emmagem.com , met up with the Penny Yuen recently and over a cup of coffee ,got to know this talented graphic designer and “eco- warrior alter ego”. Well, Penny would not be your ideal image of a “warrior , because she is very petite. But whoever said that heroism is measured by one’s physical size obviously forget, that it is the fighting spirit that counts!

Known for her alter ego eco warrior ,Pokok ,a soft toy, http://www.ecowarriorpokok.blogspot.com/, Penny takes on the role of story teller, talking and educating people about Pokok’s cause in saving the environment.

Pokok, Sherlock Holmes of a teddy bear , started his “career” by investigating  the harm done to turtles due to pollution and use of plastic bags after hearing about their plight from Mr Loh, Director of Malaysian Nature’s Society. The first investigation into the turtle family’s desctruction was told with the unfinished turtles’ bodies in various states of  decomposition at The Recylist’s “No Plastic Concert” in July 2008. Penny told of Pokok’s anger againts humans and his criminal investigation into their  role in the destruction of the environment! She told the story with Pokok at the makeshift graveyard for the turtles with polystyrene lunch boxes as coffins!!(see pix above). Her funniest moment was when ‘the green family ” knelt  to pay their respects . (more…)

What is the effect when you put two bright and talented 30somethings together…well I think it is safe to say …blinding brilliance.
Diminutive in size but power packed with their conviction about conserving Planet Earth , these two young artists,already accomplished in their own chosen fields; one is a celebrated architect (read all about her in our feature article, Lisa Foo-MultiFaceted Designer) and the other is an Agriculture graduate turned landscape designer , are both adamant protectors of Mother Earth!

School mates who re-united after 11 years of separation, find themselves coursing the same path in conservation through artistic pursuit ; teams up to illuminate the world and enlighten everyone on simple ways one can recycle and do their part in reducing their footprint of destruction on this earth. They are so committed about sustainability that they will not hesistate to question should they think something is not aligned in the name of conservation. They would rather support and comfort each other, blisters and all, rather than use any form of electrical or mechanisation in their efforts to cut up any of their bottles in their artworks all because they are wiling to take the first step to show us the path towards conservation.

Their fashion style:
On Su Sim, knitted top, printed floral cotton skirt, striped polyster carry bag and shoes all from Bangkok .
On Lisa - green dress and bangles from Bangkok , handbag made from recycle material from the USA, green glass earrings made from recycled wine bottle from Australia, platforms from Vincci.

There’s this group of personal trainers and fitness instructors out there who truly live their lives according to the fitness principal that they believe in. At getactive ,three young personal trainers headed by the torpedo fit Chloe Lai, 32 years old, do just that. They are health enthusiasts who believe in daily work outs (they have a strict fitness regime for themselves) , they are into triathlons and capoiera. Chloe is also a Les Mills RPM instructor and all personal trainers at getactive are ACE (American Council of Exercise) accredited.

getactive was started by Chloe some time last year , a trained and certified personal trainer with the American Council of Exercise, she used to train at commercial gyms and had always entertained the idea of someday being a mobile gym instructor. But the idea somehow evolved and she started a small gym of her own in Damansara Perdana for a few months and early this year moved to Solaris in Mont Kiara. Situated just across from Cold Storage in a three storey shoplot which they occupy two , it is lean and efficient. GetActive only has two classes for pilates and yoga on thursdays and saturdays, the rest of the time it is strictly focused on personal training.

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Debbie Lee, restauranteur, gym instructor and studio owner, 37 years old
Fashion philosophy - practical , quality, mix and match friendly pieces
She has on:
Attire :
Tank top from Reject Shop
Sports bra- Nike
Gym pants from Lulu Lemon (”a friend bought for me from Canada, really great brand, very slimming”
Feet- flip flops
Accessories:
Never leaves home without her PDA, her trustee laptop safely encased in a pretty floral Gin&Jacqie PC cover all packed inside the Gin&and Jacqie organiser bag , a brand she absolutely adores!
Minimal accessories safe for diamond studs on her ears, her wedding band and engagement ring but she is coveting a right hand ring, something sumptuous and colourful as a personal statement piece.
Watch- a chunky men IWC watch ( the only chunky thing she will tolerate!)
Handbag- leather bag bought in England sometime back, has it in two colours red and green. Loves it because she can put in her laptop easy and she can chuck everything else inside!

Last but not least: a bright sincere smile and a positive outlook

emmagem caught up with Debbra or Debbie recently over breakfast at her Jalan Bangkung ,Fit For Two cafe and studio. It has been almost a year and half since emmagem last spoke and loads has happened since then. Debbra co- owner of Bijoux Chain of restaurants which includes the modern european restaurant Bijou for the more sophisticated diner albeit in a “relax and unpretentious setting” , a description oft used to describe its ambience;there is also Bisou ( cafe and diner at Heritage Row) and Bianco (a quaint eatery that boasts of great Italian pastas with a Mediterranean feel at Damansara Perdana). Then there is Fit For Two , Debbie’s first foray into the food business that she started almost 6 years ago .Here is where we see the combination of Debbie’s two passions, fitness (she is a qualified fitness instructor) and cooking. She is an excellent cook who decided to share her recipes and serve them exactly as she likes it to the customers of Fit For Two , who incidentally are usually pregnant mums and mothers because Fit For Two is a fitball , yoga and pilates studio for mother and child, hence the name Fit For Two. (more…)

Recently back from France after a five year French language government scholarship, Lins, as he is fondly known among his friends, is currently lecturing French at a local institution. emmagem.com caught up with him to see how this francophile is coping with his transition into his Malaysian-ism.

Lins, an old friend  was emmagem’s French “correspondent’ for  a brief while . A multi talented man, he is also a self taught artist who was prolific in the late 1990’s and early 2000s, albeit part-time.  His main theme then was Chinese tradition which saw him doing collages from incense paper  amongst others and his very popular series was the chinese blue and white rice bowl in acryllic. This gentleman is also quite the culinary expert, cooking up a storm for friends at his then studio whenever possible, a place which he had to give up when he went abroad. (more…)

Fabian Tan- architect and emerging artist, age 34 years old, standing beside his art pieces, currently exhibited at Petronas Gallery

Found him - at the opening of the art exhibition - “Working Title “ - by emerging artists

He has on:
shirt- Key Ng cotton shirt
jeans - only Lee will do
watch -from Fossil - arkitetk range (great for picking up girls , in the past)
funky shoes -from Xpress Polo
glasses - from Titus
beads - from a recent trip to Cambodia

His style philosophy- always support local designers if possible and the design or artistic element is more important than the brand ….

His cheeky dimpled grin belies the seriousness of this young architect and newly discovered artist. His corner art was discovered by curator, Zabas, of the current exhibition at Petronas Gallery “working title – by 12 emerging artists” . And would you believe it, he was discovered at the previous Art for Grabs event which was held sometime in the month of May this year.

I caught up with Fabian, because I seriously like his work and of course emmagem.com loves to promote all things and especially talents that are Malaysian. I first saw his works at the Art For Grabs event and bought a piece for myself entitled ROT-ATE.
So when I got wind that he would be among twelve exhibiting emerging artists, I inveigled an invitation to attend the opening to celebrate with him and his girlfriend, his “emergence”. (more…)

THEN

NOW

Over the Merdeka weekend, I got to check out my friend Sook Yee’s collection of vintage clothes and boy, was I ever glad I did. Sook Yee has collected over the years , clothes that are worth many a designer’s gem of current creations. Some pieces have been with her over for 30 years and still in prime condition (couldn’t resist that). She showed me her never been worn boiler jumpsuit that has so many flaps and buttons one can get lost trying to wear it. Structured mustard denim jacket with detachable sleeves, a straight cut dress with zipper on the shoulders that would make Marni and Marc Jacobs Autumn Winter envious! (more…)

Emmagem has always been about the 18 to 24 year olds glampots, but what about the older women and men? This segment is to answer a request from a reader to show the styles for the mid 30′ s and above …

Emmagem will be in search of some fashionable people that come really packed in loads of style and glam, after all they have the advantage of age and yes, vintage is very in at the moment and yes, women especially are like wine, we are smoother and better in quality as we age. There has been a definite revival of vintage in respect of women in their prime from mid thirties to mid forties , who are really living it up and enjoying and loving themselves very much. Look at the recent revival of models like (Vogue did a photoshoot of them togetheras sort of a 20 year anniversary of sorts) Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, these were supermodels in the 1980’s who wouldn’t rise from their beds for anything less than USD10k a day. Then look again at the top Asian faces like Maggie Cheung , Carina Lau and Michelle Reis, late thirties early forties , but they still got that IT factor.

KL in the Prime is about youthfulness and certain depth of maturity that can only come with age and having lived through the ages and all the experiences that came along with it. They embraced the spiciness of life with exuberance and a live and let live attitude. So, some of them may be your mother’s or father’s age, but never underestimate that they can probably give you a good run for your money because style is not defined by age … and let them be inspirations to the young…

Hey , I don’t know about you , but I wanna be as fit and wealthy, sorry I mean healthy as Madonna when I turn fifty , so make it sooner rather later yeah!!

Our first KL in the Prime feature is Mohnee, visual merchandiser and business owner…age 43, mother of two young boys . She is in the creative business therefore her work outfit shows that part of her. Functional yet fashionable…

She has on Dorothy Perkins jeans and beaded bodice satin camisole. Her watch is Ball and Ross. Her platform wedges, really love those, are from Charles and Keith. Picture shot at Italiannies , The Gardens at Midvalley.

Do you know anyone who is also inspirational to you and would like to share with us??

You’ve all seen the pictures of the EMMA House, well now meet the lady who designed it.

Considering the amount of recognition in the local architecture circle of “that concrete box house” in Bukit Damansara and being published in several international magazines like Elle Decoration Hong Kong, Architectural Digest Italy, Residence Jubilee Issue Amsterdam and Bolig Exclusive Denmark, means the diminutive and unassuming Lisa Foo is a giant of achievements. Just grazing her third decade, she has built her first house (as opposed to a firm’s) whence most architects may never see such a completion even after years in the business and already been published by her own accolades rather than of a firm’s, professionally this is no small feat.

She shops mostly overseas, in the children’s department, (did I not say diminutive), okay , maybe during her school days on a student budget but still, I am making a point that one should not be fooled because there is nothing tiny about her outlook and approach in life. I don’t want to use the word ambitious because I found what compels this person is not material wealth nor fame , but I would rather use the word “grandiose” because here is a person who believes in herself and her abilities and makes her vision come through without pomposity or imposition. She persuades, cajoles and perseveres especially when others tells her it is impossible until she gets the results she wants. She doesn’t believe in being anti-establishment as most creative individuals are wont to be because she believes people need support to get things done. She also believes in speaking up, doing sufficient research and showing people the reason to do something.

She wants to “save” the world, she is fluid about the future, because she is open to possibilities. She creates and pushes the envelope and unwittingly make her mark, she gives her all, “that concrete box house” was remarked upon by a senior architect “… designed as if it was the last work she would do…”), and Lisa admits, that is how she usually approaches things she is passionate about. In the case of EMMA House, she felt she had nothing to lose and she went all out. Amongst her many challenges, she persuaded a steel contractor to ** construct a steel staircase from a whole piece of steel, even though many might have reservation on the buildability. By constantly stretching her own imagination and changing the mind set of others, she usually takes others to a different level of achievement. The steel guy decided to take up the challenge and a staircase was created.

**Lisa …. The steel staircase was designed as a single sculptural piece in the living area and is made out of 2 tons of flat steel plate which was rolled to create a rounded bottom like a chute. Well, it is not the normal staircase you see in the house and hence, I had to hunt for the right sub-contractor who’s willing to construct it. I managed to find a steel contractor who’s also passionate about his work and willing to take on this challenge even though they have never seen or done anything like it in Malaysia.

Anything is possible, if there’s a will and you believe in it for the right reason….” (more…)

Papierblog, fashionweek editor Ali Manning fell in love with his designs at the Singapore Fashion Week in December 2006, quote? “the designer we should all look out for?” His Spring Summer 2007 line is raved in all the fashion blogs in the USA. Yep, sure sounds like the fashion world has just had a wake up call. Well, wakey wakey?- Khoon Hooi is set to take the world by storm. His line “Khoon Hooi” is currently represented in United Kingdom, Taiwan, Australia, Kuwait and United States (stores in Beverly Hills, Texas and New York).

Emmagem checked out this local boy to find out what is like for him to be a success overseas and how did he managed to do it! This is by no means an easy feat, most local designers who are based in Malaysia find it extremely difficult to gain a foothold in the export market save for a few brands like Bernard Chandran and Zang Toi. But like well known Malaysian phenomenon, Zang Toi, and other international successes, their careers actually started overseas before bringing it back to Malaysia.

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Amidst the frenzy of Siti Nurhaliza’s wedding, a local designer was preparing to move into his new boutique. Calvin Thoo’s boutique is now located at Prestige Floor, Lot 10, Jalan Bukit Bintang as befitting his prestigious clientele. Calvin can rightfully boast as a designer for the stars and calls among his regulars, Anita Sarawak or Kak Nita as he fondly calls her. Other stars include Erra Fazira, Sheila Majid, Fasha Sanda, Nurul of Nurul and Ajai, Adibah Noor, Lisdawaty, Nita and well even Siti Nurhaliza herself is a client, and that is just to name a few! Star struck yet?

Anyway, emmagem caught up with Calvin for a quick chat despite his busy schedule. We asked Calvin how he managed to build a name among the stars who are household names in Malaysia.

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The petite Donna, though diminutive in size and has recently given birth to a bouncing baby boy, emmagem discovered this gentle lady to be gigantic in talent and big on fashion philosophy. You would not expect this soft spoken lady to be dressing the power women of today. But that is whom she designs for. She grimaces that a lot of time whenever her customers walk in and would see the filmy materials and described her clothes as feminine and that makes her cringe.

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Peter Lum is a renowned Malaysian stylist. He is a veteran in the fashion industry and his work include styling celebrities like Sharifah Aini, Camelia and recently, the contestants from Malaysian Idol 2. emmagem caught up with him recently and got his professional views as well as hot fashion tips on fashion in Malaysia.

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