Almost four years ago, Nurul Syazana Sukiman taught herself how to sew while making baby accessories for her niece and friends. “I have this huge obsession over fabrics and I’ve been collecting them since my study days in Melbourne,” admits Syazana. She then put the fabrics to good use by producing toddler Baju Kurung for family and friends. Not long after, Whimsigirl came about.
Whimsigirl aspires to produce ‘culturally-infused, elegantly designed and carefully crafted pieces for little ones next door’. This is evidently a winning formula because, four years on, the brand has kept on going from strength to strength. From only selling online and at bazaars, Whimsigirl now has a physical store in Publika.
Pairing a background in architecture with the inspiration that she gets from her surroundings, Syazana says she approaches design as a whole. “Everything needs to have a sense of purpose, be functional, with a design concept and story behind it.”
Whimsigirl breathes new life into children’s wear as it offers traditional pieces with a modern twist. Its Jebat range, for example, is a Baju Melayu Johor with a pair of shorts. “It can be worn as it, or take the top and wear it with your kid’s favourite denim jeans,” says Syazana, “or take the bottom and pair it up with a casual T-shirt.” It’s this versatility – coupled with unique cuts and pretty fabrics – that’s making Whimsigirl a fast favorite among stylish parents.
Interestingly, Whimsigirl also makes children’s height chart. Using pine planks from Finland, the charts can be personalised with your child’s name and birthdate.
For the future Whimsigirl is looking at including in its repertoire casual pieces such as dresses, bottoms and T-shirts. They also want to create pieces that would feature fabrics in their own design prints. “We’re big kids with big dreams, but we’re taking it a step at a time. If anyone shares the same vision and feels like being part of our close-knit team, feel free to get in touch with us as we’re always on the lookout for new talents.”
Whimsigirl’s pieces, ranging in size from newborns to seven years of age, is priced between RM75 and RM225. They’re available on www.whimsigirldesign.com and at 46B, Level G3, Publika Solaris Dutamas.
