This is part 2 of our posts on interesting bazaars in Malaysia. Read part 1 here.
With so many creative businesses thriving in Malaysia, it wasn’t an easy task to shortlist the brands for this post. We ventured beyond the Klang Valley and came back filled with hope for the future of creative entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
Tempatan Fest
This touring bazaar focuses on independent fashion brands and provides an avenue for upcoming local bands to perform at night. The organisers also make the effort to encourage repeat visits by giving out stickers as collectibles and customised packaging that double up as shopping bags. We soaked up the atmosphere at its recent pitstop at Malacca and spotted these gems in a sea of more than 100 beautifully decorated stalls.
Verdez Olivia
This lifestyle brand offers handmade pouches, purses, and travel accessories; creatively made with an unassuming material — cork! You can even personalise your purchase with complimentary name engraving service. Apart from catching them at various bazaars, you can also browse these stylish items whilst enjoying a cup of coffee at Shepherd Star Cafe, or on their Facebook page.
Choose a size that fits your style. Photo credit: Verdez Olivia
Million Apparel
www.facebook.com/million.apparel
Based in Johor, this street smart fashion label has a sizeable following on Facebook and Instagram. With a tagline like “Trust your own ways”, the brand stands for independence of mind and seeks to inspire others to follow their dreams in life.
A wide range of designs for sale. Photo credit: Million Apparel
27 Legacy Tie Dye
www.facebook.com/27LegacyTieDye
The traditional art of fabric tie-dye has been regaled to the realm of beach dresses and kitschy souvenirs. Recognising this, 27 Legacy Tie Dye aims to bring this craft to the attention of today’s generation through their collection of fashionable pieces.
Pulling in the crowds till nightfall. Photo credit: 27 Legacy Tiedye
MEM Watches
Have you ever wished you could turn back time? MEM Watches lets you do just that with its range of counterclockwise watches and clocks! Apart from Tempatan Fest, you can also get your wrists suited up at various stores nationwide.
His and hers sets MEM. Photo credit: @taufiqnadzri
Aer’te Clothing
www.facebook.com/AerteClothing
Keeping style simple and accessible is the name of the game for this unassuming brand. Not only do they hawk their designs at fairs and bazaars, this entrepreneurial bunch even deals with customers over whatsapp! How’s that for mobile shopping?
Busy day for the Aerte crew. Photo credit: Aerte
Mari Market
Healthy, hearty and wholesome. These are the words that came to mind when we stepped into Mari Market, a curated environment dedicated to organic produce, eco-friendly handmade goods and natural skincare products. All vendors have to go through a strict vetting process so you can be sure you’re buying only the best of what Mother Nature has to offer.
The Saponifist
Whilst its beautiful packaging caught our attention, what really impressed us was the use of high quality ingredients — at least 50% olive oil — in each bar of soap! Unlike regular mass produced soap bars, these soap bars are made using the cold process method, which maintains the moisturising qualities of glycerine. The Saponifist also stocks other skin care essentials like body and face oils.
Interesting display by The Saponifist. Photo credit: Justlife Shop
Momage Art
https://www.facebook.com/momage
Creative duo Janice Tyan and Diane Ong seek to preserve precious memories through unique art pieces. Made with vintage materials and timeless imagery, each piece is framed and fitted as a lightbox, making for a meaningful gift or home deco item.
Various artwork by Momage Art. Photo credit: Momage Art
Little Syam
https://www.facebook.com/littlesyamdesign
Little Syam is a labour of love that has managed to carve a place for itself in the burgeoning handmade movement in Malaysia. Its whimsical designs are inspired by the beauty of nature, childhood experiences and everyday moments. Creator Samsiah also hosts regular book-binding workshops to share her passion with other art and craft enthusiasts.
Beautifully made notebooks. Photo credit: Little Syam
The Alphabet Press
The art of the letterpress is more than just about “printing” alphabets on paper. Its long and laborious process requires craftsmanship, precision, and dedication. Equipped with a vintage German letterpress machine and a healthy dose of creativity, the team behind The Alphabet Press creates stationery items that bear testament to the tactile beauty of this art form.
One letter at a time. Photo credit: Justlife shop
Halolao Coffee
https://www.facebook.com/mr.laoscoffee?pnref=story
Helmed by coffee connoisseur, Alan Wong, Halolao Coffee uses sustainable coffee beans harvested from the Bolaven Plateau in Southern Laos. Herds of sheep and cattle keep the plantation fertilised naturally, eliminating the need for artificial fertilisers. Also available are freshly roasted organic green and black tea for tea lovers.
Halolao Coffee’s rustic booth. Photo credit: halolao
This concludes part 2 of our series featuring creative Malaysian brands. At Shoppertise, we aim to be a platform for passionate entrepreneurs to share their craft with a wider market, and to help small businesses grow into valuable brands. Sign up for our newsletter to get tips on how online and mobile commerce tools can work harder for you.
About Tempatan Fest
A touring festival of independent Malaysian fashion brands, featuring performances by upcoming local bands at night.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TempatanFest | Instagram: https://instagram.com/tempatanfest/
About Mari Market
Mari Market is the brainchild of Justlife Group Sdn Bhd, the first organic retail franchise in Malaysia. Since setting up shop in 1999, the group has worked hard to share their love and respect for the natural environment through various initiatives, the latest being Mari Market.
Facebook: http://www.justlifeshop.com/mari-market-become-a-vendor/
About Shoppertise
Shoppertise is a mobile commerce platform that equips small businesses with enterprise-level tools and bank-level security payment gateways. Intelligent business management is no longer exclusive to Fortune 500 companies. Our products include Shoppertise Marketplace (A curated marketplace with uniquely designed goods) and Shoppertise Pocketbook (A personal sales assistant for merchants on-the-go).
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