PRESTIGE 40 under 40

Each year, PRESTIGE celebrates the achievements of young professionals under the age of 40. This year's list is made more special as we turn our attention to Malaysia's rising stars driving significant change across diverse industries. These are the young men and women leading the charge in business, the arts, social impact, sports, education, and even agricultre. Each honouree is recognised for their visionary leadership, exceptional contributions, and for creating a lasting impact on the world.

- TENGKU ZAI, COLIN GOMEZ, SWAROOPINI NAIR, SHARNYIA SELVAN, ZENA KHAN

ADANI BAKHTIAR, BAY DOUCET, AND EMMA KHOO

Co-Founders of Looop

Colleagues turned friends turned business partners, Adani Bakhtiar, Emma Khoo, and Bay Doucet first crossed paths while working in the same office. Driven by their mutual passion for fashion and a desire to address the growing issue of textile waste, they co-founded Looop. This innovative consignment store is dedicated to keeping clothing within a sustainable cycle, allowing community members to consign their items and facilitating their rehoming.

How did Looop come about?

Bay: During the pandemic lockdowns, we found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands and began weekly video calls to brainstorm potential business ideas. We were all eager to start something together but were uncertain about what it should be. Eventually, we landed on Looop, driven by our shared love for fashion and our concern over the constant influx of new products. We wanted to create something that would reduce waste rather than contribute to it. Thus, Looop was born.

Why is sustainability so important?

Bay: Sustainable fashion is crucial because of the urgent climate situation we face. Sustainability at its core means circularity—reusing existing items rather than constantly creating new ones. While ethically made garments are valuable, we must focus on circulating the clothing that already exists and giving it new life.

Running a business with friends isn’t easy. What are the challenges you’ve faced?

Adani: Starting and running Looop has been a learning experience for us. One major challenge was being evicted from our first location with only two months to find a new space. Thankfully, our supportive community and a generous consignor came through, offering a new location and helping us get the word out.