A note from Alyia
Life comes in full circle
I’ve loved fashion for as long as I can remember. As a child, I was constantly sketching floor length gowns (oftentimes with a long train) and imagining what I would design one day. I thought I’d grow up to become a fashion designer — but life led me to business school instead, followed by working in corporate communication within the petrochemical industry - a major pivot, but one that I loved. SILK&plum now feels like a return to that early creative instinct, just shaped by time, experience, and a more mature perspective.
The wedding chapter
My creative side resurfaced in a very personal way while planning my wedding in twenty-twenty-three. From the dresses and flowers to the smallest details like napkins, table settings, textures, I found myself deeply absorbed in colour, fabric, composition, down to the smallest beadings. That instinct carried into decorating our home and hosting. I realised how much thoughtfully chosen fabrics, prints, and colours could transform a space — how they could lift the mood, add warmth, and create character. I saw how pink, blue and green goblet glasses with gold accents, instead of the usual silverware, shifted the mood when hosting. The same applied to clothing. A well-chosen fabric or print could completely change how an outfit felt, how I felt.
Inspiration through travels
Around the same time, travel became a quiet education. While my husband attended meetings, I often tagged along and explored cities on my own — Hanoi, Bangkok, Hong Kong, the Philippines, even the city of Georgetown back home. I paid attention to women: how they dressed, how they carried themselves, how a pair of burgundy statement earrings accentuated their features. Above all, how comfortable they seemed in their style and skin. There was an ease to it. A sense of confidence that didn’t rely on trends. Later, in London, Paris, Rome, Japan, and best of all - Shanghai, I became even more aware of the similarities across cultures. Different women from such different cultural backgrounds, yet the same appreciation for quality, polish, and personal expression, oftentimes layered in striking jacquards. In social media lingo, that was the idea of true ‘timelessness’ that felt captivating and magnetising.
The story of Silk
During these years, my relationship with fabric deepened. Silk, in particular, became an obsession. From Thai silk, to Indian silks I grew up seeing my mother wear, to Habotai and Mulberry silk discovered in small artisan stores during my travels — each had its own character and history. The first time we hosted at home after marriage, I commissioned a Shantung silk traditional set by the same wonderful designer who sewed my wedding reception dress, and it felt instinctively right. I also began learning more about cashmere and fell in love with its softness and longevity. Jacquard has always been my love language — the craftsmanship, the weaving, the quiet complexity behind it.
As I moved into my 30s, the way I approached clothing changed. I cared less about having more, and more about having better. I started investing in pieces made with quality fabrics — items that felt good to wear, held their shape, and aged well. Silk, wool, cashmere, and considered blends became essential. Ease still mattered, but intention mattered more. I wanted a wardrobe that felt thoughtful and lived-in, not impulsive.
Moving between two spaces
I also accepted that I don’t fit neatly into one style category. Maximalism can be beautiful. Minimalism can be calming. I move between the two — adjusting, layering, adding or subtracting — until something feels right. That in-between space is where I feel most myself, and it became the foundation of Silk & Plum.
Despite all the travel and inspiration, there was also a quieter reality. I had moved from corporate life into being a housewife, and as someone who is naturally driven and creative, I felt the need to build something again. I missed creating. I missed dressing with intention. I missed feeling like myself in my clothes.
That was the turning point. Silk & Plum began when I realised that if I felt this way, many other women likely did too — women in between chapters, new mothers finding their footing again, friends rebuilding after a breakup. Through the education, exposure, and experiences I’ve had, I wanted to bring that back to other women — through style, through fabric, and perhaps even through reading this small note.
I’m genuinely happy you made it here. I hope you find pieces you love and return to often. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email us — I read every message and will do my best to respond personally.
— With love,
