1. 54 ELLE.MY
P
eople 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
LIGHTSSuccess? 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 CRAFTSMEN
Datuk Jimmy Choo OBE, 67
OWNER OF JIMMY CHOO COUTURE
Illiza Ho, 30s
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT ILLIZA HO
W
hen 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.”
ELLE. MY 55
PEOPLE
N
ell 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.
N
ell 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 PERFORMERS
Suhaili Micheline, 30
DANCE ARTIST AND STAGE PERFORMER
Nell 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.”

2. 56 ELLE.MY
PEOPLE
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, 32
MINIMALIST 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, 45
HEAD 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.”
ELLE. MY 57
HAIR:MESHSUBRA/A-SALOON.MAKE-UP:SHIYOJOO.
STYLINGBYSHAHREZZANEZANIANDANDREAWONG.
STYLINGASSISTANT:JESSICAYONG
I
man 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 DESIGNERS
Datuk Tom Abang Saufi, 62
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF DESIGNER OF TOM ABANG SAUFI
Iman Lough, 32
FASHION DESIGNER AT TOM ABANG SAUFI
Y
ou 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