“A dreamer is who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.”
Oscar Wilde
Whenever I hear or see the word dream, my first thought would be the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Now Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech centered around the fight for equality and to break the horrid shackles of racism during one of America’s darkest periods. An iconic assertion of which was giftedly engrained into the minds of the past, present, and hopefully future generations. Uniquely… if we were to take the phrase I have a dream just as is, it speaks for all and literally holds its definition in itself. You have the ability to dream, have a dream, and manifest your dreams into the reality you wish to inhabit. Who is to stop you from saying, “I have a dream” am I right?
The thought of I have a dream became more potent recently after I met a few amazing human beings who brought theirs into fruition. Max Kong, Esther Liew, Chermane Ten, and Shawn Wah. These three powerhouse ladies together with an absolute highflyer of a gentleman came together to collaborate in creating the first one stop shop BeSpoke gallery in Malaysia called MXIW. Their mission is to cater you from head to toe in the finest quality of custom made goods. I had the privilege of meeting these exquisite individuals through the invitation of my mother’s friend, Douglas, who so happens to be the husband of shoe designer Max Kong. The quaint little store is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur with just a minute’s walk to Malaysia’s ever symbolic Twin Towers. Talk about grandeur of all grandeurs, being in the heart of Malaysia’s capital and serving the crème de la crème of haute couture, with a splash of swanky accessories to complete your fashion trifecta. What’s not to like of this BeSpoke gallery?
As my mother and I made our rounds around the store, we were able to spark a chat with Esther Liew, the founder of Iconic Lab and partner of MXIW. Let me tell you, this lady is the definition of grit and daringness. Why do I say that? She has a spunk in her step with a whole lot of heart. When we look at a pair of glasses we think it’s a necessity for one to function on a daily basis. Some may consider it a nuisance and its occasionally known as a fashion disaster. For Esther, it is the total opposite. She has been in the optometry industry for 17 years and has used her abilities to transform what many believe to be an unfavorable look, into modern fashion regalia. A homage to the classics with a splash of steampunk, Esther’s refined taste of eyewear design brings major heat to the fashion game. Not only is she making a fashion statement, she is also going down the route of waste to wealth. The materials she uses to create her products are from waste materials. Her stance on sustainability creates a movement to reduce waste products in our current environment. From what she has accomplished so far, I have to say, she is an absolute powerhouse who has made a name for herself. Take notes friends, this is the perfect example of owning and honing your art to push forward in pursuing your dream.
Along the way of the event, we finally reached the ribbon cutting ceremony to officially launch their MXIW BeSpoke gallery. Before snipping the ribbon, the creators and owners were given a moment to say a few words. This is where we hear from shoe designer, and the anchor of MXIW, Max Kong speak a little of her journey in creating a name for herself. With her infectious and bubbly demeanor, Max gives us her humbling origin story of craftmanship and what it is to be a sole starter in the footwear fashion industry. We all know the fashion industry is a lucrative arena with unexpected outcomes. Its uncharted waters even for the experienced, and so for Max to be where she is today shows what persevering for your dreams is all about. Her career pathway has taken her to places, many could never imagine. From a regional chief manager designer for MCM Footwear to a senior brand marketing & merchandising planning strategist for Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Giuseppe Zanotti, and an advisor for brands like Bally, Versace, Hugo Boss, and Ralph Lauren, Max has made a mark for herself in the footwear fashion industry in Asia. It did not come easy for her as her success story was not born overnight. She has worked countless hours and years to be where she is today. Max knows the grit needed to achieve her dreams and so she has decided that what better way to share her achievements other than gifting her knowledge of footwear designing. Max has taken many aspiring and upcoming designers in Asia under her wing in hopes to produce more local designers to take helm of the footwear fashion industry. Do I need to say more of this dynamo of an individual? And with her motivational speech, ribbon cutting ceremony, and an interactive lion dance performance, MXIW officially opened its business to the public.
As the saying goes, “the world is your oyster.” We have what it takes to have a dream and pursue it. There is no limit or hindrance to achieve it unless you put the thought of negativity as your barrier. What Max, Esther, Chermane, and Shawn have done, shows it is possible to. Granted, life occasionally throws its curveballs, but it should not extinguish the fire within you in keeping your dream alive. It is okay to have a dream, and it is completely normal to keep dreaming. Sometimes we need that little fire from it to maybe one day push us to take that leap of faith in pursuing it. I walked into this launch with the thought of just building my network. Instead, I walked out of there with more motivation to keep pursuing what I have been doing, and dreaming for it to become an even bigger project for the future to come. Stay solid friends and thank you for reading this far. Perhaps this one article might just ignite that dream of yours you left on the backburner.
World Footprint 