caps—“stuff for everyday believers in my vision,” he says, rocking his own logo daily as a reminder that limits are optional. He’s also dreaming up tailoring classes to spill the real-world secrets he wished he’d known at 19, blending design with entrepreneurial grit. And then there’s filmmaking, a nod to James Wan. “I’ve been editing videos forever,” he hints. “The big screen’s calling.”
For the kids dreaming big, he’s blunt: “Fashion’s tough without an edge—like my tailoring roots.” Luck and hustle go hand in hand, he warns, urging wannabe designers to play their cards smart, not just hard. From Sarawak to global stages, Dickson Lim’s proving passion can rewrite the rules. Keep an eye on this rebel tailor—his next move might just stitch him into legend.