Big-fashion brands and high street names worldwide are turning their production lines to meet needs arising from the Covid-19 crisis. Some are focused on masks while for others, its protective equipment and overalls for front-liners. In Malaysia, altruistic fashion initiatives are of a smaller scale but the efforts made are no less significant.
Making initiatives to help during crisis time
The force behind Kuching’s very own award-winning songket house Tanoti, Jacqueline Fong, is one diligent person who will not sit still. When her weavers returned to their kampungs during the movement control order (MCO), she founded an initiative to answer urgent calls for personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontliners.
Using social media, Jacqueline called out for volunteers and was pleasantly surprised by the immense response. She is most thankful to all who have come forward and here are some of the unsung heroes making up their team.
Phyllis Chubita — A teacher currently conducting Google classrooms, is also sewing and distributing food to the poor in her village. As the PPE project progresses, she has also grouped 5 to 6 ladies in her neighbourhood to sew. To meet the workload, she even bought a new sewing machine last weekend.
Job Tuba and wife — They turned up at Tanoti driving a truck loaded with gas tanks and they were wondering why anyone would be supplying cooking gas when all the weavers were away. It turned out that he wanted to volunteer for sewing. Job and his wife live in Lundu and sew 600 to 800 pieces of PPE a week.
Dayang Masparyhan Narawi — She has a small beauty salon and one staff member. As the beauty salon is shut, she and her staff are now sewing PPE for the project.
David Ng — A plumber, contractor, metal worker and carpenter. He has a sewing machine at home which was rarely used before this and upon hearing about the PPE project, he decided to find out about it. David comes every day to drop off finished garments and collect new material to sew. They asked if it is his wife’s work, but he says it is his own.
Dr. Lynn Ko — A frontliner who is a dental surgeon at the general hospital. She worked with them on designs and dimensions, so that they could produce what would be most comfortable and practical for front-liners.
Ernie Poh and Justin Kho — Ernie is an autistic young adult who loves to sew. He has been producing PPE since day one. His brother-in-law, Justin, does the cutting and he will sew in the most precise manner.
Vivie and Jackie Seram — Vivie is a tailor who works from home and Jackie, her brother, is a tailor at a uniform shop. They both produce very regularly and are ready to take up any challenge.
Peggy Wong — An architect by profession, she initially volunteered to sew but progressed quickly to be the chief designer of the project. She now comes to the operations room daily to provide more designs, ideas and troubleshooting on PPE execution issues.
Other volunteers are Ranee Artisan Gallery’s Rosemary Wong, Hearts Treasure, Gin and Jacqie, Jackie Ng and Wynka.
All of the products of the research and efforts by Jacqueline’s team in the form of patterns, layouts and instructions for PPE are publicly accessible online at bit.ly/KuchingPPE, for anyone willing to help in the fight against Covid-19.
Anna Sue is an award-winning fashion designer in Sarawak. According to her, “I always wanted to help so when I first saw a video of KL hospital staff having to sew the PPE themselves, it prompted me to help. When fashion house Wynka’s Karen approached me, I decided to join her team of local designers which also includes Goldwyn, Ben Nazry, Ben Atelier, Hafis dressmaker and a few other tailors and stay-at-home moms. This is one way that we can help the community since we have the skills and time.”
Rasta Rashid, a batik fashion designer based in Kuala Lumpur said that, “As the coronavirus rages through the world, affecting a lot of businesses, big and small, I decided that it would be a good time to practise sustainability and eco recycling, starting with all the excess fabric materials in my production office. Since March 16, Batek by Rasta Rashid has been utilising all our spare fabric pile to produce Batik three-ply layer masks. To date, we have sewn and supplied over 3,000 reusable and washable face masks.
Batek three-ply masks by Rasta Rashid. 
Batek three-ply masks by Rasta Rashid.
The income generated from this venture has enabled my company to donate 50 percent of the proceeds to single moms and needy families whose sole breadwinner has lost his or her job during this trying time. This initiative is 100 percent our own effort and we have not sought a penny from external donations or stimulus loans. We at Batek by Rasta Rashid would like to say a heartfelt thanks to all our customers and friends for purchasing the masks and supporting a very good cause. Please continue to support us so that we can help others in need.”
Bill Keith, a Kuala Lumpur designer notable for his elegant cheongsams, kebayas and exquisite ballgowns, was called upon by Saito University College to lead a team of volunteers to sew PPE robes for an initiative started by a doctor at a hospital.
At Saito Faculty of Fashion headed by Sher Sharifah Mazwani, Bill finds an ideal workshop where there are bigger tables and many machines to work with. However, multiple work stations at different venues have to be approved by the hospital and they also have to adhere to strict rules and precautions.
Malaysia’s renowned fashion designer Bill Keith cuts out the pattern. 
Bill Keith with his team of volunteers at Saito Faculty of Fashion.
According to him, more volunteers of various backgrounds and ages are coming together to help cut, sew, pin, trim and fold. He admits that he is quite fussy on finishing which has to be clean, neat and tidy. Once the assembly line was set up, production has been running smoothly. The volunteers which include house wives, company directors and insurance agents are seriously helping out and being productive whilst enjoying each other’s company.
“We have Malay, Chinese and Indian volunteers giving the feeling of 1Malaysia. Regardless of colour, race or religion, we are all here together to fight the same battle. This shows how much we care as one for the love of our Malaysia”, says Bill Keith.
