Local entrepreneur, writer and publisher QuaChee first came to our attention with his coffee table book, Batik Inspirations. While that publication focused on top batik designers and their creations, his latest book 50+1 Malaysia deals with something we’re all familiar with—our country and its many different facets and quirks.
Online retailer Rogue-ish is collaborating with a number of Southeast Asian artists and designers to create one-off limited edition art objects.
A retail concept founded by five friends—namely Tuck Loong, Siaw Weii, Lorna, Su and Teck Yew—Oh And Ah stands for “Orang Hutan and Arang Hitam”. It’s a name that the five designers feel reflects their design philosophy, which is all about going back to nature for inspiration.
Okay, so NZX actually stands for Niu Ze Xiu, but we don’t really know what that means, so we reckon New Zany Xanadu makes for a much better fit. NZX was launched earlier this year to become Malaysia’s largest covered boulevard (with 1800 parking spaces to accommodate) hidden in a location so hard to find, there’s a Youtube video for directions.
In the context of Malaysian fashion, Nurita puts the ‘it’ in it-girl. She beat Sienna Miller to the Edie Sedgewick trend, had a stint in Project Runway (she got excusably eliminated when the challenge was designing an NS uniform), dolls up the rich and famous by request (think along the lines of Maya Karin status), and is The Tatler’s stylist.
When you enter the atmospherically lit Sëmk store, you can’t help but notice the large, anthropomorphic mouse mascot guarding the entrance to your left. Tourists and locals alike have taken so many pictures beside this hardworking Sëmk employee that one of his arms is broken from being over handled. At least the interest he instills in passersby may have begun to cover the RM1100 cost to airfreight him.
Brands that are available exclusively at MATÉRIEL: Dr. Denim, 2OR+BYYAT, 2K by Gingham, Federation, Religion, and J. Lindberg. Justin orders one piece of each size and only reorders if it’s a bestseller, like the super-skinny Dr. Denim Jeans from Sweden that are priced between RM299 to RM399. Some of his other bestsellers are the rock n’ roll religion tops from the UK, worn by celebrities like Kate Moss, Gwen Stefani, Victoria Beckham and Kylie Minogue.
Matahari Books, the publishing house behind Danny Lim’s The Malaysian Book of The Undead, recently announced an open call for submissions for their next project, Body 2 Body, which is an anthology on alternative sexuality in Malaysia.
Bangsar bade a fond farewell to The Attic this November, in a final party for its loyal regulars. But don't corner yourself in a cupboard and cry if you loved The Attic and its cosy, hole-in-the-wall appeal because The Attic has been reincarnated! Out of Bangsar and into downtown Kuala Lumpur, mere minutes away from Asian Heritage Row, the new space is named Urbanattic.
Faris Faishal first came to KLue’s attention when we stumbled upon his store, Hujung, located at that den of iniquity BB Plaza. With his love for all things indie – from music, to the people and of course, the style - Faris carries T-shirts, bags, shoes and accessories that any hipster would be proud to wear.
Never mind that Moosh is the new addition to Bangsar Baru’s range of boutiques. New stores keep cropping up there often enough for it to seem cliché. So we’d rather word our news as, “Moosh is the latest boutique to join stores with ‘Moo’ in it,” like Moo Moo. However, the cool thing about Moosh is that its name is significant.
