Most fashion brands begin with inspiration boards, trend forecasts, and commercial ambition. SHOPLOOOH began with something far heavier: a life changing accident.
When the life they had planned was suddenly no longer possible, its founders were forced to ask a difficult question. What do you do when everything changes?
Instead of giving up, they chose to adapt. What started as a small online shop run from home slowly grew into something bigger. Step by step, SHOPLOOOH evolved into a fashion brand shaped by resilience, patience, and purpose.
This is the story of how disruption turned into direction, and how choosing to move forward, even in the most difficult circumstances, built a brand with real staying power.
Before the Accident, Life Followed a Familiar Script
Before 2011, Garrick Tan lived what he described as a fairly typical and comfortable life. He was young, healthy, working, socially active, and moving along what felt like a predictable path. Graduate. Work. Build a future.
That sense of certainty ended abruptly one evening on his way home from work.
A serious car accident caused his vehicle to lose control and overturn. When Garrick regained consciousness, his world had changed completely. He suffered a severe cervical spinal injury.
The nerve damage was so serious that he lost mobility from the shoulders down. In the early stages, he could not even sit upright in a wheelchair.
Doctors later explained that the damage was permanent.
A Long, Painful Recovery That Tested the Will to Live
The months that followed were not a heroic montage. They were slow, isolating, and brutal.
Garrick spent extended periods in hospital. Infections, recurring fevers, and complications followed one after another. Medication became part of daily life. Progress was unpredictable. Some days felt like moving forward. Many felt like falling back.
At his lowest, Garrick openly admitted that he struggled with thoughts of ending his life. He felt trapped in a body that no longer responded and haunted by the loss of independence. Even the wheelchair, often seen as a symbol of mobility, felt unreachable when his body could not remain upright.
What stopped him was not optimism. It was love and responsibility.
His parents never left his side. Audrey Goh, his partner, stayed. He realised that leaving would only pass the pain on to the people who had already given everything to keep him alive.
If he could not choose the body he had, he could still choose how to live.
“If I Cannot Go Out to Work, Then We Build Work Around Our Life”
One day, Garrick told Audrey quietly that he did not think he would ever be able to return to work outside the home.
That sentence changed everything. Instead of arguing with reality, Audrey looked for another way.
She suggested starting an online business. Something that did not require commuting. Something that could be built from home. Something that gave Garrick purpose again.
At first, they experimented by selling phone cases online. It was a practical test of e-commerce rather than a passion project. Within months, they realised the market was too limited to sustain long term growth.
They did not give up. Instead, they tried again.
RM5,000, a Laptop, and a Second Attempt
In 2013, with just RM5,000 in starting capital, they launched SHOPLOOOH as an online women’s fashion store.
Audrey handled sourcing, styling, and creative direction. Garrick managed administration, finances, marketing systems, and customer engagement. He worked from home, slowly regaining strength and confidence.
Over time, as his health stabilised, he began showing up at the business more regularly.
There was no overnight success. Growth was gradual and often uncertain. But the business gave Garrick something deeply important.
Proof that he was not broken. Proof that he could still build something of value.
Inside the Journey of SHOPLOOOH
As demand grew, they made a bold move.
In 2015, SHOPLOOOH opened its first physical store in Batu Pahat. The space was designed to accommodate Garrick’s needs, including a private area where he could rest when his body demanded it.
For many customers, this was the first time they realised the brand had a founder who used a wheelchair. Until then, Audrey was often seen as the public face.
The reveal added depth to the brand story. SHOPLOOOH was no longer just a shop. It was a shared journey.
SHOPLOOOH Label: Choosing Depth Over Speed
As online fashion exploded in Malaysia, competition became intense. New boutiques appeared daily, often selling similar styles at similar prices. The market did not expand. The noise did.
Audrey and Garrick recognised the danger of racing toward fast fashion and price wars. They made a conscious decision to slow down and go deeper.
In 2018, they began developing their own in-house line, SHOPLOOOH Label.
Their focus shifted to comfort, fit, quality, and timeless design. Audrey remained deeply involved in every stage. From fabric selection and sampling to fittings and final approval. Even products sourced from overseas were rechecked thoroughly before being sold.
The goal was not to sell more. The goal was to sell better.
The Pandemic and an Unexpected Show of Trust
Like many businesses, SHOPLOOOH was affected by the pandemic. But their loyal customer base stayed.
During this period, the brand expanded into lifestyle products and explored new ideas such as HomeByShoploooh, adapting to changing consumer needs.
Then came a defining moment.
SHOPLOOOH launched an equity crowdfunding campaign. The response was overwhelming. Funds were raised rapidly. More importantly, many long time customers chose to become investors.
They moved from buyers to believers.
SHOPLOOOH: More Than a Fashion Brand
Through SHOPLOOOH, Gary rediscovered confidence and self-worth. He came to see that he was not defined by physical ability alone, and that he could still contribute meaningfully, create value, and support the people around him.
Today, SHOPLOOOH stands as more than a successful local fashion label. It is a reminder that a life interrupted is not a life ended, and that change often arrives without warning or permission.
When life shifts unexpectedly, people are still left with a choice. Not everything can be restored to how it once was, but something new can always be created in its place.
Sometimes, moving forward is not about returning to what once felt normal. It is about building a new normal. One decision at a time. One adjustment. One product drop after another.
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