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Community
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Stories of Vendors
Perhaps it is her gentle smile, or maybe it is that strength that radiates from her eyes, that makes Parida Mokhsin someone you would want to know. With her quiet humour and forever optimistic outlook of life, she has managed to successfully be a mother, wife, home maker and crafts person all at once. Lets not forget the beautiful, colorful and hip bags which hit your senses as you enter her work room. Sequins blind you while stripes, batiks and florals are accentuated with lace and ribbon to make bags which are simple and elegant. 'I try to show off the beauty of the fabric by making them into simple bags," says this forty six year old mother of two teenage boys. And this is very true. She is known amongst her friends and family for making fun bags, each one of a kind, using gorgeous, exclusive and high quality material. The designs are only repeated if a customer asks for it, and as such they are meant for people who want individuality. The bags are designed to be hand held and to be seen.
So how did she get into this craft? Well, in years gone by, Parida had a relatively successful corporate career. She developed a neuro muscular disorder and decided to leave her career to spend more time with her husband and children. In her spare time, she played around with the fabrics she had collected. Sewing became a part of her therapy. The designing stimulated her mind while the actual sewing itself exercised her hands, fingers and feet. 'It started with my niece. I made her a bag and her friends went WOW, and I slowly started selling through them. The bags became a hit!' she stated. 'You must remember that I started with a borrowed, twenty- five year old sewing machine. This broke down and, when my husband bought me my present machine 3 years ago, I felt duty bound to make the business a success."
The other thing that amazes is the names that Parida gives each bag. 'Each name given to a range of bags is reflective of the fabric they are made of. Some are old English looking, and so they have names like Lily Beth and Portia,' she quips without batting an eyelid. 'and don't be surprised if you see a Saloma being carried around'. The Saloma is made from a batik sarong and is sequined brightly in red, purple and green, an image popularized by the glamorous Malaysian singer of the sixties. A tartan bag made by marrying two different tartan fabrics is mischievously called the Edinburgh Fling.
Sewing has always been part of Parida's life. Although she was raised urban, she takes after her mother who sewed all the family's clothing needs. 'Mum loved her fabrics and believed, like all typical Malay mums, that one had to learn to sew one's own baju kurung. That's how it started,' said Parida. At six or seven years of age she used to watch her mother at the sewing machine and later sneak in to use the machine herself.
Her immediate plans are to set up an on-line shop and a website specifically for PEA bags. Parida
will once again be opening shop in the November market. Do give her
stall a visit.
__________________________________ Written
Ambiga Devy |
Forget
about your fake Pradas!
Parida's
bags usually come in a series of 3 to 4 colors. They are normally reversible
and often have internal hiding places for your valuables, many with
zippers for added safety, making them as utilitarian as they are beautiful.
And
what a success! She belonged to a craft group here in Penang and through
them, was soon selling her bags faster than she could make them. 'The
fabrics create the designs. I look at the fabric and my priority is
to show off its beauty. Very often the designs are vintage in nature.'
And
why PEA bags for a brand name? 'Well, everybody has a bag of peas in
their freezer, don't you think?' is her answer. Actually she felt that
it was very important to have a logo. She owns up to having only limited
computer graphic skills, just enough to come up with the square and
a loop which makes up her label.
And
what does the future hold for this enterprising young woman? A delighted
Parida says, 'The market has given me much exposure. After the first,
I received an order to make 50 batik bags! I now realize that I might
just have to expand!'