BRAND STORY
We are a contemporary lifestyle brand crafting seasonless, sculptural designs rooted in the art of texture. Inspired by the poetry of everyday life, the brand reinterprets centuries-old craftsmanship - pleating through a modern lens, merging minimalist aesthetics with purposeful innovation across ready-to- wear and homeware.
The name Cahaya— meaning "light" in Malay.
It reflects its core philosophy: light as a metaphor for life, ever-evolving, essential, and transformative.
— Founder Rain Chan
FOUNDER’S STORY
With a lifelong affinity for photography and texture, CAHAYA STUDIOS founder and creative director Rain Chan discovered her fascination with pleating after an unexpected encounter with a Savile Row pattern maker led her to the workshop of a master pleater in North London. The centuries-old craft immediately captivated her, echoing her passions for sculpture, architecture, cinema, and nature—and sparking an ambition to revive the fading art of the pleat. Born in Malaysia and now based in London, Rain brings over 17 years of experience collaborating with leading designers, photographers, and brands in the fashion industry. Guided by her love of the arts, nature, and the quiet poetry of everyday life, she weaves her diverse influences into an unique vision for CAHAYA STUDIOS.
A LOVE LETTER TO PLEATS
The story begins from an inspiring conversation with a pattern-maker in Savile Row, London. I confessed to him my love of pleats and he suggested I visit a pleat factory not far from the bustling city. I didn’t waste any time – I made my way and showed up at the pleat factory the very next day! And I left the pleat factory in awe and almost couldn’t believe what I had seen. The pleat factory was a wonderland for me! Having never felt so inspired or passionate about something, I decided to build a contemporary lifestyle brand that honours the ancient technique of pleating. A week later after the visit to the pleat factory, Cahaya Studios was born.The modern wardrobe needs more solutions. How about something practical, easy to maintain, beautiful but still interesting? At last, I decided to create this season-less, everyday wardrobe – essential pieces for modern women like us who are seeking a timeless, efficient yet versatile style. It is designed for people to mix and match in any way to express themselves. Pleated garments are wrinkle-resistant. This means we can do away with constant ironing! Woohoo! You can pack them, take them out of your suitcase, and put them on – all in the same day, ready to go!As a founder, I have the responsibility to make mindful decisions for my business. Nature has always been an inspiration for me and so sustainability sits at the heart of Cahaya Studios. A modern wardrobe solution to save time, energy and one which never goes out of fashion – reducing consumption for conscious living. Everything you see from our website is carefully made in London, with love. Cahaya Studios is not just a brand. It is a love letter to pleats. A community for pleat lovers. Our mission is to preserve and promote this legacy of pleating and pass it on to future generations. Long live the pleats!With love,RainA CONVERSATION BETWEEN PLEATER AND FOUNDERTHE ART OF PLEATING
Pleating is an ancient art of fabric manipulation that originated in Egypt. They were a symbol of power and luxury, adorned by the rich – queens and pharaohs. ‘Pleating’ or ‘Plisse’ alters the shape of fabric to create geometric patterns and stripes. It turns a bi-dimensional surface into a tri-dimensional pattern. Egyptians used the technique to decorate the ruler’s tunics. Pieces were created from natural fibers such as silk, cotton and wool. Back in the day, pleats could be kept in form by using egg whites or a liquid gum solution to solidify the fabric into the desired pleated effect. However, once washed, the fabric would need to be pleated all over again. Because of the time-consuming process and the luxurious materials used, pleated clothing was a symbol of power and wealth. Pleats remained an emblem of status into the Elizabethan Era and are very much representative of the period. They are highly visible in portraits of Queen Elizabeth and other nobles who wore pleated collars knowns as a ruff. While wearing a ruff, because of its stiffness, men and women had no choice but to hold their heads high to demonstrate confidence and pride. Their impracticality led them to become a symbol of wealth and status.Today our pleats remain intact wash after wash due to the modernisation of fabrics as well as the invention of heat treatments. The ‘Permanent pleat’ was developed after the second World War. It exploits the thermoplastic nature of newly invented nylon and polyester. Pleating machines have also simplified the process and enabled mass production, although there are still a few pleaters who create the molds and pleat by hand.There are two methods of pleating: hand and machine pleating. Each method enables different shapes to be created, as well as varying volumes, textures, colours and designs. Shades and patterns are wide-ranging resulting from the way the material is manipulated.Unfortunately pleating has becoming a dying skill. There are very few pleaters left in U.K and we are working closely with the best pleater in the UK who has more than 47 years of experience in pleating.