Three years in the making, this impact driven start-up is reviving interest in Malaysian hand block batik and enhancing the livelihoods of these batik master craftsmen as they do so.
Three years in the making, this impact driven start-up is reviving interest in Malaysian hand block batik and enhancing the livelihoods of these batik master craftsmen as they do so.
The art of batik has been documented in the Malay Archipelago since the 16th century and has been found in many different parts of the world.
The word batik is of Indonesian origin, and is related to a Malay word for dot or point, “titik” and the Javanese word “amba“, meaning ”to write”. It refers to the art of covering or ’reserving’ parts of a textile with some paste or liquid material in order to create a pattern.
The origin of batik production in Malaysia is uncertain but is said to have originated with the advent of Islam in the region. Some say that batik was developed as a replacement for tattooing, which is forbidden in Islam. It is thought that the locals transferred these tattoo designs to cloth and wore the printed patterns on their bodies. What is certain is that the Javanese influenced Malay batik-making both technically as well as in the development of designs.
In the 1920s, Javanese batik makers introduced the use of wax and copper blocks to the East Coast of then Malaya. This led to an upsurge in hand block batik designs in Malaysia particularly in Kelantan and Terengganu.
The production of hand drawn batik in Malaysia is of recent date and is related to the Javanese batik tulis. Commercial production started in the 1960s. This craft has developed its own particular aesthetic and design peculiar to Malaysia. The new Malaysian batik is clearly different from the Javanese tradition of hand-painted batiks.
In the nineties, it was estimated that there were more than 400 hand block batik makers in Terengganu. Reading like a WWF extinction statistic, today there are less than ten active hand block batik makers in Terengganu. This clearly places Terengganu batik makers on the endangered list and places hand block batik printing as a dying art. It is in dire need of preserving.
Having spent three years getting to know the batik makers, experiencing their hardships and challenges as well as understanding the industry and market situation, Cotton & Sago was established in 2016 as an impact driven start up.
According to Maryam Samirah Shamsuddin, founder of Cotton & Sago, the company was established to enhance the opportunities and livelihood of hand block batik makers with the intention of preserving the art of hand block batik making.
“We hope to do this through the creation of better opportunities and demand for hand block batik products,” she said.
“Cotton & Sago is named to remind me of our beginnings. It was on my first meeting with the first batik maker I met – batik master Wan Azhar*. It was on a pier – Seberang Pakir. When I got there I saw a Keropok Lekor workshop at the end of the road and on the other end was a batik workshop. Cotton is the base for batik and Sago is the binding agent for Keropok Lekor. It’s just to remind me of our beginnings,” she shared.
*Wan Azhar was a renown batik master. He was known as the ‘King of Pasar Payang.’
Being told about these different stories brought about a sense of affinity with batik. It allowed us to look at the batik pieces as works of art and not just as pieces of ‘patterned cloth’. There was definitely a larger appreciation for the art and a desire to keep the art of hand block batik from fading away.
Cotton & Sago promotes batik to its customers in a unique and interesting way.
“We want the public to understand not only the history and heritage of batik but also the stories of the designs by the batik masters as well as the stories of the batik masters themselves,” explained Maryam.
Cotton & Sago carries products by various hand block batik makers as well as their own product range which cover apparels, toys, home furnishing and bags.
“Our best selling products are our clothes which are constantly sold out,” said Maryam enthusiastically.
Her biggest joys in the slightly more than a year that Cotton & Sago has been in business are the improvements she sees not only in the livelihood experienced by the batik makers but also in the spirit of collaboration and support that is now evident amongst them. “They are now working together to keep the art form alive,” she joyfully declared.
For now, Maryam is looking at ways to increase demand and subsequently drive an increase in production – directly improving the batik makers’ income.
Cotton & Sago is working to grow the export market by focusing on cities such as Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Melbourne where interest in and demand for hand block printed batik has been shown.
It is also focused on creating more opportunities for the batik makers to earn a passive income through royalties. This is carried out through licensing out the designs to be placed on or made into generic products.
The future seems brighter for these hand block batik makers as impact driven start ups like Cotton & Sago passionately combine doing good and doing well. 
As we transcend into a more eco-conscious future, the emergence of environmentally friendly brands have increased. We were happy to spend a morning with Sunny discussing his footwear brand, Fireworks.
As we transcend into a more eco-conscious future, the emergence of environmentally friendly brands have increased. We were happy to spend a morning with Sunny discussing his footwear brand, Fireworks.
Fireworks is an ethical fashion brand that focuses on handmade leather shoes. A prevalent component in their artisanal products is the art of weaving. Their shoes are hand woven by the Chambar community in Maharashtra near Mumbai.
According to Sunny, the community has been practicing this form of art for the last 800 years. “Their fathers, their forefathers, their generations are doing the same thing”, he shares. Working with these skilled artisans allow the brand to modify their designs extensively in order to reach international standards. On top of that, they also add softened soles for added comfort. Besides their extensive line of woven shoes, they also offer a pretty neat line of linen apparel.
So how exactly does Fireworks fit under the ‘ethical fashion’ category?
“All our leather and raw materials are the byproduct of the meat industry”, Sunny explains.
Fireworks practices a zero-waste concept where instead of having the skin decompose naturally, they utilise the raw materials into a useful product that can both serve their customers and benefit the artisans by reviving their arts and help finance their respective families. As shoes from Fireworks are handmade from ethically sourced leather, it would take around 22 days for a single pair to be completed.
One of the most notable features about Fireworks is the incredible range of available sizes which start at UK3 all the way up to UK15. Compared to many other shoe retailers out there, this is quite impressive. Sunny himself doesn’t recall selling a pair of UK15 to a Malaysian so far they’ve been running.
Not only do they carry shoes that cater to all sizes, customers are spoilt with a myriad of artisanal designs available for purchase. The cherry on top is that all their designs are unisex. Given that these shoes are uniquely hand woven in India, the items are reasonably priced between RM250 to RM300.
One thing Sunny believes is lacking in the Malaysian footwear industry are more ethical brands.
He believes that there are many talented designers who produce great items but not many actually market the stories and values behind their brands. A brand that came up during our discussion was Nawal Jes, a Malaysian brand based in New York. “It’s an amazing brand, the values are so strong. They help single mums to come forward to teach their art. They are also the people who are behind the production”, he mentioned.
Fireworks has been in the Malaysian market for four years now. The brand initially began their sales in Mont Kiara as a testing ground for the products’ reception by the market. From then on, they’ve had multiple pop up stores around KL in areas such as Bangsar, Publika, Mutiara Damansara and Ampang. They can also be found at Robinsons Four Seasons KL.
For the people who’d rather have their shoes come to them instead, purchases can be made straight from their website no matter where you are in the world as they also offer worldwide shipping.
I’ve always been fond of high quality leather goods. The idea of owning items made from sturdy, high quality materials done out of years of practice by skilled artisans, is satisfying especially in this day and age where we strive for a more sustainable future.
I’ve always been fond of high quality leather goods. The idea of owning items made from sturdy, high quality materials done out of years of practice by skilled artisans, is satisfying especially in this day and age where we strive for a more sustainable future.
We recently got the chance to sit down with Sze Jie, founder of Fourjei, to talk about her brand, passion projects and the market. Fourjei, a canvas and leather brand based in KL, makes an array of wearable goods from wallets and sunglasses cases to bags and key holders.
Sze Jie’s background isn’t actually in leather crafting or fashion design. “I studied architecture for three years and after finishing my degree, I actually went to work for one year in a firm,” she shared. Her skills grew as a result of crafting and cross-stitching across school breaks and holidays. After a year in the working field, she realised she didn’t enjoy working in an architecture studio, being in front of computers for hours at a time and looking at flat drawings.
Like most entrepreneurs, Sze Jie calculated her risks and took a leap of faith. She finds it rewarding and fulfilling knowing that Fourjei is able to capture a niche market and satisfy the demands.
“I think having a passion project keeps you motivated”
After working on her own label for five years, she can gladly say she enjoys the work even with the stress it brings. It’s good work stress, as Sze Jie puts it. “In the end, you get the fulfilment and enjoyment of looking at your outcome and how people find it practical, usable and of good taste,” she added.
In the industry she worked in, Sze Jie didn’t find It enjoyable because a lot of the work was abstract. Buildings were in the form of drawings and would take a minimum of three years to build compared to designing a whole new bag from scratch which would only take about a week or so.
“I find it enjoyable because of its shorter span. I can improvise faster,” she smiled.
It’s been five years since her brand kicked off. Fourjei’s minimal and functional designs are timeless and would surely last over the years. The brand even got to work with Malaysian print-focused lifestyle label, Nala Designs on an exclusive design. The special piece features Nala’s signature print on Fourjei’s Half Moon bag.
The Piper Belt Bag is the latest addition to Fourjei’s line of stylish goods. The chic half moon waist bag sports an athleisure look and makes for a perfect everyday side-kick. By detaching its strap, the Piper Belt Bag transforms into a classy clutch for a more feminine look.
So far, Sze Jie is a one man show behind Fourjei. “I monologue a lot inside,” she laughed. During the production stage, she carries out all the tasks making her the manager, staff, CEO, production manager all wrapped into one person. In the future, Sze Jie hopes to expand into a team so ideas could be bounced off one another
As for plans for the future, Fourjei looks to create items geared towards work essentials and lifestyle accessories as well as travel-oriented products besides delving into the men’s aisle.
To keep up on the latest with Fourjei, follow them on Instagram at @fourjei or check out their website at fourjei.com.
Colours have a way of influencing our moods. They move us in ways we sometimes are unable to fathom and are often used to describe and illustrate our moods. Nestled in Damansara Heights is a wonderful gallery known for its stylish explosion of colours and patterns.
Colours have a way of influencing our moods. They move us in ways we sometimes are unable to fathom and are often used to describe and illustrate our moods. Nestled in Damansara Heights is a wonderful gallery known for its stylish explosion of colours and patterns.
We walked into the Frankitas Gallery on a cloudy afternoon and was immediately transported to a world of colour and patterns. The mood in the Frankitas Gallery was a world apart from the cloudy Kuala Lumpur we had ventured from. Here, colour came alive - not overwhelmingly so but with a sense of style. It seemed to change the very mood of things. We felt a bit more awake and happy, maybe even a bit more alive.
We met Franki, the owner and founder of Frankitas and it became immediately apparent where the style comes from. This lovely, friendly and genuine lady of Indonesian and Dutch parentage is inspired by colour and is admittedly obsessed with traditional textile. “I love traditional textile with its history. I am also inspired so much by colours. Colours make me happy,” she shares with a big smile.
As with most good origin stories, Frankitas started from humble beginnings and in this instance, the bedroom. It was only when the bedroom had become something of an overrun store that she felt it was best that a premise be found for the brand to operate from. “Our bedroom was full of fabric. I had tons of fabric everywhere and was on the verge of being evicted by my husband,” she joked. “At that point, we agreed that it may be time to look for a proper place for the business.”
In the beginning, Franki decided to turn her textile collection into bags. Together with her aunt, they decided to use Ikat, a textile close to her heart. Ikat is a dyeing technique used to pattern textiles that employs resist dyeing on the yarns prior to weaving and is probably one of the oldest forms of textile decoration in the world. Franki designed the bags and her Aunt Titin made them. Soon the ‘Titin Clutch Bags’, named after her Aunt Titin, came to be. Response for the ‘Titin Clutch’ was very encouraging.
Her interest in textiles was stoked even more and Franki’s textile adventure began. She started travelling to source materials, meeting weavers and partners and attending events in the process. She took an active interest in the dyeing and weaving process and gained an even deeper love for the textiles and admiration for the weavers.
Franki has since expanded her textile range to include Ikat from Uzbekistan and India – “The Uzbekistan Ikat is very colourful and vibrant. It’s crazier and wilder,” Batik from Malaysia, Indonesia and Africa, Songket from Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei as well as Rangrang, a beautiful and extremely colourful hand woven textile from the island of Bali and Lombok, with its signature diamonds and chevron motifs.
Her product range has grown too. Frankitas offers a number of clutch bag designs, bags, accessories and home furnishing items – all stylish, colourful and definitely eye catching. The Titin clutch, the one that started it all, remains one of her best sellers but the star is her Maren Clutch. “As soon as its brought out, it gets sold out within days,” says Franki excitedly.
Each Frankitas design is made or inspired by different people. Named after special people in her life, it was obvious that each design is close to her heart. “Our customers appreciate that these items are handcrafted by individuals. They understand that because they are handmade, they will never be perfect. Perfect is boring and dull. Imperfection is natural.” Imperfect they may be but unique they definitely are.
Frankitas partners with other brands and ranges that fit the Frankitas brand personality. The jewellery range she carries is by Isle and Tribe from Australia and is colourful and vibrant. “Its so Frankitas,” claims Frankie.
The Frankitas Gallery is also a place for local designers to showcase their products. “I think there is a need to promote more local stuff. There are so many good local designers nowadays and we need to promote them.”
When asked about her most memorable moments in the brand’s two and a half-year journey so far, feeling incredibly blessed, Franki talked about people that she has met. “It’s the people. The weavers – getting to understand about them and what they do, how they live. The customers – when they choose that particular bag or item, they just know that’s the one.”
This home grown brand has spread its wings to Singapore, the USA and Maldives with plans to be available in Switzerland, Japan and Bali soon. Back in KL, Frankitas can be found at 21 Jalan Setiabistari, Damansara Heights.
Our experience with the pop-up stores and bazaars at Publika KL in the capital city has been nice, comfortable and often times interesting. But this one was different.
Our experience with the pop-up stores and bazaars at Publika KL in the capital city has been nice, comfortable and often times interesting. But this one was different.
There was a buzz and excitement–the kind of excitement normally reserved for the Harrod’s Christmas sale or someone giving away free lattes and hot cakes. As I got closer, I noticed a mound of colourful stylish woven bags. And people were scrambling for them. Some were hiding their choices under the little table in the booth while others were holding on to one as they look at another, deciding which one to get; fearful that someone else will snag it if they were to put it down as they made up their mind.
The bags were decidedly nice. Having grown up with ‘Mengkuang’ woven mats, trays and ‘tudung sajis’, the designs and patterns were familiar. However, there was something different about these. They seemed to have an added vibrancy and stylishness. They were current; ethnic with an ode to the past but definitely very now. Where did they come from and why are people so drawn to them? My curiosity piqued.
Helping Hands Penan is what it says on the tags on the bags. Helping Hands Penan (Helpinghands) started out as a casual coming together of a few expatriate wives in the Oil & Gas industry in Brunei with the sole intention of helping the women of the Penan community in Limbang, Sarawak. These women are skilled weavers and to the pioneers of Helpinghands, these Rattan baskets, bags and mats have commercial value and can be sold. And sell them they did—channeling all the proceeds they made back to the Penan community.
As they got closer to the Penan community and having gained their trust, the women of Helpinghands started suggesting the use of other materials and the application of other colours into the traditional designs of the weave. For example, PVC strips were introduced as an alternative material due to the increased scarcity of rattan. As a result, the weavings started taking on a more contemporary urban look. Demand started to grow. More money was raised. This augured well for the Penan community especially the womenfolk and their children.
The bags sold by Helpinghands are woven largely by the Penan womenfolk. While deeply ingrained in Penan culture, weaving is a skill that was slowly waning in interest and participation by the tribe. It was not an economically viable skill and trade to get into but as the marketability and popularity of the bags increased, more and more of the Penan community saw it as a viable income earner and the number of people actively involved in the art of weaving increased. The weaving legacy was no longer in danger of being lost in the near future.
The design and naming of these products were influenced by the Penan community and encouraged by the ladies of Helpinghands. Now you find items such as the Dua Anak (two children), Tiga Anak (three children) and Empat Anak (four children). The Tiga Beradik (three siblings) are essentially similar woven baskets or containers that come in sets of twos, threes and fours. The baskets and bags come in various sizes from open baskets to tote bags to clutches. Made of PVC, they make lovely baskets for potted plants or magazines and are a great fit in contemporary homes.
The proceeds from the sale of the baskets and bags are channelled to fund essentials and longer-term projects for the Penan such as solar lights for settlements without power generators.
We had the good fortune of catching up with Violette again at MITEC during KIND MALAYSIA 2018. There we spoke about another of their initiatives—education. Helpinghands was established 12 years ago. Led by Violette Tan who together with her wonderful band of incredible women—all volunteers, have focused on supporting the Penan children in getting an education and finding ways and means to encourage them to go and stay in school.
Seeing education as the way to improve the future prospects of the Penan, Helpinghands supports as many Penan children as they can to attend school. Unfortunately, getting them to school is one thing, having them stay in school is another. Alarmed by the high dropout rate and absenteeism amongst Penan children, Helpinghands uses funds from the sale of the bags, their only source of income, to help support the students. Among these are 35 students in SMK Medamit, Ulu Limbang. They are given a monthly allowance of RM50.
“On top of that we buy them school uniforms, stationery and toiletries whenever we visit them. We also pay for their termly transport back to their respective villages,” Violette added.
Another issue is transportation i.e. getting to and from the boarding school, which in some cases is quite a long way away from settlements deep in the jungle. Besides the students in Ulu Limbang, Helpinghands also charters 4x4s to provide transportation to and from school for students in Ulu Baram every semester.
An Education Sponsorship Programme has been developed in an effort to encourage others to support these Penan children in going and staying in school, getting an education and from there on, to tertiary education be it vocational, academic or professional. To date there are 150 Penan children on the Education Sponsorship Programme attending Primary 1 to tertiary level education.
The next step according to Violette is employment. “There isn’t any point in getting an education with hardly any opportunities for employment,” she said. She and her team are connecting people through their network of volunteers and are exploring placements and internships. And while there have been some high points, the women feel that there is so much more that can be done. With the commitment and dedication of the Helping Hands Penan Sponsor a Child committee whose vision and mission is to send as many Penan children to school and most of all, keep them in school, the hope that in the not so distant future, every Penan child can go to school may be attained.
If you are interested in Helping Hands Penan and what they do, you can check out their FB page @helpinghandspenan Sponsor a Child Programme or contact helpinghandspenan@gmail.com.
Who are the Penan?
The Penan are traditionally hunter-gatherers who have, until recently, lived a nomadic life deep in the jungles of Borneo. Urbanisation and certain commercial practices have triggered significant changes in the Penan’s natural habitat and livelihood, resulting in many migrating to towns in the hope of securing employment, getting access to medical treatment and education.
Syerie is the owner of Isti-mewa, a homegrown brand that cultivates Batik into modern and contemporary pieces. From lush wallet-on-chain purses to notebooks, Isti-mewa has adapted the Batik element into products that can be used everyday or even on special occasions. We had the privilege to catch up with Syerie at Isti-mewa’s newly opened store in Bangsar Village.
Syerie is the owner of Isti-mewa, a homegrown brand that cultivates Batik into modern and contemporary pieces. From lush wallet-on-chain purses to notebooks, Isti-mewa has adapted the Batik element into products that can be used everyday or even on special occasions. We had the privilege to catch up with Syerie at Isti-mewa’s newly opened store in Bangsar Village.
Syerie’s interest in Malaysia’s most popular patterned textile, stems from her childhood– one that is decorated with memories of her grandma’s extensive collection of batik. Her humble beginning was one that involved her friends making orders after finding interest in her series of handmade bags. As orders grew in numbers, Syerie also expanded into operating at bazaars where she met plenty of interesting individuals and quite a number of loyal customers.
An interesting bit she was excited to share was one that involved TV personality, Neelofa. Isti-mewa gifted the celebrity a perfectly presented clutch upon bumping into her in Publika where her brand, Naelofar, had recently opened its doors. Neelofa posted multiple posts on her Instagram Stories that directly translated into the increased in traffic at Isti-mewa’s pop-up store.
“The next day so many people came to our booth. Maybe 80% of our items were sold out because of her”
Over time, Syerie noticed that there was a demand for Isti-mewa’s products by locals who had travel plans and wanted to bring gifts for their friends and family who were overseas. At times, orders of this nature would repeat itself often that it incited Syerie’s realisation– her brand made perfect gifts for people who’d like to be reminded of Malaysia.
Prior to running Isti-mewa, Syerie managed retail shops in airports where she found many enquiries by travellers for locally made contemporary pieces that reflected Malaysian heritage. There was an obvious demand in the market and she was tenacious in being the person who fulfils the needs of the market.
Another weighing factor that made Syerie finally pursue Isti-mewa was how unhappy she was at her stable job. “I owe it to the buyers that go to me, all the departmental stores that gave me the opportunity and also some of the corporate gift clients,” she mentions.
So far, Isti-mewa has made quite a name for itself. Syerie shared that their products were sent to New York for New York Fashion Week under Peniagawati MATRADE. That resulted in big bulk orders as well as positive feedback and recognition from the public. Besides their store in Bangsar Village, Isti-mewa can also be found at various locations including multiple department stores as well as hotels and resorts across South East Asia. “We also have a few vendors that are selling our items in Canada and London,” she adds.
Although they are best known for their clutch bags, Isti-mewa has expanded into clothing as well as mens items.
Some of their notable items include pocket squares, passport holders and key holders. They also have multiple sized tote bags in reversible Batik prints. Check out their items in Bangsar Shopping Centre, Bangsar Village 2, Robinsons KL and Isetan, One Utama. Alternatively, you could also visit their online store at www.istimewamalaysia.com or @isti.mewa on Instagram.
Kooshboo is a unique and fashionable clothing label for children, featuring contemporary and culturally inspired designs using only natural materials. We met with Natasha Navin, who together with her sister Natalia, are the heart of this stylish alternative to children’s wear.
Kooshboo is a unique and fashionable clothing label for children, featuring contemporary and culturally inspired designs using only natural materials. We met with Natasha Navin, who together with her sister Natalia, are the heart of this stylish alternative to children’s wear.
It all started when the sisters had children of their own and felt there was not much choice when it came to simple yet stylish, quality children’s wear. They decided to start their own label and Kooshboo was established in 2014.
Its boho-chic inspired style is carving a niche as a trendy, high quality children’s fashion label in the children’s clothes market.
The brand’s products are designed and made in Malaysia to ensure Natasha can be actively and directly involved in quality control during production.
Kooshboo focuses on high quality workmanship and attention to detail when producing their apparel in an eco-friendly process.
The unique cultural and nature-enthused look of Kooshboo clothing is the result of Natasha and Natalia’s personal design preferences. The sisters have a similar eye in fashion and draw a lot of inspiration from their childhood, having spent much time surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere and colours of India.
As part of a social initiative, Kooshboo has also provided job opportunities for refugees as they were taught and engaged to sew and hand embroider some of the items on the recent and new clothing lines.
“We wanted to create something with a little bit more character and soul,” said Natasha. “Which is why we created our hand blocked, and painted Batik range.”
Natasha Navin
Kooshboo clothing is currently available in Malaysia and Singapore, and is aspiring to breach the Australian market next. The sisters are working towards making Kooshboo available in department stores internationally.
Natasha attributes having a solid, high quality product, being hardworking, and having the passion and perseverance to keep striving for success as the main factors contributing to the success and growth of the brand.
“People don’t realise, it’s not as easy as it looks,” Natasha said, in regards to running an entire business with such a small workforce. The one thing that keeps them going is passion. As the saying goes, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
In Malaysia, Kooshboo has opened their very first retail store in Great Eastern Mall in the Ampang area. Their clothing can also be found at several retailers throughout Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, such as Robinsons, Parksons and Kita Kita in Bukit Damansara as well as online store Fashion Valet.
KULET, a local shoe brand making waves in the local fashion scene recently launched its second collection at Womenfest 2017 and received enthusiastic support by its growing customer base of chic and stylish women in the capital city.
KULET, a local shoe brand making waves in the local fashion scene recently launched its second collection at Womenfest 2017 and received enthusiastic support by its growing customer base of chic and stylish women in the capital city.
KULET was the brainchild of Aina Syahirah Azlin (Aina) who came up with the idea of a shoe line that is proudly made in Malaysia, is animal friendly and about simple yet timeless designs. The brand was formed in January 2016 when Aina teamed up with Julie Anne Kang, (Julie) a former schoolmate and ex-colleague. KULET launched its first collection in October 2016.
“We felt that there was a gap in the local market for footwear with these elements, and we wanted to be able to offer something at an attractive price point.”
Aina Syahirah Azlin
KULET is about wearable, fuss-free shoes that are comfortable and look good for both women and men. The shoes are designed by Aina and Julie. Without any formal design training between them, they are guided by what they would like and want out of their own footwear. Comfort and wearability are high on their list.
Julie explained that their lifestyle plays a key part in the direction of their designs. “Inspiration for new designs come from our lifestyle – what we’d like to wear on a daily basis, and through that we materialise our ideas and visions into each design to create a complete collection.”
Effortless and timeless style are designed to be the hallmark of the brand. While the ladies are aware of current trends, there is a conscious effort to keep the designs timeless.
“As of now, we have introduced four heel designs and the most sought after is our KARLA heel from the first collection we introduced,” recounts Aina.
Normally the brand avoids repeating designs or offering restocks in an effort to promote and maintain the exclusivity of each design. However, as always there are exceptions to the rule. “Due to the high demand for KARLA throughout the year, we’re happy to make KARLA available again (in five different colours) in our Anniversary Collection 2017,” added Julie proudly.
The KULET Anniversary Collection 2017 was launched at the WomenFest 2017 which the brand participated in. Response was again overwhelming. The brand’s online store will be opening soon at www.kulet.co
The duo expressed their gratefulness for all the support received from family and friends as well as the support from members of the media. According to Aina, “Our media friends really helped in promoting the brand and giving us exposure which then elevated our sales.”
Being new to the industry they feel there is so much more for them to learn and grow but these enterprising young ladies have a dream, and that is to turn KULET into an internationally sought after brand.
Their passion and pride was obvious as we talked briefly about their new collection. Confident, articulate and friendly, their knack for coming up with timeless shoe designs that appeal to the everywoman augur well for the brand as they nurture and grow KULET into an international fashion force.
KULET also has a men’s range in their latest collection that is just as timeless and enduring as their ladies’ collection.
November 2017
Aien was dressed in a beige corset dress by Melinda Looi which juxtaposed well with her pixie cut hairdo. She sat down and began sharing about her passion-project-turned-business, Olfac3—a Malaysian perfumery brand.
Aien was dressed in a beige corset dress by Melinda Looi which juxtaposed well with her pixie cut hairdo. She sat down and began sharing about her passion-project-turned-business, Olfac3—a Malaysian perfumery brand.
Many people happen to mispronounce the name, with the common pronunciation somewhere along ‘old face’. The name is actually a play on the word ‘olfactory’ which is your sense of smell. The 3 at the end represents two sets of three things. Firstly, her inspirations which are nature, people and places and secondly, the three notes of a perfume which are top notes, middle or heart notes and base notes.
As Aien shared her story, she recalled how her years of working in property development left her with a thirst for something more, and thus began her passion project involving perfume-making. She loved it so much that she left a well paying job in an established company to pursue it full-time. And if you think about it, would work really feel like work if it was something you undoubtedly love? As she shared her journey, her face lit up, realising that she’s actually worked more for Olfac3 than she did at her old stable job because she enjoyed it. The brand being in its infancy stage undeniably contributed to Aien needing to spend more time and attention to the fledgling business.
“I think what prompted me to start sharing it into a business was because I think I’ve created over 100 scents.”
According to Aien, Olfac3 is one of the few Malaysian perfumery brands that create original scents as opposed to the majority who make inspired perfumes. Another thing that makes them unique is they help you create your own signature scent. Bespoke scents are an integral part of Olfac3’s identity. They conduct workshops for people who want to have their own signature scent and maybe feeling like a celebrity in the process. According to Aien, a signature scent is an extension of who you are and what you like. It’s also her way of getting to know the stories behind her customers like their personal experiences and favourite smells and helping them interpret their personal life story into a scent.
Aien creates bespoke scents for brands too. Property developer UEM Sunrise requested Aien to develop a bespoke scent for Mayfair, their third property launch in Melbourne. The scent called Mayfair was developed exclusively for the property and given to those who purchased units within the luxurious high-rise residences.
Besides her love for scent-making, Aien also has her fair share of immigration stamps in her passport. Her research and development took her to four countries in Europe including France, the perfume centre of the world. Her intention was to study the overall landscape and development of perfumery in each individual country aiding her in her quest to create something unique that’s never before been done in Malaysia.
When she was 10, she took her first solo flight from Kuala Lumpur to Belgrade, Yugoslavia to visit her mother who worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs then. “I remember places by how they smell. At every airport when I stepped down, I remember the smell of the air, the scent of the air.. I still remember it”, she expressed, denoting that moment as when she first realised the sensitivity of her nose.
People generally collect items like postcards, fridge magnets or key chains from their travels. Aien, however, collects scents that she creates at little bespoke perfumery house in each country. That habit of creating perfumes in remembrance of places eventually led to Olfac3’s Memories series which were inspired by places she’s been. ‘Memories’ is comprised of four compositions, Bunga, Matahari, Borneo and Ombak. Ombak, a scent inspired by her love for the sea, is Aien’s go-to in the morning. “I like to pretend I’m waking up by the sea even though I’m not. That’s what I use perfumes for– to transport me to places and to remind me of maybe someone, maybe a moment in time or a place.”
Aien’s unconventional habit of play pretend also plays a role in the creation of the Rose series that was launched three years ago. It’s a tribute to prolific women in Islamic history with each person representing different stages in a woman’s life. Mariam, the virgin mother represents the saints in all of us; Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter; Khadijah the mother and Asiyah the queen, a tribute to the Egyptian queen. “We did the representation because we are all in different stages of our lives,” she explained. When asked about how each person was represented in terms of scent, Aien highlighted that she ‘puts on a hat’ and asks herself, if she was each of those women, what would she wear.
Following their collaboration with fashion designer Melinda Looi, Olfac3 introduced their Memories Paris range—a limited edition perfume made in France. This is indeed a huge milestone for the brand as according to Aien, they are the first perfumery house that’s created in Malaysia but produced in France. While still settling into their new retail outlet in GM Bukit Bintang, they’ve also been invited to create a sub-brand for the tourist market in Malaysia.
The rain was relentless as we approached Project Woodworks’ workshop but having seen these amazing, unique and interesting watches at a kiosk in Publika KL, it could not dampen our excitement at meeting Bryan, Wallace and Zac - three enterprising young men with big hearts and a big vision.
The rain was relentless as we approached Project Woodworks’ workshop but having seen these amazing, unique and interesting watches at a kiosk in Publika KL, it could not dampen our excitement at meeting Bryan, Wallace and Zac - three enterprising young men with big hearts and a big vision.
Walking into their current premises in a light industrial area in USJ, we could get a whiff of curry powder coming from an adjacent factory. Apologising unnecessarily for the weather, Bryan had us look at the bright side. “It’s a good thing it rained or you may be covered in curry powder,” he joked.
We felt at ease and what started out as an interview about Project Woodworks quickly turned into a friendly conversation.
A start up social enterprise that focuses on wood products with a difference, Project Woodworks is founded on the belief that everyone has the power to make the planet better and has chosen sustainable fashion as its platform to encourage this.
Zac, the son of a carpenter has an Architecture and Sustainable Design background. His father’s furniture and carpentry business was hard hit in the 1997 economic downturn when illegal logging and deforestation were rampant. “I want to continue his business in a modern and stylish way,” Zac adds.
“Woodworks is very much influenced by Zac’s background and his passion for wooden products, ‘Project’ is because the business is a social enterprise. We pledge to plant a tree from an endangered tree species in Malaysia for every watch we sell and we partner with local NGOs to achieve this,” explains Bryan, a finance graduate who left his job at a MNC to go full-time with Project Woodworks.
A love and appreciation for wood and their shared desire and purpose in making a difference to the planet is what drives Project Woodworks. Their complementary backgrounds in Finance, Environmental Technology as well as Architecture and Sustainable design seem to form a perfect foundation for the brand to grow.
“The idea for Project Woodworks came about at the end of 2015 and took about a year before we were ready to launch our first product. We noticed that there was gap in the Malaysia market for wood-based watches and we started developing a product that would fill that gap,” explained Bryan. They also felt wooden watches have a ‘wow’ factor and was a good product to start with.
The guys joined MaGIC’s accelerator programme in May 2016. “Graduating from the programme was one of the best moments because we were struggling then,” said Bryan.
Project Woodworks hit the market in September 2016 with ‘Shivelight’, the first wooden watches in Malaysia. Shivelight wowed its audience but was not without some scepticism. Watches made out of wood went against the grain (pun intended) of what is available in the market. The Shivelight range of watches are beautifully crafted with a stylish design that demands attention while at the same time makes a statement that you aren’t just like everybody else.
“ The beauty of wooden watches is that they react to the wearer’s natural body oil and takes on a sheen with time. The unique thing about our watches is that no two watches are identical because the woodgrain and patterns of the wood are never alike in a watch,” enthused Wallace.
For some reason, the idea of having a one-of-a kind watch on our wrists suddenly became very appealing.
The guys launched their second range called Luxoré. Luxoré is designed with more of a luxury feel to it. Its shape is a tad more conventional which adds to its immediate appeal. Finely crafted, the Luxoré range of watches come with biodegradable fabric watch straps in keeping with the sustainable fashion approach of the brand. Wallace, who has a background in Environmental Technology, explained that Luxoré is a combination of luxurious feel and sustainable elements. “It’s redefining sustainability with luxury elements. That is our idea for our second collection,” Bryan chipped in. “We work towards incorporating as many green materials as we can.”
At Project Woodworks, sustainability, minimalism and quality are at the core of the brand. The watches employ Japan movement and are built to be water resistant up to 3 atmospheres but are not submerge-able.
Checking out their online store, Luxoré comes in three different finishes in typical men and ladies’ sizes. Of the six types available, four are already sold out, giving us an indication of their popularity and market acceptance.
Project Woodworks are also extending their product range to include items such as desk organisers that would make ideal corporate gifts, phone cases and minimalist designed wallets-cum-card holders – seemingly designed to encourage us to drop all the unnecessary clutter we sometimes carry with us in our wallets.
The Shivelight and Luxoré collections have created a rather diversified customer portfolio ranging from university students to an avid watch collector in his 70s. There is an even spread of both men and women. According to Zac, “Shivelight tends to have an older appeal while Luxoré is very much a product with younger appeal.”
The guys feel that localising production and giving opportunities to local craftsman is important. Project Woodworks is collaborating with Malaysia Timber Industry Board (MTIB) through their Wood Industry Skills Development Centre or WISDEC which trains talents in the art of woodworking. “We are collaborating with these talents,” Wallace explained.
According to the guys, it feels good when people appreciate their products and even better when people buy them. This is because not only do they appreciate the product for its design, uniqueness and quality but they also become part of the ‘project’. “Their purchase represents a positive impact to the environment,” shared Zac and Wallace.
The guys are currently working on product development and have plans to introduce new products to the market in the near future.
When asked about leaving steady jobs with fixed incomes, the guys have no regrets. Bryan shared, “I got scolded by my Dad for quitting my job.” But the guys agree that it is all working out, and with hard work and perseverance, the company that brought us Malaysia’s first wooden watch collection has every opportunity to go from strength to strength.
“ Go out and fail as much as you can. The earlier you fail, the earlier you learn & experience and you will gain more knowledge,” Zac shared to spontaneous nods in agreement from his partners and the rest of us too.
We met with Mia, one of three sisters who founded Real.m, a brand purposed with building awareness and acceptance of ethical materials and widening its usage.
We met with Mia, one of three sisters who founded Real.m, a brand purposed with building awareness and acceptance of ethical materials and widening its usage.
Mia, gracious, articulate and passionate, was waxing lyrical about these Turkish bath towels which for now, are the stable of the Real.m brand.
“Turkey has a huge bath culture and their towels are very different to the typical towels that we are used to. For one, they are light weight, super absorbent, dry quickly and are beautifully made. At Real.m we saw them as items of incredible versatility.”
Having first met Mia at a bazaar-like event at Great Eastern Mall Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, she introduced the towels as multi-purpose, multi-functional items of quality. After a compelling heartfelt pitch, we ended up purchasing a couple of them.
Today, the conversation is a multi-faceted one. It flows freely from the quality and ethical factor of the products to the opening of Real.m’s first semi-permanent pop-up store in the swanky Bangsar Shopping Centre; the challenges and excitement of running a business full-time and the growth of the Real.m product range.
The Turkish towel fabrics are beautiful richly coloured line-based designs that perfectly fit in with the simple geometric designs trending today. Made from bamboo-fabric, this sustainable material is very lightweight, has an almost linen-like feel to it but is a tad smoother to the touch. Mia also describes it as ‘fabric that breathes’.
“We made several trips to Turkey to ensure the fabrics were ethically produced, that there was no child-labour involved and that the dyes were 100% vegetable dyes, making the Real.m Turkish towels and fabrics 100% natural,” she said proudly.
On closer inspection, we found looking at the designs quite hypnotic and somewhat relaxing. The fabric felt soft and comfortable almost welcoming. It was a pleasant sense that strangely enough made us feel at home.
Influenced by the sisters’ shared passion for travel, Real.m’s range of products are great for that quick jaunt away. They need not even take up space in your luggage. Use it as a shawl when you travel, as a blanket for those long haul flights, as a stylish pareo or beach wrap and of course as a towel. For others it could be easily turned into a robe-like hijab, a babycarrier (if you know how to tie it) and as Mia modelled, a pretty chill and chic robe-like shift.
Recently, Real.m released their first range of clothing made entirely from Turkish towel fabrics and ingeniously designed by the sisters themselves. The clothing range has been very well received and has even changed the way some of her customers perceive bamboo fabrics, a fact Mia is very enthusiastic about.
“ We believe very much in the ethical quality of a product or material and this stems from the environment that we grew up in and have been exposed to. It is also Islamic to be ethical in how we do things,” Mia credits her upbringing.
Our conversation continued at the Real.m pop-up store on Level 2 of the Bangsar Shopping Centre. Interestingly, in this era of online shopping, Mia feels that good old fashioned retail is the way to go for Real.m. “This is because the products need to be seen, felt and understood to be truly appreciated for what they really are,” she explains.
As there is also an educational element to the product, it does make sense. While the dream is to have a store in the Bangsar Shopping Centre – this is where the brand’s strongest support has come from, the plan is first to grow the brand and product demand to a point where it necessitates the opening of a retail store.
Having left the security of full-time employment, Mia was uncomfortable with the lack of control she felt stepping away from a fixed monthly income but expresses to being happier now managing Real.m full-time. For her, Real.m has been and continues to be an exciting and increasingly insightful learning experience.
For three sisters who profess to ‘not know about business’, Real.m has matured into a brand with a clear purpose.
“The social and ethical aspects of the business evolved organically,” Mia explained. “As the production process of these fabrics were explained to us, the 100% vegetable dyes and natural material that were used for their fabrics, the workforce that was used as well as how they were looked after struck a chord with our own beliefs and values.”
The social aspects have also found their way into Real.m’s new range of women’s accessories. Real.m connected with refugees skilled in crafts
and started designing a new range of products which will be released by the end of 2017.
As a woman who grew up with parents who were so immersed in art, Suryani’s appreciation for art grew with age. She lives surrounded by art pieces that light up her house the way no bulb ever could.
As a woman who grew up with parents who were so immersed in art, Suryani’s appreciation for art grew with age. She lives surrounded by art pieces that light up her house the way no bulb ever could.
Even more meaningful is that most of them were done by her husband so you can only imagine the energy filling this home. Suryani is akin to a woman on a mission – to revive our heritage through modern designs that speak the global art language.
Being the cultured woman that she is, Suryani observed many issues in the art community. In order for our local crafts to perform better, they would need to be more integrated in our everyday lives, with the mundane activities most of us are accustomed to. There’s a disparity between what was being crafted traditionally and what is in demand in the outside world. How come Malaysians don’t appreciate complex batik the way Italians appreciate their designer leather? Why is songket hailed in royal regalia relegated to being worn as ‘kain sampin’ at weddings? These are some of the questions that weigh heavily on her.
“I think we have over 1,000 weavers in Terengganu alone and it’s a dying skill,” Suryani spoke.
She believed that the heritage needs to be preserved and what better way to do that than to have local artisans secure jobs and continue what they do best. There is a need to perpetuate local identity and culture. From those matters alone, she knew that it was possible to develop a cultural product into a proper brand.
Senijari is a platform Suryani built for local artisans to develop products that cater to the global market. It has helped preserve our identity and heritage while giving as many working opportunities to as many artisans as possible. In a way, it also serves as an inspiration to the people who believe in the art of crafting and allow them to see the future this craft has. “Senijari provides not just a design platform but also a knowledge platform. We’re trying to tell the world what our local artisans are capable of doing,” Suryani explained. Senijari’s website provides global accessibility for shoppers who want products with a touch of Malaysian tradition.
Some of the best and fastest selling items by Senijari are jewellery and bags. Their shawls, insanely intricate, sell slower as opposed to other accessories. “One shawl takes about 2 to 3 months to make,” Suryani added. They are priced higher than most other accessories but for good reason as they’re fully handcrafted and woven from beginning to end.
As we reach the end of the conversation, Suryani still has her back straight in the chair, poised as ever. Her vision for Senijari is to make it an international renown brand for that exclusive, limited edition pieces. It is excitingly obvious that she really believes in the products her brand sells. “It’s not going to be like this mass fast fashion kind of thing. We make very limited edition pieces and we don’t repeat; if you don’t get it, it would really be a shame because they are one of a kind,” she envisions.
I have always been attracted to nice packaging and used to buy perfumes based on the packaging and the product posters. I would even walk through the wine section of the supermarket and look at the bottle label designs.
I have always been attracted to nice packaging and used to buy perfumes based on the packaging and the product posters. I would even walk through the wine section of the supermarket and look at the bottle label designs.
One day, at one of the pop-up bazaars in the capital, I was quite taken by a display of really nicely crafted and designed boxes that housed slick small metal containers. Intrigued, I stopped and noticed a little stand-up sign that said The Apothecary Malaysia. This conjured up the image of potions and alchemy and a long bearded Merlin of King Arthur’s court that spoke in medieval English or prose. But instead, it was run by a good looking, well-groomed and down-to-earth young man with a winning smile.
We found out his name was Adrian, the founder of The Apothecary Malaysia. An Economics graduate, Adrian had a stint with Groupon whose young, successful and highly entrepreneurial environment he credits for helping keep his entrepreneurial spirit and flame burning.
Fuelled by the entrepreneur and craftsman in him, Adrian was looking for a solid opportunity (pun intended) to sink his teeth into—one he found in solid cologne.
Curious and adventurous by nature, Adrian is comfortable in his kitchen and has tried his hand at bread and cheese making—much to his wife’s dismay as often times, the kitchen would look as though whirlwind just spun through it. And the home at some point may have to endure more than a hint of an unpleasant smell. What’s interesting is that the smells have given way to something a whole lot more pleasant—a thriving business based on fragrances.
“It was a lot of trial and error. A lot of not so nice fragrances were created. There was one that even smelt like a Thai Massage parlour,” he laughed.
Solid colognes were getting some traction in the United States. By changing the carrier of the scent, the whole experience and relationship that men have with their favourite fragrance was changed. Adrian was attracted to its convenience and portability.
“With solid cologne, you can carry it wherever you go. We saw an opportunity for the product in Southeast Asia,” explained Adrian. Adrian immediately embarked on an R&D offensive—studying how it’s made, creating fragrances, working on the consistency of the wax used for the carrier, getting partners on board, setting up his workshop or laboratory (much to his wife’s joy, he wasn’t messing up the kitchen at home anymore) and a bit further down, developing the product positioning and packaging.
Six months later, Adrian launched The Apothecary Malaysia’s first solid colognes—Cornerstone, Hot Shot and Maverick. “I’m the kind of guy that wants things to be perfect and kept on working on the products to perfect them but I was advised by my partner that speed is essential and that we should launch the product,” he shared. Adrian admitted he went to market with a product that wasn’t as refined as he would have liked it to be. But he concedes it was the right decision to launch with what they had. He has since refined both the product and its packaging.
With the launch came excitement and anxiousness.
“I was excited because I knew we had a good product but I was also anxious because I wasn’t sure exactly how the product would be received. Would people like it? Would they buy it?” The anxiety was unfounded as the products were well received.
“At the beginning we had ‘Cornerstone’. Cornerstone is the stone that forms the base of a corner of a building from which other stones are laid. We thought that was right as Cornerstone came first from which other scents have been introduced. We wanted to launch with something recognisable and identifiable.”
After Cornerstone, Adrian developed ‘Hot Shot’. Hot Shot epitomises cool and the fragrant has a cool scent with a hint of floral. Then came ‘Maverick’, “He is different and unique—definitely not the norm. The fragrance we created for Maverick is more complex,” he said.
Now Apothecary has added three more fragrances called ‘Cleopatra’ based on Lily of the Valley, a beautiful yet poisonous flower; ‘Colossus’, their best seller - a big scent where the citrus and earthy notes have been upped; ‘Khan’, a more spicy scent inspired by the legendary Mongolian warrior; ‘Admiral’ a sea scent with a sense of freshness about it; and now ‘Omni’.
“Omni is our latest fragrance. Omni to us represents our everything. In this case, to a lot of families and children growing up, Dad is everything. This scent reminds me of something my Dad had. It has a sense of maturity about it,” Adrian said fondly. They also have a hair product based on the Omni fragrance called the ‘Analogue Hair Paste’ with a refined packaging that pays homage to the past. Analogue Hair Paste is the brainchild of 3 labels—The Apothecary Malaysia, Mentega Pomade and The Oven Cuttery. These three brands combined to create one paste encompassing the sense of scent, barbering experience, and product usability.
Three years on, The Apothecary Malaysia’s products have been accepted internationally.
“We are now present in eight countries—Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Indonesia and the United States, being available in New York. You can also buy our products online at www.theapothecarymalaysia.com which includes free shipping.”
With a growing product range Adrian talked about his journey so far. “It’s been great. We are proud to say we are a Malaysian product. We found that being a Malaysian product is only a problem in Malaysia and Singapore. We have had instances when people have asked us if ours is a European product. In Singapore, when they find out it’s a Malaysian product, they are really surprised as they don’t expect a Malaysian product to be this good,” Adrian shared with a sense of pride. “That’s one of my favourite moments in doing this business so far,” he added.
I was thrilled to meet Amira and Chern—the founders of a local, stylish, delicate jewellery brand. As a lover of simple, delicate jewellery myself, I just couldn’t contain my excitement when I discovered there was a brand like The Straits Finery here, locally!
I was thrilled to meet Amira and Chern—the founders of a local, stylish, delicate jewellery brand. As a lover of simple, delicate jewellery myself, I just couldn’t contain my excitement when I discovered there was a brand like The Straits Finery here, locally!
Their pieces come in sterling silver and 14 karat solid gold—a plus point to me, as the gold isn’t extremely yellow.
I first met the two at a coffee shop in Bangsar. What started out more as an introductory meeting to get to know them and their brand, felt more and more like a conversation between friends. Despite feeling under the weather, Amira and Chern were warm and friendly—sharing their stories and experience over a good cup of coffee.
Most jewellery brands tend to sell a lot of fancy, intricate jewellery with lots of gemstones—something that Amira felt didn’t really suit their personalities and lives.
“Simple, delicate, jewellery that’s wearable everyday just simply wasn’t available here,” said Amira.
There may be a variety of nice costume jewellery available in the market but finding something that is in between costume jewellery and the more ornate, fancy ones has proven to be quite difficult. “Costume jewellery is great but a lot of it is not designed to last very long,” said Amira.
Amira and Chern spoke fondly of some pieces that were handed down by their moms and grandmas, they did however, choose the simplest of those pieces. They were described as ‘pieces you wear everyday and feel very naked without’. Now wouldn’t it be nice if everyone could have pieces like this?
The Straits Finery pieces are thoughtfully designed to rest flat against the skin. “It doesn’t get caught. You can’t scratch your kid’s face with it,” joked Chern. “Or your own face!” Amira piped in. The two women are quite the practical designers. As the pieces are very simple, they wanted people to be able to change it up a bit. It was about creating a point of difference—allowing people the flexibility and creativity to do something different and interesting with the rings, dressing it up or down.
Having no background in jewellery design or jewellery making, Amira and Chern felt they needed to learn the art of jewellery making to understand the production process so they’d know how their pieces are made. They took jewellery making classes and in time, made their first ring.
To Chern, the circle is the most basic and versatile shape. Their first collection was inspired by the circle. With a stroke of serendipity, they realised that their designs could potentially stack into each other. With a little bit of tweaking, the pieces were made to fit within each other and to also look good on their own. The first collection was called Lunar.
Amira and Chern make it a point to test our their pieces—one, to see if it catches anyone’s attention and two, to see how practical they are.
“We’ve made stuff that doesn’t make any sense. It catches on stuff. I’ve scratched myself. It just breaks. It falls off,” said Amira. “That’s something that’s really important to us. It’s supposed to be wearable everyday, so your jewellery shouldn’t get in the way.
“We make jewellery that doesn’t outshine the woman. The multifaceted woman—strong and brave yet soft and sensual,” Amira explained.
While the two women were talking, I couldn’t help but admire the earrings and stacked rings they were both wearing. I was eager to know more about their collections and what is currently in the market. Chern spoke of their second collection called Musim, which was inspired by raindrops. For this collection, they experimented with a jewellery technique called granulation, which is the heating up of small pieces of metal that ball up into a perfect sphere—resembling raindrops, an ode to Malaysia’s Monsoon season.
In a collaboration with Snackfood, their third collection called Coming of Age, is inspired by the three phases a girl goes through in order to become the woman she is today. It solely focuses on earrings; three to be exact—mismatched studs, the Tick Tack; the cool cuffs, the Tomboy; and the elegant sleepers, the Waterfalls.
Their latest, Rosie the Riveter, is a whole collection of both rings and earrings—released in three chapters. The collection was inspired by the cultural icon during World War II, Rosie the Riveter, representing strong, ambitious, independent women that took on jobs to replace the male workers that joined the military. These women which included working in factories and shipyards—a predominantly male territory.
Despite being well received, Amira and Chern are still very humbled and surprised every time someone reaches out to them or wants to feature their brand. Amira even said that they still do a ‘happy dance’ when they see people wearing their pieces.
The women will be working on a new collection but are currently focused on promoting and selling their latest collection.