|
By Marina Emmanuel.
AS PENANG continues to be synonymous with high-technology gizmos shipped to the rest of the world and its famous food draws gourmets and gourmands to its shores, its creative and innovative souls are often not highlighted enough. Visitors to Malaysia's "Silicon Island", when told of the innovative entrepreneurs who live and do business on the island state, often wonder if there is something about living in an environment surrounded by water and backed by the hills, which promotes more creativity than other places.
While most of these entrepreneurs find themselves waking up to almost-daily blue skies and get to enjoy views of the water to and from work, the manner in which they operate their businesses is no different from their counterparts who may have to fight traffic, fumes and pollution en route to their places of work. Along busy Jalan Datuk Keramat in the heart of George Town, where traffic is hardly ever slow, a humble shoemaker works out of an equally unpretentious shophouse as he goes about designing footwear for some of the top shoemakers and brands around the world. Soft-spoken Derrick Wong, who was trained in Canada in the intricate techniques of shoe designing, is happy to meet people from all walks of life who keep returning for the comfort, style and impeccable service he offers. Wong and his family are no strangers to Penang's shoe-making scene. His 80-year-old father Wong Sung Choy was the shoemaker who tutored one of the world's famous shoe designers, Datuk Jimmy Choo. Derrick Wong does not divulge who his international shoe-making customers are as he is bound by non-disclosure requirements. However, a peek at his offerings in the unassuming shop is enough to impress any shoe aficionado of what is on offer: the designs and accompanying comfort speak for themselves. He keeps his prices within reach of all customers and it is why many Penang residents may actually find themselves shod in designer footwear without even knowing it. Wong is also close-mouthed about his famous clientele as he believes that all of his customers are special, although the shop has been known to open at designated times outside business hours, to accommodate certain prominent buyers who fly in to Penang and buy up his shoes by the dozens and fly home. While the Datuk Keramat shop operates as a retail outlet called Koh Sum Footwear, Wong also has a shoemaking factory in Bukit Mertajam on mainland Penang, from where his products are shipped all over the world. Penang is also home to a home-grown and high-end label called Bran et Daguet, which was established three years ago by local boy Brandon Tan. Tan is an artisan who is lucky enough to wake up to the splashing of waves in the morning from his beachfront home on the island, from where he designs couture and ready-to-wear outfits with international appeal. "I travel to Europe, especially France, often to source for fabrics and also inspiration," said Tan, whose loyal list of clients include many Penang society ladies and those who have moved overseas. Describing his pieces as both "dramatic but comfortable to wear", Tan is now looking forward to the opening of his first boutique at the seafronting "Straits Quay", a retail marina by Eastern and Oriental Property Bhd which will be operational by the end of the year. For Malaysian-born designer and artist Rebecca Duckett, home and gallery are located side by side in the Unesco heritage core zone of George Town. Besides showing her own work and those of other locally-inspired artists at the 29 China Street gallery, Duckett and husband David Wilkinson are also supporters of heritage conservation in Penang. Duckett also operates homestays out of her own merchant-restored home in Penang along with two self-contained apartments above the art gallery. Over at Pangkor island in Perak, Wilkinson and Duckett have a private home and retreat, called Tiger Rock, which is located in a jungle and comprises eight rooms spread over two houses. "The home is now rented out to guests who are looking for an old-fashioned holiday as this is very much like the life David and I enjoyed during our childhood growing up on the plantations around Malaysia," said Duckett. In addition to holiday accommodation business and being immersed in her tropical-inspired and multicultural textile designs and paintings in Penang, Duckett operates a luxury cruise and diving holiday business from home. "Tiger Blue is our traditional timber Phinisi vessel which offers sea safaris in eastern Indonesia to islands like South Sulawesi, Komodo, Sumba, Flores and Banda," she said. For Australian scientist Dr Mike Thair and his Vietnamese designer wife Le Thanh Thuy, the blue seas are what greet them each morning on their way to work from Batu Ferringi, where they live, to their soap-making and exporting business operations in Tanjung Bungah. The couple who relocated their Indochine Natural operations - production and export of bath and kitchen loofahs, essential oils and bath products - find Penang an ideal location to live, work and play. "We find the logistics support in Penang ideal for our export business, and the authorities make it easy for us to invest and live here," Thair said. ** Reproduced with permission. This article first appeared in the September 13, 2010 issue of Business Times.
 |
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
