Original field stories about Malaysian craftspeople, family businesses, workshops, and traditional skills that continue across generations.
In 1974, a twelve-year-old boy from Titi, Negeri Sembilan was recruited by a shoe factory owner, and went to work in Salak South, Kuala Lumpur. He started out as an apprentice, doing odd jobs and running errands for the veteran shoemakers. His honest and unpretentious personality won the favour of one who became his mentor and took him under their wing. He learned through observation,...
Read full story: Bespoke Shoemaking in Salak South | The Leather Shoes
Chaw Kok Hoong is one of the few home-based handmade ladies leather shoe manufacturers still operating at Kampung Baru Seri Kembangan. His family has been living in Serdang since its founding, with each generation engaging in a different livelihood. His great-grandfather arrived in Serdang from China to mine tin; his grandparents planted rubber; his uncle used to work in Singapore, but returned to his hometown...
Read full story: Ladies Leather Shoes in Kampung Baru Seri Kembangan
Weighing scales are indispensable tools in daily life. From wooden steelyard balance in ancient times, spring scales invented in the 17th century, to electronic scales which have become common since the 20th century, accurate weight measurement is essential for commerce. While ancient units of measurement varied widely, nowadays, there are internationally standardized units such as the gram, kilogram, and metric ton. As long as there...
