MALAYSIA

Fred Perry
REXKL,
Kuala Lumpur

October 2019
All photography by Paulius Staniunas

To celebrate the opening of the Fred Perry pop-up shop in Kuala Lumpur's REXKL, we hosted an evening of music provided by strictly-vinyl DJ's Keith Yong and Edy J. Herwan.

Situated in Kuala Lumpur’s Jalan Sultan, the impressive concrete building was originally constructed in 1947, burning down in the early-seventies during a failed burglary attempt. Rebuilt a few years later, Rex Cinema housed an expansive single-screen theatre within the building. Operated by the legendary Shaw Brothers and seating over 1000 people, the cinema became an impressive space and a well-loved part of the neighbourhood before its closure in 2002.

After briefly being converted into a backpacker hostel, another fire sadly gutted the building in 2007, leaving the beloved space vacant for many years. Its newest incarnation is led by the REXKL initiative, whose aim is to give surrounding communities a new lease of life by repurposing disused buildings as spaces for events, exhibitions, performances and workshops, with a select number of carefully curated shops. REXKL is committed to giving this treasured old building another chance at a future.

To celebrate the opening of the Fred Perry pop-up shop in Kuala Lumpur’s REXKL, we invited the neighbourhood round for a drink, with music provided by Keith Yong and Edy J. Herwan.