Malaysian designer Khoon Hooi is also taking a stance on sustainable fashion by up-cycling and reusing fabrics, addressing fabric waste by repurposing fashion. The designer, who more recently unveiled a lifestyle capsule collection focusing on loungewear — aka this year’s dress code from home — chose to work with longtime friend and social entrepreneur, Deborah Henry.
Deborah is the founder of Fugeelah, a lifestyle accessory social enterprise that supports Fugee School for refugees in Malaysia. Formerly Miss Malaysia and a well-known socialite in the scene, she dedicates her time and resources to championing the rights of refugee children to equal education.
The collaboration produced a collection called Fugeelah by Khoon Hooi, ˜Leftover, Not Left Out’, which of course is made entirely from leftover fabrics from the designer’s collection over the past decade.
Deborah shares, “The textile industry has had a reputation of waste problems for years, ‘Leftover, Not Left Out’ is a step to a more sustainable approach.”
Fugeelah by Khoon Hooi, ˜Leftover, Not Left Out’ features quirky pieces like the Little C cocktail bag and Multiway Twilley. Making the collection more accessible, each price is affordably priced while also unique with different types of lining used based on how much leftover fabric is available.
The collection is also an effort to empower refugee children attending Fugee School. All proceeds from the sale of the Fugeelah by Khoon Hooi will fund the students’ IGCSE examination fees. “With this line, we not only get to up-cycle fabrics that have been sitting on shelves for years but also do our part to help empower refugee children in Malaysia,” Khoon Hooi adds.
The vibrant and quirky limited-series collection includes the Little C (cocktail bag) retailing at RM139, Big C (an adjustable crossbody bag) going for RM169 and the Multiway Twilly at RM45. Each individual piece is unique on its own — with different types of lining on each bag depending on the availability of the fabrics used, making the collection really special.
Khoon Hooi said he was looking to do something meaningful to give back to society. “That’s when it hit me – why not collaborate with my close friend, Deborah Henry? With this line, we not only get to up-cycle fabrics that have been sitting on shelves for years but also do our part to help empower refugee children in Malaysia.” said Khoon Hooi.
The Fugeelah by Khoon Hooi ‘Leftover, Not Left Out’ collection is available exclusively on Fugeelah’s website.
