After making his mark with his shoe collection, Maatin Shakir Saperi is translating his minimalist style to clothes, writes Nadia Badarudin
HIS name may be unknown to many people at the moment. However, judging from the positive reaction when his collection made its debut in January, this may soon change.
When Maatin Shakir Saperi unveiled his shoe collection at a fashion show for designer Zakwan Anuar’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection, it created a buzz for the simple yet stunning designs.
Maatin had rolled out nine shoe designs for men and women in monochrome which not only complemented Zakwan’s structured and edgy clothes, but also garnered interest among shoe enthusiasts. His men’s sandals in black and white were a favourite at the show.
The 22-year-old of Iban-Malay heritage said his interest in fashion started when he was small as he enjoyed watching live telecasts of red carpet events and going through fashion magazines with his mother, Rosa Zehnder.
“I started drawing bits and pieces at 10 years old. Sometimes, I staged mini fashion shows at home with my neighbours. My mother made pants and simple tops. I learnt basic tailoring skills from her and from YouTube. But my focus has always been on shoes,” says Maatin who has an advanced diploma in fashion marketing.
He interned at Zalora Malaysia. He was then hired to work full-time as the company stylist, where his determination to own a shoe business grew. He learnt the trade and built his network before making the bold move to launch his own label early this year.
Initially, his shoes were used for magazine photo shoots but he eventually worked his way up in the industry.
BACK TO BASICS
Maatin adores designs by French footwear designer Christian Louboutin and is inspired by Emilio Pucci’s alluring geometric prints. He has chosen shoes to mark his presence because of the industry’s vast potential, particularly in Malaysia.
“There is a growing demand for homegrown designer shoes, but there are not many shoe designers here. The local fashion scene is in need of more shoe designers who can expand beyond this market, like Jimmy Choo,” he says.
Unlike those who come out with beautiful but ridiculously unwearable shoes, Maatin prefers not to follow the normal “fashion before pain” mantra. His custom-made leather shoes, with his name emblazoned on the insoles, may look “too safe” an option, especially for a fashionista who adores killer stilettos.
But he wants to put comfort before pain and so, his simple yet sleek designs speak volumes when it comes to practicality and flexibility. His choice of monochrome colours makes it easy to mix and match the shoes with any attire.
He believes that balancing style and practicality is essential in shoe design, so he looks for inspiration from his experience while travelling.
“When I travel, I like to bring along shoes that are comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. I want customers to feel good, comfortable and beautiful when wearing my designs,” he says.
Maatin uses quality materials paired with excellent workmanship by skilled craftsmen in Bandung, Indonesia. To ensure his standard of quality is met, Maatin works closely with them.
In June, Maatin added another milestone in his career when he debuted his Fall/Winter 2014 clothing collection at Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week.
Similar to his shoe collection, the ready-to-wear pieces, including dresses, pantsuits, man’s shirt in prints and cape blouses, are
elegant.
“Despite the simple designs, I used interesting prints and most importantly, each outfit goes well with my shoes,” he says.
He adds that his hometown of Miri, Sarawak and his heritage has a huge influence on the patterns and prints of his clothing collection.
NEWCOMER
Maatin relies heavily on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to market his products.
He says it is not easy for a newcomer with limited budget to start a business.
“The industry is growing and, as a newcomer, I have to keep up with trends, learn the trade and adapt as quickly as possible. On top of that, I try to offer something different,” he says.
He is working on his Spring/Summer 2015 collection which is inspired by Queen Padme Amidala character in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
“It will reflect my signature minimalist look, but with a twist... perhaps in the prints,” says the Star Wars fan.