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You've probably seen the Proton cars on the latest UNIQLO UTme! collection.
Now, meet the Malaysian artist who put them on paper.
For its latest collaboration with Proton, UNIQLO Malaysia has turned a few familiar homegrown cars into customisable illustrated designs, featuring everything from the iconic 1985 Proton Saga to the brand's newest electric vehicle.
The illustrations were created by Malaysian artist Syaiful Bahri, also known as O'matajari, who was tasked with turning some of Proton's most recognisable cars into artwork that Malaysians could wear.
For Syaiful, getting the opportunity was a pretty big deal.
"When I was offered the opportunity by UNIQLO to collaborate and create illustrations for this campaign, I was incredibly excited and felt like I was living a dream. This is something many illustrators out there dream of," Syaiful told SAYS.
"That excitement soon turned into nervousness as I began to wonder whether I would be able to deliver my very best."
After several rounds of discussions and revisions with Proton and UNIQLO Japan, the final artwork was eventually approved.
"When it was finally launched in the market, seeing my illustrations come to life was an incredibly emotional moment. What once felt like a dream had finally become a reality," he said.
The collection features five models: the Proton Saga, Satria Neo R3, Proton S70, Proton X50, and Proton e.MAS 7
But it all started with the Saga.
In a video shared by UNIQLO, Syaiful explained that the project started with the 1985 Proton Saga, a car he sees as a shared part of the Malaysian experience.
"I think this design is something recognisable by all Malaysians. There are all kinds of memories about it that we shared together," he said.
"We've been passengers in it either with relatives, friends, or anyone who owned one at the time," he shared.
For his Saga illustration, Syaiful went with a vintage-inspired aesthetic to reflect the excitement and sense of pride surrounding the car when it first launched
He wanted the artwork to bring people back to those feelings surrounding the Saga's debut.
"When compared with the e.MAS 7, we can really see the differences between then and now in terms of technology, design, and innovation," he added.
Each model is represented through his illustrations, which you can choose from when creating your own UNIQLO UTme! item.
Once you've picked your favourite Proton sketch, you can put it on one of three UTme! items
- Adult UTme! T-Shirt: RM79.90
- Kids UTme! T-Shirt: RM59.90
- UTme! Tote Bag: RM79.90
The Proton x UNIQLO UTme! collection is available at these selected UNIQLO outlets in Malaysia:
- The Exchange TRX
- Fahrenheit88
- Sunway Pyramid
- Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur
- Mid Valley Southkey, Johor
