Berlin-based Burmese designer Waiian Aung has turned distance into devotion with his collection Eden Inle—a heartfelt tribute to his homeland, Myanmar. Aung, a fashion student at Macromedia University of Applied Sciences, channels personal longing and cultural pride into designs that spotlight traditional Burmese garments and handwoven textiles, particularly the intricate Inle Ikat (Inle Zinme) from the Inle Lake region.
Born out of years away from home, Eden Inle reflects a deep emotional connection to Myanmar—a country marked by beauty and upheaval. Since its independence in 1948, Myanmar has endured military rule, ethnic conflict, and the recent 2021 coup, which ended a brief period of democratic progress. For Aung and many in the diaspora, identity is shaped not just by memory, but by a nation in crisis.
Lotus Silk Kyaysi_ကြေးစည် Robe
A pair of pendulous appendages—iconic elements of the traditional Myanmar women’s jacket known as the htaingmathein, a buttonless, tight-fitting, hip-length garment—are reinterpreted in this look by integrating them into a square-cut oversized coat,
paired with plain pleated handwoven silk pants.
Eden Inle, Waiian Aung, Neo.Fashion.2025 at Berlin Fashion Week, July 2025 | photo: Gerome Defrance, @defrance.images
The collection’s core is a collaboration with women weavers from Inle Lake, whose intricate dyeing and weaving techniques are passed down through generations. Aung integrates these textiles not as decorative elements, but as cultural pillars—positioning the makers as co-authors of the narrative. It’s an intentional move away from appropriation, toward collaboration and visibility.
Taung Shay_တောင်ရှည် Draped Jumpsuit
This draped jumpsuit draws inspiration from the way ancient Myanmar men traditionally wore the Taung Shay sarong, wrapped and draped elegantly around the body. Crafted from 100% handwoven cotton, it features a harmonious blend of three distinct patterns, celebrating heritage through contemporary design.
Eden Inle, Waiian Aung, Neo.Fashion.2025 at Berlin Fashion Week, July 2025 | photo: Gerome Defrance, @defrance.images
Eden Inle speaks softly but powerfully. Earthy tones and rich patterns mirror the landscapes of Myanmar, while silhouettes carry the weight of tradition reimagined. These are not just clothes—they are vessels of memory and cultural resilience.
Aung’s design language lives in contrast: precise tailoring meets raw edges, symmetry meets asymmetry. These juxtapositions echo his diasporic experience—fragmented, layered, emotional.
The collection is deeply sustainable—not just in materiality, but in philosophy. It centers slow craftsmanship, ethical production, and heritage preservation. In an industry that often consumes culture without accountability, Aung’s work is refreshingly grounded in care, connection, and context.
In EDGE’s lexicon, Eden Inle isn’t just a collection—it’s cultural intelligence in practice. It reclaims fashion as a vessel for memory and meaning, and redefines luxury through authenticity, not excess. Aung reminds us that garments can carry stories—and, when crafted with intention, become acts of remembrance and resistance.
Eden Inle was showcased at Germany’s Neo.Fashion.2025, Potsdamer Platz, and at Berlin Curated – First Edition, both part of Berlin Fashion Week, July 2025.
Feature image: Eden Inle, Waiian Aung, Neo.Fashion.2025 at Berlin Fashion Week, July 2025 | photo: Gerome Defrance, @defrance.images | all runway photos courtesy of Neo.Fashion.2025
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