CRAFTING A LEGACY

MELINDA LOOI sees her artistic legacy lives on through her daughter MAYA LUEBBERT, who has inherited her skills and love for art. As this year sees the prolific designer and budding artist presenting a collection born from their collaborative effort, Florey D Mikil sits down (cross-legged on the floor, no less) with the creative duo to talk more about fashion design, local craftsmanship and almost appearing on Netflix.

The mother-daughter pair is hard at work. Serious and focused, they strike pose after pose in tandem. A brief break in the photoshoot; Melinda Looi glances down to check on her daughter, 15-year-old Maya. The teenager reciprocates the look. Seizing the chance, Melinda pulls a face, instantly putting a grin on Maya's. The photoshoot resumes, each immediately puts her game face back on.

Being the more experienced of the two, Melinda remains in proximity during Maya's solo shoots. The designer calls out instructions and suggestions, peppered with encouraging words, and occasionally she whips out her Galaxy Fold to snap a few shots. "I like taking photos of my children." She beams, adding, "I can't wait to 'expose' these on their wedding days." The 50-year-old refers to the practice of playing slideshows of the bride's and groom's photos-usually from childhood to the eventual matrimony - at wedding receptions. With the amount of pictures she gleefully captures, Melinda undoubtedly has a treasure trove of them to share at her children's future weddings.

Those probably won't be anytime soon, however, as her eldest child Max is only turning 18 this year. The younger ones, Mika and Myla, definitely have longer ways to go as they are only aged 11 and 8, respectively.

Seeing that Maya is more comfortable in front of the camera now, Melinda ventures off the set. The doting mother has no reason to worry, as Maya is no stranger to working the cameras. The budding artist and her siblings practically grew up in front of them, used to being photographed with their famous mother or her works.