From Heritage to Livelihood: The Business of Craft

A conversation on sustaining creativity, heritage, and craftsmanship in today’s evolving creative economy.

Join renowned creatives and artisans as they share their journeys in transforming traditional practices and artistic passion into meaningful and sustainable livelihoods. From fashion and textile arts to contemporary craft and design, this panel explores the realities of building value, relevance, and longevity within the creative industry.

Featuring:

• Melinda Looi – Fashion Designer

• Yann – Artist & Founder of Indigo Dye Room

• Salini Idris – Designer & Founder of Paulini Pewter

Moderated by Lina Tan

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About Melinda Looi

Melinda Looi is one of the most prominent fashion designers in Malaysia, known for her avant-garde gothic creations – each ‘piece of art’ borrowing from the past yet ahead of its time. The multiple award-winning designer has showcased her creations globally, covering fashion capitals London, Paris, New York, Milan, Tokyo, Monte Carlo, Taipei, Jakarta, Sydney, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, etc. Born to an illustrious tailor, fashion is part of Melinda’s DNA. She won the Malaysia Young Designer Award in 1995, following which she studied at the La Salle School of Fashion in Montreal, Canada, on scholarship. She then ventured into costume design, eventually finding her metier in haute couture and pret-a-porter. Today, Melinda Looi designs, produces and distributes outfits under three distinct brands: Melinda Looi Couture, Melinda Looi ready-to-wear, and Mell. The brands are sold in her own retail boutique and department stores in Malaysia. Her unique ability to lend vintage looks a contemporary interpretation has won her a global clientele that includes celebrities from the US, Middle East, South Africa, China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and, of course, Malaysia.

About Salini Idris

Salini Idris, fondly known as Lini, is a Malaysian artisan and entrepreneur originally from Sungai Siput, Perak. Formerly from a marketing and corporate background, she made a bold career transition into metal craftsmanship despite having no formal training in metalsmithing. Her passion for Peranakan heritage and antique jewellery began after inheriting precious family heirlooms from her late grandmother, inspiring her to create contemporary wearable designs rooted in tradition.

As co-founder of Paulini Pewter, Lini is deeply committed to preserving traditional Malaysian pewter artistry in the face of modernisation and digitalisation. More than just a designer, she is a passionate advocate for cultural craftsmanship and heritage preservation. Over the years, she has represented Malaysia internationally through craft exhibitions and tourism events with Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, including participation in the prestigious World Craft Council event in Hangzhou, China in 2008. Today, Paulini Pewter continues to thrive as a cottage industry brand for over 20 years, inspiring younger generations to appreciate and continue traditional craft practices.

About Yann

Kam Woei Yann, known as Yann, is a Malaysian textile, visual, and installation artist inspired by Peranakan motifs and Asian textile traditions. Working with natural indigo and shibori, she transforms repurposed fabrics into tactile installations that explore memory, place, and identity through textile-based narratives.

About Lina Tan

Lina Tan is a Malaysian creative producer, social entrepreneur, and advocate for arts, culture, and community-driven initiatives. She is the founder of 3R Media and Temu House, where she develops programmes and creative platforms that empower women, youth, creatives, and marginalised communities through storytelling, public engagement, and the arts. She also plays an active role at Red Communications, contributing to creative strategy, branding, content development, and culturally driven campaigns across media, communications, and entertainment.

Passionate about preserving Malaysian heritage while making it relevant to contemporary audiences, Lina continues to champion meaningful collaborations between traditional artisans and contemporary creatives. Through initiatives such as the Arts Heritage Artists (AHA) Programme and Inspired by Tekat, she hopes to create greater appreciation for local craftsmanship, cultural dialogue, and sustainable creative communities.

Date: 16th May, Saturday

Time: 3:00pm - 4:30pm

Price: RM10 per person (refreshments included)

Book your spot here: https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/6022-from-heritage-to-livelihood-the-business-of-craft/

Note: We have a no refund policy