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People say, why not just retire? Spend your time traveling, doing whatever you want. But me, I want to carry on,” Datuk Jimmy Choo says. He is currently headlining masterclass workshops all over the world, where he hands down his experience to eager students. “I want people to have a chance. If I were a student and I heard that Manolo

Blahnik was giving a talk, I’d like to talk to him, ask him some questions about his beautiful work. That’s what I want to give to students; talk to them, give them some ideas.”

Choo is always looking for that unique spark in his protégés. “A lot of people bring me designs that I’ve seen before. They may change it a bit, but you can see that their design is not original. When I saw Illiza’s artwork and production, I felt it was something I’d never seen before. It was very unusual, and she could cut a pattern and sew the whole thing as well as design.”

“I see her doing well in the future,” says Choo. “It depends on where she wants to be. If she keeps on coming up with new ideas, and she gets more press, more popularity, she could open shops. It’s really up to her. No doubt she can do good.”

LEADING LIGHTS

Success? Sometimes you need a guiding hand. Artists, performers and the fashion

elite talk to us about their mentor–protégé relationships.

Photography by Eric Chow. By Samantha Joseph and

Noor Amylia Hilda

Ho wears: Pants, RM129.90, Uniqlo. Necklace, RM49.90, H&M. Top and watch her own.

Choo wears: Top, pants and watch, all his own

THE CRAFTSMENDatuk Jimmy Choo OBE, 67

OWNER OF JIMMY CHOO COUTUREIlliza Ho, 30s

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT ILLIZA HO

When I first met Datuk Jimmy Choo, I was very nervous because he’s very famous, he’s a celebrity. But he was so nice, he was very kind,” grins Illiza Ho, a Taiwanese whose talents in designing bags snagged her the title of Most Promising Designer at the Mercedes-Benz Stylo Fashion Awards in 2014.

“After graduation, one of my very close friends was doing an internship with Datuk, who was looking for an accessory designer. My friend managed to get me an interview at his London shop. He asked if I would be willing to come to Malaysia for the internship. Of course I said yes.”

“I think as a designer, you have to focus on details,” says Ho who has been an assistant designer at Jimmy Choo Couture since 2011. “Before I met Datuk, I had some focus, but it wasn’t that strong. He taught me about detail, but he also taught me that in the fashion world, you need to know people, you need to be sociable.

As a designer, you can’t have a bad attitude. You need to be humble, to learn everything you need to learn. That’s what he teaches every student.”

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Nell Ng recalls the first thought that came to mind when she met her protégé and long-time collaborator, Suhaili Micheline, “She’s so beautiful, she’s so funny and she’s crazy. It’s so unusual to find that mix — that to me is real proof of self-confidence.”

Ng is currently working closely with Suhaili, who is choreographing and starring in the director’s latest musical production, Cabaret. “I think she is a very hard-working girl, but sometimes I feel like she doesn’t need to work so hard — she does it, not for herself, but to provide a platform for all the other dancers to showcase their talents.”

Well known for her strict discipline during rehearsals, Ng admits that she has imparted her work ethic to Suhaili, “She really gives her all and she’s stricter that I am! So I enjoy that. At least I know I’m not the only evil one — in that sense I think she has learnt from the best!” laughs Ng.

Nell definitely wants to highlight everyone’s abilities and she stresses that it’s important for local talents to try and be the best. That’s why she’s a renowned director. She creates magic on stage,” says Suhaili.

On how working with Ng has affected the way she works, Suhaili adds, “seeing how she creates things,

from her perspective, has increased my maturity working in the industry. I respect her a lot for producing so many works by locals for the locals and that’s what she wants to keep on doing — it’s kind of a way of contributing to society. I hope I can be as clear with my vision in delivering something outstanding every time.”

“Nell has always supported me, even when we’re not in the same production together. I’ll see her walking in when I’m on stage and it’s just overwhelming. To see a familiar face in the crowd, someone who has left the dance industry, supporting you in that way — it makes me feel good.”

Ng wears: Dress, RM149 and necklace, both from H&M. Ring, stylist’s own.

Suhaili wears: Jacket, RM149, dress and earrings, all from H&M

THE PERFORMERSSuhaili Micheline, 30

DANCE ARTIST AND STAGE PERFORMERNell Ng, 30s

DIRECTOR AT PAN PRODUCTIONS

“I’ll see her walk in when I’m on stage and it’s just overwhelming. To see

a familiar face in the crowd, it makes me feel good.”

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A mong all the lecturers, I would say Bibi is the most forthcoming with students,” the soft-spoken Ng says. “She knows how to get students focused. Through Bibi and her work, I discovered minimalist art.”

When we were at the Institute, we never think that we have to make money, or that we have to survive as

artists. Once we graduate, we have to think about these things, and Bibi helped us to see what was important.”

The local art scene is competitive, and Chew advised Ng to go overseas for new experiences and inspiration. “It was challenging,” Ng says. “To improve and grow, we need a lot of processes and a lot of experimenting. That’s something Bibi taught us.”

“I didn’t realise how hard it would be in the beginning,” Ng admits. “But after my studies, I had to face a lot of situations to be able to survive being a full-time artist, while also creating something pure.”

Bibi understands me more than I do myself. It’s the encouragement that she gives that helps my work.”

Annabelle Ng, 32MINIMALIST ARTIST

I met her on her first day of school,” Bibi Chew explains animatedly about her protégé, Annabelle Ng. “She came in as a very innocent girl; so shy, very quiet,” Chew continues. With almost two decades of experience teaching students at the Malaysian Institute of Arts and just as long exhibiting in galleries, Chew has nearly seen it all.

“My first impression was that [Ng] is so fragile, how is she going to go on this journey? I thought it would be difficult for her if she doesn’t toughen up, especially in this industry.”

Chew’s outlook on giving students a helping hand allowed her to draw out the reserved Ng. “As a mentor, I don’t want to focus on the art. The art is the outcome. The students are individuals, and the process with which they produce their art and the influences of their own background is what’s important to me.”

The arts scene is a cruel world. There are always newcomers, and collectors are forgetful. If you aren’t consistent with your work, they will forget you. Annabelle has to keep evolving. I think that’s the biggest challenge for an artist.”

Bibi Chew, 45HEAD OF FINE ARTS, MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF ARTS

THE ARTMAKERS

Ng wears: Dress, RM2,390, Calvin Klein Platinum. Bracelet, RM39.90, H&M.

Chew wears: Jacket, RM1,860, Calvin Klein Platinum. Necklace, H&M. Top, pants and watch all her own

“I didn’t realise how hard it would be

in the beginning. Bibi understands me

more than I do myself. Her encouragement

helps my work.”

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Iman has been my protégé since she was two. She used to follow me to all the fashion shows — she was such an easy little girl to bring along everywhere,” says Datuk Tom Abang Saufi of her daughter Iman Lough and their inseparable relationship. “From then onwards, I realised she had a natural gift for styling. I taught her that different sizes can be good, you don’t have to

have the perfect model figure to dress nice.” While Tom is busy managing designing aspects of her

namesake label, her daughter handles the people aspect of the industry, “I found that she has a natural inclination to people. She has this extra talent in PR and accessing people. She’s very organised behind the stage, which I’m not. That’s the only time I‘m stressed — when I’m behind the stage.”

I’ve become a little less controlling,” adds Tom, “because I’ve learnt to listen to another person’s opinion, and a younger person’s opinion at that. Of course our lifestyles differ, but our differences and similarities make our work better. We know we can work on something and make it more flexible.”

THE FASHION DESIGNERSDatuk Tom Abang Saufi, 62

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF DESIGNER OF TOM ABANG SAUFI Iman Lough, 32

FASHION DESIGNER AT TOM ABANG SAUFI

You know how your mentor is also your boss and you tend to get intimidated and scared to ask certain things? Well, growing up with my mum, and her being a single mum, has made her both a mother and a friend. We’re very close,” says Iman Lough on growing up with her famous mother. “I’m very privileged to have her as my mum.”

But having your mum as your boss also has its downfalls, according to Iman. “Sometimes I forget that she’s my boss, and I don’t bite my tongue when I should. Sometimes I think I’m always right and I forget that experience tells — especially in fashion. I didn’t realise how tough it would be to design a collection.”

“I find it hard to live up to my own expectations,” Iman admits. “As a mentor, my mother is a lot harder on other people, but as her daughter I kind of have it easy. She doesn’t pressure me, she doesn’t have high expectations. She just wants me to succeed and be content. She likes people to find their own style and she thinks it’s important that you learn through experience. I know that in the end she just wants me to be the woman I am.”

Iman wears: Kimono top, top (worn under kimono), pants, earrings and ring, all her own.

Tom wears: Dress, earrings and necklace, all her own