I’ve always loved working with thread, a skill I learned as a young girl from my mother, a wedding gown maker in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

In 2015, I unintentionally started a textile art studio alongside a retiring seamster and my niece. It began while volunteering at Indonesia Fashion Week, where I was tasked with repurposing used event banners into tote bags. Soon after, local fashion designers began offering us their leftover fabric off-cuts, a generous supply.

The abundance and beauty of these materials inspired us to explore new possibilities. Today, we are a team of seven textile artisans, most of whom, like me, have no formal training in art or design.

I hope our story encourages those who feel unsure of their next steps to look again at what they already have - materials, skills, people and place - and bring out their best. Gifts are all around us. Notice the not-so-shiny ones.

Thank you to our family, friends, mentors, clients, collaborators, curators, and our wing team in Singapore. We couldn’t have these adventures without your encouragement and expert support.