In a world where global giants overshadow small businesses, there is a growing movement that is all about bringing back the love to the root. And as fellow Malaysians, we cannot help but support the economy by shopping locally and supporting homegrown businesses.
One homegrown business that piqued our interest is Nazifi Nasri – an eponymous brand founded in 2014 with an emphasis on leather products such as footwear and accessories.
Despite the brand having been around since 2014, the label only became viral last Raya with its most sought-after piece, the mini Oked bag. The bag literally caused mayhem during Riuh Raya in 2023 as shoppers eagerly waited in line since the wee hours to secure the bags.
Nazifi Nasri only became viral last Raya with its most sought-after piece, the mini Oked bag
Nazifi said the Oked (named after his mother, Orked) bag was inspired by the Y2K-style moon-shaped shoulder bag. As the Y2K trend resurfaced in the last few years, he reinvented the bag to look more minimal, and it was a huge success.
It was total chaos, and every batch sold out within hours. It is safe to say that those who secured the bag are Nazifi Nasri’s lucky customers.
The label has its own esteemed fan base as the product is made individually with uncompromised quality. We understand the delight of buying small-batch products as you are supporting someone’s dream and passion.
Here’s a bit of background on Nazifi Nasri and how the brand gained fame
Fun fact: Nazifi Nasri does not come from a fashion background. The Johor-born designer has always had a love for leather products. In the early days, Nazifi created men’s sandals, which became a source of side income during his university days. His leather sandals were beloved by his peers, and people started to recognize his talent and creativity in leather products.
As the years passed, he built a name for himself in the local fashion market. His minimalist and modern designs have earned him a loyal following who are always eager to see the brand’s next product line.
Nazifi, who has always had a passion for footwear, decided to initially focus only on men’s sandals. As men don’t tend to shop as often as women do, he strategically began pushing promotions for men’s footwear more around festive seasons. He understands the shopping trend where women tend to shop regardless of seasons. Hence, he will return to selling women’s shoes after the festive seasons.
From creating footwear, Nazifi slowly produced leather goods in limited quantities to allow a certain exclusivity. That’s when his label started to gain attention from local product admirers. According to Nazifi, he always looks up to several local designers such as Nelissa Hilman and Whimsigirl.
Asked for his advice to wannabe designers who seek to start their fashion label, he said, “Just do whatever you want and be yourself.”
“I didn’t have any fashion experience, but I learned on my own and made this happen. So, it’s okay if you don’t have any fashion background,” he said.
Website: https://nazifinasri.com/
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