Fugeelah Forward

Fostering young entrepreneurs, Fugee School takes its first step into the business world with its self sustaining accessories line Fugeelah

- Daphne Ng

I’m seated in a room above Frankitas Gallery with Deborah Henry and Frankitas founder Franki Turner, both high school acquaintances turned business partners. Post-photoshoot, Deborah pushes her curls away from her face as she lounges on the couch adjacent from me. She jokes about sounding like a fiery politician when she gives interviews (“I can get so angry and go like ‘argh!’ but does that really get you anywhere?”).

Fugeelah derives its name from the song Fu-Gee-La, created by the American hip-hop group The Fugees. Deborah Malaysianised it with a ‘h’ at the end, and the brand lifted off from the ground a mere six months later. Born from the core values and beliefs of two individuals, Fugeelah is refugee school Fugee School’s (which was co-founded by Deborah) latest brave new venture into the world —their very own homegrown accessories line. The accessories are created by five of Fugee School’s students— 14-year-old Abu Bakar who designed the brand’s signature Alien print scarf; nine-year-old Shanzay who created the bright multi-coloured Skittle print for scarves and clutches; and tight-knit 17-year-old trio: Hanin, Abeera, and Ikhlas who hand-make Fugeelah’s earrings. The self-sustaining nature of Fugeelah means proceeds from sales of accessories go entirely towards supporting the brand and running Fugee School.