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Glam Halal | March-April . 2022
BY FATIHAH MANAF
From oil and gas to fashion Shawlpublika co-founder Nur Hidayu Zorkafli proves her love for fashion is worth it
WHO WOULD have thought that what started as mere love for baju kurung saree would turn Nur Hidayu Zorkafli into co-founding a wellestablished fashion house — Shawlpublika .
Together with her husband , Iskandar A . Suffian , she manages the company and consistently caters to the fashion needs of Muslim women in Malaysia , Brunei and Singapore .
Hidayu , who had previously worked in the oil and gas sector , took the risk of setting up the company in 2014 despite the lucrative salary she was earning then . Even though some people were against the decision , she was determined to prove her bold move would be worth it . As a result , Shawlpublika is now known nationwide for its high-quality and stylish clothes .
“ Shawlpublika has been in the industry for six years , but it was three years at our Setia Alam HQ . We produce 100 per cent women ’ s apparel , but now we ’ re exploring men ’ s apparel and scarves ,” said Hidayu during the Halal @ Selangor programme , where media
Before Shawlpublika , I worked in Petronas KLCC . I loved to wear baju kurung saree . Every Friday , I went to work wearing a baju kurung saree . So , whenever I got on the LRT , people would ask where I bought my clothes , and I could see the demand from there .” — Nur Hidayu Zorkafli
was brought to visit the Shawlpublika HQ .
“ We ’ re based in Setia Alam . Since the movement control order ( MCO ), we have closed all of our boutiques and converted them into warehouses . So now , we ’ re operating 100 per cent online .”
Shawlpublika HQ is a three-storey building with most of its day-to-day operations of packing and receiving customer orders conducted on the ground floor . The floor is filled with stacks of beautiful well-decorated boxes that come together with customer orders , nicely arranged on the storage racks .
Those who visit the Shawlpublika HQ may be intrigued with the arrangement as they give the ground floor of the building the boutique-warehouse-office vibes all in one place .
Shawlpublika stylish collections
Hidayu shared that Shawlpublika had many collections . Before the MCO , the brand did not produce scarves as they focused more on apparel . However , since the MCO , Shawlpublika decided to change its business niche . From catering to the middle class and above , it now caters for all categories and has started producing scarves .
“ We ’ re divided into two : Shawlpublika and SP Casual . For Shawlpublika , we will introduce two new collections every month . For SP Casual , almost every week , we will have new designs ,” said Hidayu .
When asked about the preparation for Eid collections , Hidayu said : “ For Eid , it would be a megaproject . So , by December , we would have finished with the designs .
“ If for monthly designs , it will be just one month before the release . The preparation for megaprojects will take longer . That ’ s why we need outsourced tailors . It ’ s my in-house designer and I who design the pieces . Even for textiles , we have our designer .”
How it started for Shawlpublika
Hidayu shared how she first got the idea to set up the business . Pioneering the baju kurung saree in Malaysia , she said the inspiration came from her love for that type of clothes .
“ Before Shawlpublika , I worked in Petronas KLCC . I loved to wear baju kurung saree . Every Friday , I went to work wearing a baju kurung saree . So , whenever I got on the LRT , people would ask where I bought my clothes , and I could see the demand from there ,” stated Hidayu .
She then thought it would be better for her to start selling the clothes instead of just helping people buy them .
“ Then , I started selling them on a small scale . That ’ s how Shawlpublika happened .
Nur Hidayu and her husband , Iskandar A . Suffian .