Oh Brother, My Brother

Masters of luxury retail, the Valiram brothers have seen and done it all. Behind their success is a close bond between brothers and their commitment to family and community above all else

- Chong Jinn Xiung

Valiram. It’s a family name steeped in history, culture, evolution and success. The Malaysia-based retail and lifestyle group has grown from strength to strength, having started in the textile trade in 1935 by Utumal Valiram and subsequently led by his son, the late Datuk Jethanand Valiram. The business would later pivot towards retail in 1996, forging ahead to become Southeast Asia’s leading luxury goods retailer. Led by the charismatic brothers Sharan, Ashvin and Mukesh, the trio courted and brought in notable international brands including Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Victoria’s Secret, Tumi as well as Bath & Body Works. They also own Swiss Watch, Malaysia’s leading luxury watch retailer. Over the years, the brothers have grown the business’s store footprint to over 400 stores across nine countries.

We chanced upon meeting Sharan and Mukesh at the lobby of their residence prior to their photo shoot on a warm sunny afternoon. Ever the expert host, Sharan ensured we were well taken care of before rushing off to his apartment to get dressed for the shoot (the three siblings stay in the same building together with their mother, Datin Champa Kirpalani Valiram).

Standing over 6 feet tall, Mukesh warmly invited us into his brand-new renovated apartment. A lavish art deco styled living room greeted us, complete with a state-of-the-art smart home system that Mukesh was just setting up when we arrived. As we sat down for the interview proper, it was a rare chance to meet the three brothers together. While both Sharan and Ashvin run the business from Kuala Lumpur, Mukesh is based in Singapore and has not been able to return home to meet with his siblings easily due to travel restrictions imposed for most of last year.