Connecting the Lines
Tatler Malaysia|September 2022
Melinda Looi is looking at her most ambitious project yet, encouraging the next generation of weavers and the fashion industry’s future torchbearers
Koyyi Chin
Connecting the Lines

Melinda Looi’s four-day trip to Sarawak was hectic, ambitious, and in her words, “exhilarating”. But evidently, it wasn’t enough for the fashion designer—in fact, it only seemed to fuel her desire to go back for more.

“There was just so much to do and film that we didn’t have the time to spare for anything else,” laments Looi. “I would have loved to stay there longer to learn more from the local community, especially the weavers.”

With her children, her team and the production crew of Think Tank in tow, the group had hit the ground running as soon as they arrived in Kuching. From there, Looi filmed a key component of her latest couture collection’s journey from start to finish; it comprised waking up before the sunrise for six-hour drives between one village and another over bumpy roads, boat rides over choppy waters, the painstaking process of Sarawakian songket and Penan craft, as well as the weavers who create them.

“Unless people experience what these villagers go through daily and live like them, they’ll never realise how difficult—and expensive—it can be just to survive,” she says. “Because unlike their nomadic past, these villagers can’t move as easily as they did before, and it doesn’t help that their natural resources are being impacted by environmental change as well, which consequently affects the materials they need for their artisanal crafts.”

Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Tatler Malaysia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Tatler Malaysia.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA TATLER MALAYSIASe alt
How Working Out Transforms Your Skin
Tatler Malaysia

How Working Out Transforms Your Skin

When we think about the benefits of exercise, glowing skin might not be the first thing that comes to mind. That said, getting that sweat going is not only great for your body but also an absolute game-changer for your skin

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Mane Attraction
Tatler Malaysia

Mane Attraction

Dr Chang Chee Seong of Kaiteki Clinic shares his expert insights on hair loss, from the most common causes to cutting-edge solutions and what to expect on the journey of hair recovery

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Body Manscaping
Tatler Malaysia

Body Manscaping

Discover the entrepreneurial journey of Jared Chuah, cofounder of Nateskin, and how this Malaysian brand is breaking taboos around men's grooming, particularly below the belt

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Skin Superfoods
Tatler Malaysia

Skin Superfoods

Glow from within with these six ingredients that are good for your complexion

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
Elevated Wellness
Tatler Malaysia

Elevated Wellness

Discover Amani Biohacking Club: Malaysia's first biohacking society for optimal leadership and life balance

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
The Dior Warrior
Tatler Malaysia

The Dior Warrior

Drawing inspiration from the world of sports and the strength of female Amazonian warriors, Maria Grazia Chiuri redefines empowered femininity as something both graceful and formidable for Dior's spring-summer 2025 collection

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
ASIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL - MALAYSIA
Tatler Malaysia

ASIA'S MOST INFLUENTIAL - MALAYSIA

Meet the country's most influential individuals: 100 prominent figures who are changing the landscape in Malaysia across industries in our main categories, from business and STEM, to social impact and culture.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Innovating with Purpose
Tatler Malaysia

Innovating with Purpose

Chor Chee Hoe, co-founder of Qarbotech, talks about how carbon-based innovations are changing the face of farming and ensuring a greener, more productive future

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Grounded Vision
Tatler Malaysia

Grounded Vision

Minister of housing and local government, Nga Kor Ming shares the personal experiences and guiding principles that have shaped him, revealing the thoughtful man behind politician

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Raising Penang's Bar
Tatler Malaysia

Raising Penang's Bar

Backdoor Bodega's Koh Yung Shen is elevating Penang's bar scene with Penang Cocktail Week

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024