BINI Mikha Lim on the Fashion Philosophy Behind Her Brand MILI

Movement comes naturally to Mikha, who recognized its role in her life early on. “I was always an active kid, playing volleyball, cheerdancing, doing different sports, and working out.” This extends to her day-to-day life as a performer, where she takes on various dance styles while singing and rapping with stable vocals. “I’ve learned it requires a lot of understanding on how my body works, how it moves.” She continues, “I’ve learned that, to be a strong performer, I have to work hard to make my body strong and build my stamina.”

The 22-year-old artist and founder tells Preview that maintaining an active lifestyle makes her feel “lighter and more energetic.” She expounds, “Movement doesn’t have to be boring or draining. It comes in different ways depending on what works for you. Everyone needs movement in their lives.” That philosophy takes shape in First Form, MILI’s debut collection.

First Form features both fitted and relaxed silhouettes. Thoughtful design sits at its core, with pieces made to move with the wearer, not against them. Clean, simple, and intentional, the collection can be worn on its own or layered, transitioning easily between active settings and everyday environments. According to Mikha, MILI will initially focus on activewear before eventually expanding into sports apparel such as tennis, pickleball, golf, and surfing.

The inaugural drop proved successful, with several pieces selling out and prompting the brand to release its only restock less than two weeks later. Once First Form sells out again, the collection will be gone for good, turning attention to what comes next. But for Mikha, success was hardly overnight. “Honestly, I expected my launch to be last summer, but some things don’t go your way, and that’s okay,” she says. Mikha reveals that she repeatedly pushed back the launch date until she was truly proud of the brand’s quality, construction, and styles. “I’d say the ‘best timing’ will only come if you make it out to be the best time.”

For Mikha, moving with intention matters—a philosophy reflected in everything from her brand’s timeline to the products it offers. She sums up her personal motto in three words: “Remember to live.” She explains, “It’s a daily reminder to actually be present in what I'm doing instead of drifting through it. And when I say ‘I'm here for a good time, not a long time,’ I mean it as motivation, not carelessness.”

She concludes, “Life is short, so every day deserves to be lived with purpose instead of wasted on autopilot.”

In fashion, Mikha prioritizes pieces that feel considered rather than overly designed. Simply put, “I’d rather have something I can wear often in different ways.”

“I like subtle details and clean silhouettes,” says Mikha, as evident in MILI’s First Form. From a founder’s perspective, she believes a brand can be recognizable without its pieces being loud. “I want people to recognize MILI through the way the pieces look and feel, rather than just because there’s a logo on them.”

For Mikha, this goes beyond physical movement. “Clothes should be able to move with your life,” she says. “I love pieces that aren’t limited to one setting.” Naturally, her brand features pieces designed to transition from workouts to errands, travel, and beyond. “I think the best clothes are the ones you naturally keep reaching for.”

While Mikha was hands-on throughout the design process, she admits to having a few favorites. One is the Flow Flare, a pair of yoga pants featuring ruching at the waist. She tells Preview, “I love flared pants and yoga pants, in general. They are so comfortable, and I wanted to add a detail that looks classy and would still be comfortable to workout in.”

“I love modest clothing, too,” says Mikha. This is also what draws her to the Flow Top + Shrug, a two-piece set that can be worn separately. “I was so insecure with my arms back then, so I would always only wear long sleeves. I want everyone else who is insecure with their arms to be comfortable when they wear this.” Mikha especially kept “conservative girls (or boys!)” in mind when designing the set. As for color, she considers olive one of the most flattering shades on her.

Finally, Mikha shares that she loves wearing jackets and matching sets that “aren’t too loud.” The Structured Jacket and Pants have also earned a spot among her favorites, particularly for their “clean color combinations” and balance of casual and refined elements.