my Nya: the Nya in manekNya

As you may know, "Manek" means beads, and "Nya" means mother in the Baba language. It is a combination of the two words to remember our beloved grandmother, who was like our mother and took care of us, acting like a true Peranakan her whole life. The name represents the traditional and cultural heritage of Peranakan beaded shoes. We wanted to carry on her legacy and the values she instilled in us through our brand and the work we do.

Our grandmother has always taken care of us since we were young because both of our parents were working. Her house was the place that we would go to after school - we ate, bathed, napped, and played there. We grew up modestly; we had more than enough food to eat, went to tuition classes, and occasionally went on holidays. But if I were to think back, she lived quite frugally (but not necessarily in poverty), but it was enough for us.

"As we grew older, we realized that the Peranakan culture is a dying form of art. It seems to be unsexy, unappealing, and unrelatable, especially to the younger generation. We want to change that."

We started manekNya to pay homage to our Peranakan heritage and to preserve the traditional art of Peranakan beaded shoes. We also wanted to create a platform that empowers underrepresented communities by providing them with training, support, and employment opportunities through the art of beaded embroidery. We believe that everyone should have access to the tools and resources needed to improve their livelihoods and achieve financial independence. At manekNya, we strive to make a positive impact on both the individuals we work with and the planet we live on through our commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

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Art in the modern days seems to be losing its traditional roots, and the Peranakan culture is no exception. We recognized the need to preserve and revive this art form, which is why we started manekNya. We want to create fashionable, modern, comfortable, and relatable Peranakan beaded shoes, we aim to make this traditional art form more appealing to the younger generation and keep it alive for future generations to enjoy.

It was only when I started to learn more about the Peranakan culture and its art forms that I realized the value and importance of preserving this traditional craft. The intricate and delicate beadwork is a true form of art and requires a great deal of skill and patience to create. The high cost of the beaded shoes is a reflection of the time and effort put into each piece. It is not just a fashion item, it is a piece of cultural heritage.

With the rising cost of living, many skilled artisans are struggling to make a living. We wanted to change that by creating a platform that would provide training, support, and employment opportunities for these artisans through the production of Peranakan beaded shoes. This is the inspiration behind manekNya - to preserve our culture and empower communities through sustainable and ethical fashion.

Coming from a social enterprise background, I believe in creating a sustainable ecosystem. While we may not be able to help everyone, we can strive to make a positive impact.

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Throughout our journey, customers can expect to see a focus on sustainability and ethical practices throughout the production process. Customers can also expect to find a variety of styles and designs that are modern and relatable, while still paying tribute to traditional Peranakan art. Overall, manekNya offers a combination of tradition, culture, and fashion.

I am excited to showcase our very first shoe collection (or product) to the world. It is a combination of both unique and fashionable shoes that are assembled and Made in Malaysia.

Best,

Swee Lin, Co-founder of manekNya