This exclusive songket handbag at the right price is the choice of celebrities!

This exclusive songket handbag at the right price is the choice of celebrities!

KUALA LUMPUR: Classic and exclusive and at a reasonable price, but handbags made by Siti Noor Misro remain the choice of Prime Minister Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s wife.

Of course not, the handbag is made of songket fabric that is rarely featured by other local designers, while the combination of abstract patterns and flowers on the fabric with a combination of pastel (pale) and bright colors make the 50-year-old entrepreneur’s handiwork look luxurious.

“I am really interested in sewing because through that activity I can highlight creativity. At the same time, I also like handmade products.

“When I saw a video on how to make a handbag on YouTube, it clicked in my heart to try,” he said when contacted at his residence in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.

Now, after more than 11 years in the field, Siti Nor is proud of the Ct N Honey brand which is increasingly gaining a place among fans of unique handbags including celebrities.

JUST LEARN YOURSELF

Looking back on her involvement in the career, Siti Noor said she started producing handbags in 2012 but only dared to sell the products she produced online in mid-2013.

“At that time I used various materials such as cotton fabric, linen, canvas and synthetic leather. The design was also very simple with most of the handbags I made according to the customer’s order and taste,” said the mother of six children.

Seeing the favorable response, Siti Noor developed a website to market her handmade handbags and also sewing items for those who want to make their own handbags.

Despite not having any formal education in the field of sewing and only learning on her own through various videos on YouTube, it turns out that Siti Nor’s handiwork is so striking that she managed to attract the attention of Dr Wan Azizah’s assistant in 2019.

Speaking further, the woman said she was contacted by Dr Wan Azizah’s officer who was the Deputy Prime Minister at the time, asking her to prepare a handbag from the songket to be presented to the wife of Turkiye President Emine Erdogan who was scheduled to come to Malaysia to attend the KL Summit 2019.

“After hearing the purpose of the order, even though I have never used songket fabric, I tried my best to fulfill the Deputy Prime Minister’s order at the time,” she said.

According to him, that is where the history of using songket in the manufacture of her handbags began.

HIGHLIGHT THE SONGKET

She said, after receiving the first order from Dr Wan Azizah, she dared to focus on making handbags from songket.

She described the move as a two-pronged, which is to highlight songket handbags and defend the heritage of songket which is less and less used by the general public.

“… until now I still receive songket handbag orders from her (Dr Wan Azizah), and I am moved because she believes (in the quality of) this handmade product,” shared Siti Nor.

According to the entrepreneur, making handbags using songket fabric in particular, is not an easy job because it requires precision, and it takes her up to two days to complete a simple bag.

“The production of these handmade bags is a process that takes a long time and is full of meticulousness. The first process is the selection of the design and material, then we will attach the stiffener to ensure the bag is stronger.

“A special sewing machine is used to ensure a neat finish,” he explained, adding that the most complicated task was producing the frame of the bag because the sewing work to join the frame was done by hand.

“It usually takes me one to two hours to complete the stitching,” she said, who procured songket supplies from local entrepreneurs.

According to him, to give a sense of exclusivity, each songket pattern is limited to one bag only.

EXPAND THE MARKET

Siti Nor said that for now she is doing the work at her home and is helped by some friends she knows through social media.

“My friends will help especially if there are a lot of orders, and they prepare their respective parts in their homes before they are sent to me to make sure the product is according to the specified specifications before being sent to the customer,” she said.

In addition to songket handbags, Siti Noor also produces various other bags such as sling bags, clutches and totes, depending on customer demand.
The price depends on the type of bag, size and material used, from as low as RM180 to RM400.

Regarding the market, he said that apart from the online platform, the products are also available at a boutique in Pavilion Bukit Jalil.

“I will also participate in exhibitions and big events to meet and introduce the brand to more people, including events organized by Kraftangan Malaysia because my products are also promoted through the website of Kraftangan Malaysia,” she said.

According to Siti Noor, she feels satisfied every time she sees a customer wearing her handmade handbag, especially if it is matched with a baju kurung or kebaya.

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