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, figuring things out on his own, gradually mastering shoemaking skills.
In 1979, a fifteen-year-old girl joined the same shoe factory, sewing shoe uppers at the front while he welt shoes at the back. Her jovial personality caught his eye, and he always sought opportunities to get close to her, eventually they started dating. Even though she shifted to another shoe factory a couple of years later, their relationship was not affected, and they got married in 1984. After their wedding, she went back to work in the same factory as him, for the sake of convenience.
In the fairytale love story of Yap Wee Ming and Wong Mei Foong, there was no glass slipper, instead they make countless men’s leather shoes day in, day out. After decades of hard work, the opportunity for them to run their own business came unexpectedly. In 1991, Wong Mei Foong’s ex-employer sought them out, intending them to take over her shoe factory. After discussion, the duo decided to undertake the venture, and named their business Fullfil Marketing.
Challenges faced by the shoemaking industry became tougher in the 2010s. During the past decades, Yap Wee Ming mentored numerous fellow hometowners and apprentices, however none of them persevered in the industry. After his last employee left, only Master Yap’s lone figure remain stooping at the workbench that used to be shared by four craftsmen. Due to manpower shortage, they were unable to continue supply wholesale, and had to make new attempts, such as collaborating with others and becoming a third-party manufacturer. In 2016, they also ventured into hosting private kitchen.
Crisis turns into opportunity when the connections they built through private kitchen opened new doors in their shoemaking career. In 2017, Yap Wee Ming and Wong Mei Foong officially transformed their business model into bespoke shoemaking, creating the perfect fit for every customer. Bespoke services not only allow customers to choose their favourite styles, colours, and materials. The real test lies in making modifications to compensate for customers’ posture and gait, ensuring comfort while also look appealing and presentable.
To create a pair of shoes from scratch, neither Yap Wee Ming or Wong Mei Foong could do it without the other. He designs the pattern, she cuts the leather and sews the shoe upper, then he welts and handles all the remaining procedures. The duo’s personalities also complement each other; one is steady and reliable, while the other is outgoing and sharp, and they always work together efficiently. He focuses on shoemaking while she liaises with customers.
Embracing the mindset that “50 is still young,” the duo enthusiastically participated in artisan markets all over Malaysia. They also built exposure on social media under the brand name “The Leather Shoes”. Since their being featured in the news, customers from outstation and even abroad flocked to their workshop, and orders kept pouring in. To cater for market demand, they expanded their product range to include women’s leather shoes, handbags, wallets, keychains, and more.
From teenage years to now being over sixty, Yap Wee Ming and Wong Mei Foong have been making shoes and weathered many storms together, perfectly matching the introduction she wrote when they first participated in artisan markets: shoemaking hand-in-hand for life.
有你 UNI Production
Producer : Daniel Lim
Cinematographer : Amelia Lim / Michael Lerk
Drone : Daniel Lim
Video Editor : Michael Lerk
Copywriter : Pua Hui Wen
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