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00:00Speaking of your designs, they were featured in the film, Crazy Rich Asians, highlighting Southeast Asian talent.
00:07How did this opportunity come about? How did this happen?
00:10Rejection is just some form of redirection.
00:13And if no one's opening any doors for you, you build your own.
00:17When I design, I always have the woman in mind.
00:20Always think about her energy, her aura, where she wants to be, who she wants to be, where she wants to go.
00:27The design shouldn't overpower the woman, the design should empower her.
00:32Right, because you are now the creative. Who is going to be able to keep this going?
00:37I think so I learned that it keeps me up at night.
00:49Today's episode features someone who is amazingly talented.
00:54She is a fashion designer. Her name, you probably know already, is Alia Bustamam.
01:00Thank you for joining us.
01:01Thank you for having me.
01:03I'm so excited. There's so much to get through. Are you ready?
01:07Takut.
01:08We got water, we got water.
01:09Okay, okay.
01:10So let's start with the fact that, you know, your mother's collection of Vogue patterns played a significant role in sparking your interest in fashion.
01:18Can you share more about how these early experiences shaped your decision to pursue the career that you're in?
01:26Okay, so the Vogue pattern, well, my mom last time, she was very stylo in her days.
01:34So she used to have these Vogue pattern books and I feel like it's just something that I discovered as a kid.
01:43I used to trace the lines. I used to imagine the pieces together. I was very crafty as a kid.
01:53So in a way that Vogue patterns book, it made fashion tangible for me.
02:01It wasn't just, I mean like something imaginative could also be something.
02:06And I would see her take the Vogue pattern books, go to the auntie tailor and she would tell the tailor how she wanted it.
02:15And we would go fabric shopping.
02:17And that kind of sparked my interest in fashion.
02:23Although now when I see her making her own baju, I'm like, okay, why can't you just ask me to make baju for you?
02:30But she doesn't want to trouble me.
02:32Is it the Asian mother way of saying, don't tone.
02:35No, I don't need you. That kind of thing. It's okay. I just make my own things or whatever.
02:42But that Vogue patterns book was an inspiration for me.
02:49And it was kind of like a secret language that I learned when I was a kid.
02:55You know, just drawing, tracing and yeah.
02:59You say you were a very crafty child.
03:01Sorry, not crafty child, but you loved craft.
03:04I loved craft.
03:05Yeah.
03:06So was this like the outlet that you were looking for because you were trying different things initially and this became the outlet that you leaned on ultimately?
03:14Well, my mom was crafty.
03:17My grandmother was crafty.
03:18I learned sewing from them.
03:20And my mom was a very Asian mom.
03:24And she would be like, okay, I'll get you a Barbie doll and like this set of baju for her.
03:28But that's the only baju she will look at.
03:30Oh.
03:31No more buying baju.
03:32Yeah.
03:32So like I learned how to sew and I was very resourceful because I don't want to hold.
03:39Because that's my Barbie doll.
03:41There's only one baju.
03:42So like she, you know, so, so I would learn how to, to stitch and sew and, you know, do all those kind of things.
03:52Right.
03:52Yeah.
03:53And how old were you then when that, when this was happening?
03:55I was like seven or eight.
03:56And she, she would buy me, she would buy me tools to make them.
04:00Like she would, she would buy me a knitting tool.
04:03So like I wouldn't, one time my Barbie doll had like fully knitted baju and it's not even winter in Malaysia, you know, she like winter hat lah, whatever.
04:12So, yeah, I was very crafty.
04:15Fashion first and a utility later.
04:17Yeah.
04:18Like, yeah.
04:18Yeah.
04:19So, you know, you, you grew up in Subang Jaya, right?
04:22How did your local environment and culture influence your design sensibilities and the ethos of your, of your brand?
04:30In the early days of Subang, I feel like, I mean, it was a new, new city when we moved in.
04:39It was the late 80s, you know, so everything was crafty.
04:44Everything was like DIY.
04:46I had no resources.
04:48Yeah.
04:48Um, going back to the Asian strict mom or so, like resources were very low.
04:54Like you had to make do with whatever you had.
04:56Um, there was this sewing shop, sewing supply shop in Subang called Evergreen Trading.
05:03It's still there now.
05:04And I still get my sewing supplies.
05:06I still send my boy to get sewing supplies from them.
05:09But, um, my mom used to take, take me to the store and, um, that was the place that I used to like go and get like kain and, um, stuff.
05:20So, um, I have to say like, um, everything I did when I was young back then is experimental and reworked.
05:31And I, I guess that kind of shaped my, my design style.
05:37If you see my draping design, it's very nonchalant.
05:41It's very, um, not structured, very fluid, very unpredictable.
05:49Tell us about what you're wearing today.
05:51Today is a ready-to-wear design.
05:53It's Alia Bay.
05:55Um, but it's old.
05:56It's like two years ago, three years ago, punya baju.
05:59You would never have guessed it though.
06:02It looks as good on you now as if it was just made yesterday, right?
06:05And it's very comfortable.
06:06So, feels like second skin.
06:09Yeah, I'm not trying to market myself.
06:11You should.
06:12That's, that's what makes you the business woman that you are as well on top of the talent, right?
06:16Now, you've mentioned your mom a couple of times actually already.
06:19And it seems like the relationship that you have with her plays a big part in your life,
06:24not just in terms of the creationist that you are.
06:27So, how would you describe that relationship between you and your mom?
06:30Um, she, she made me, um, very independent and adult in, in my early days.
06:41Like, um, we don't really depend on her too much.
06:45She's always there to support, but she's like a disciplinarian.
06:47Like, you gotta do your homework, but I'm a rebel, so I never do.
06:51So, um, like, she asked me to do this, I do another thing.
06:56Um, yeah.
06:57And she still loves you, right?
06:58Of course.
06:59Yeah, I'm her favourite, I think.
07:00I knew, I'll still, that was gonna be my next question, I think.
07:03How many siblings do you have?
07:04I have three siblings.
07:05Right.
07:05One, I'm the, I'm the favourite and the eldest.
07:08But I paved the way for my younger ones.
07:10Right.
07:11Yeah.
07:11So that, because you, you were the rebel, so they were appreciated more almost instantly.
07:16Yeah, yeah, almost instantly.
07:19Look at you making life easier for everywhere.
07:21Not just with what they wear, right?
07:22That's what I like to think.
07:25Now, launching your brand in 2010, with a focus on made-to-measure creations, was a bold move, some would say, right?
07:33What were some of the initial challenges you faced in the Malaysian fashion industry?
07:37Well, when we started the brand, it wasn't, um, just made-to-measure.
07:44When we started the brand, um, of course, I started with made-to-measure to, um, support my business, to make some money because our funds were very limited.
07:56But then, our first collection was, um, Lux Resort Wear.
08:01And at the time, in the, I mean, in the early 2000s, and, I mean, like, in Malaysia, especially, people were not appreciative of luxury, ready-to-wear Malaysian designs.
08:17Um, I guess because maybe they think, oh, it's too mahal for something Malaysian, something local, and they would prefer to buy something high street or something from the international market, right?
08:30So, when we came in, I felt like there's a gap in the market.
08:36Of course, there was, um, Lux Ready-to-Wear at the time when we started.
08:40There's Tomabang Salfi, there's Pink Jambu, there was, um, Sofira, which was a brand that I worked with,
08:47and I was very inspired by, um, the style and the, the business structure.
08:54Um, but I think with those challenges, it helped me, I mean, it kind of gave room for me to carve out and, and shape my, um, kind of, uh, aesthetic to, to show people that Lux Ready-to-Wear is approachable, sellable, and definitely wearable.
09:18Yeah, yeah. And, and now, being where you are now, do you feel like there was, there was something that made a difference along the way?
09:26Ah.
09:27When it came to those challenges?
09:30Of course, definitely.
09:31And speaking of the challenges that you face, you face multiple rejections from the Malaysian International Fashion Alliance, right?
09:39Before deciding...
09:40Two times only lah.
09:41Okay.
09:42We're going to number it now, two times, okay?
09:45To host your own fashion show at that time, right?
09:47What did this experience kind of teach you about resilience and self-belief in the fashion industry?
09:54When we applied for, not, not just me, for other, other shows, um, yeah, we were rejected.
10:01Mainly, I think, because they didn't know who we were, and, of course, the brand was really new.
10:06We were, like, one year old.
10:07Who are they, right?
10:09And, like, don't know, they don't know if we could put out a show and stuff like that.
10:12So, when that happened, it taught me and my team, um, to turn back to ourselves.
10:20I mean, rejection is just some form of redirection, we would say.
10:27And if no one's opening any doors for you, you build your own.
10:32Right.
10:32And I think, uh, from there, we just, we just went on and did our own show.
10:39And that was the most liberating feeling ever.
10:43And, and then we realized, after we did our own show, we, of course, we had help from friends and good friends that were already in the fashion industry.
10:54Of course, we had help, but making that one solo, like, show happen was very liberating.
11:02And, um, it made us realize that we don't need permission from anyone to, to want to do what we want to do.
11:09Just get up and do it and try and do with whatever resources that we have and work day and night and just make it happen.
11:17How important are, like, the people around you during that time?
11:23How important was it to have a support system?
11:25Very, I mean, I, until today, like, I, I still do think about those people that really helped us, um, get the brand off the ground.
11:40And we had very supportive friends who, who, I think they, they loved my designs also.
11:46That's because of why they bought.
11:47But, I mean, we had friends that were going to get married and didn't even know if I could make a, I mean, I think they knew that I can make a wedding dress.
11:59But they can afford, um, another established designer to make their wedding dress.
12:04But they actually supported me and said, hey, I want you to make my wedding dress.
12:08And I'm like, are you sure?
12:10Are you sure you don't want to make with, um, so-and-so, you know?
12:14So, no, I want you to make my wedding dress.
12:16So, um, support from friends from the very beginning was, I, I, I would never forget that.
12:25To have people have faith in you.
12:27Yeah.
12:27When even you're, you haven't proven in that sense that you, to, to earn that faith from them yet.
12:33It's not just from, it's not just faith in me, but we started the company, the four of us, me, Shamin, Jimmy and Shah.
12:42We grew up together.
12:43We, I've known these people since I was like 18 years old after high school.
12:46And we started, um, the business together.
12:51And for them to also believe in my talents, to also, um, put their work and energy into the company.
13:00And we started it together.
13:02It's, yeah, it's amazing.
13:05What are some of the best compliments you've received about what you do for a living?
13:11You know, what has someone, what have people said to you?
13:13Well, recently, recently, there was, there was someone who said to me that, Alia, I know that, um, you obviously, um, love women, um, because it speaks through your designs.
13:28Right.
13:29And, um, yeah, so that, that's it.
13:33Right.
13:33Yeah.
13:33So that, and that's a woman sharing with you.
13:35That's a woman sharing, sharing with me.
13:37And I think it's, it's, it's good that I can make a woman feel a certain way because, um, I just want my designs to translate into, um, not just making you look fabulous, but it's a feeling that, that she gets when she wears my clothes.
13:53Comfort is number one because we do so many things in our lives, uh, every day.
13:59We want to move, but we want to still look fabulous.
14:02We don't want to sweat in our armpits and, and, and, you know, like, and still look presentable, you know, like sit comfortably.
14:12And that's the most important thing for me.
14:14You exude everything that you just said, actually, wearing what you're wearing right now.
14:18Right.
14:19Speaking of your designs, they were featured in the film Crazy Rich Asians, right?
14:25Highlighting Southeast Asian talent on a global scale.
14:28How did this opportunity come about?
14:31How did this happen?
14:32That, that was, um, I was very lucky.
14:36Um, it came through a stylist, Andrea Wong, and also a friend from the production.
14:44And, um, Andrea Wong has been following our brand for a very long time.
14:49And she is a true supporter of Malaysian designers, Asian designers as well.
14:54And, um, having a collective of Southeast Asian designers in the movie, it's already such a big win.
15:06Right.
15:06For us.
15:07Yeah.
15:07And I'm just so happy to be part of it.
15:09Right.
15:10How did it affect your brand's international recognition to be, to have been a part of, of the film?
15:16Um, I guess we did get a lot of coverage.
15:21Um, yeah.
15:24Yeah.
15:25Yeah.
15:25Do people bring it up a lot now?
15:27Like, you know, like I just did?
15:29Actually, I'm not sure if many people know.
15:32All right.
15:32We need to let them know then.
15:33Yeah.
15:33Because it's, it's definitely very, very cool.
15:36I'm not sure if many people know that our, our Bajus were in Crazy Rich Asians.
15:41Because they had many, many brands.
15:42Um, many, not just our Bajus on Crazy Rich Asians.
15:46Well, we are letting people know right now that Alia Bustamom's fantastic designs are included in Crazy Rich Asians.
15:56Okay.
15:57You can make that like a little sell there.
16:00So your designs are also known for empowering women by emphasizing confidence and inner beauty.
16:08How do you consciously incorporate these values into your creations?
16:12Well, like the woman I mentioned just now.
16:15Um, I, I always have, um, when she said I love women when I design, yes, because when I design, I always have the woman in mind.
16:25I always, always think about her energy, her aura, what she's getting on through the day, where she wants to be, who she wants to be, where she wants to go.
16:38Um, and at the end of the day, I just want to have the woman feel empowered.
16:45Um, it's not just about the, the design.
16:48It's about how she feels in the clothes.
16:50How, you know, how the fabric moves and not overpowering the woman.
16:57The design shouldn't overpower the woman.
17:00The design should empower her.
17:02Right.
17:02Well, that's, that makes so much sense.
17:04Yeah.
17:05And I'm sure people ask you a lot about your opinions on fashion, right?
17:11Do you consider fashion more of an artistic expression or a functional narrative?
17:17Or is it both for you?
17:19Because you've already told us a bit about your ethos.
17:21How do you, do these two ideas have to marry or not?
17:24For me, it's both.
17:25I feel fashion is a form of art and function.
17:29Some people, though, they, they would go all out to make a statement.
17:35And, and that's amazing as well.
17:36Like you see, um, fashion personalities that, that really go from the shoes, the baju, the makeup, the hair.
17:45And like, um, you can barely move, but it's an art.
17:48It makes a statement in that way.
17:50Yeah, in that way.
17:51But for me, um, of course, fashion is art and art has to move you, but it also has to function and, and, um.
18:06So you like the idea of being able to express it, but also in a way that, that feels comfortable.
18:14It's not just a statement all its own.
18:16Yeah, it's like, uh, it has to serve you.
18:22Um, it has to move you and serve you.
18:25And it's just finding that sweet spot is what I try in my designs as well.
18:32Are there moments where, because of this idea, you, you would throw something that you came up with out?
18:41Like, you're like, hmm.
18:42Like sacrifice design?
18:43Um, sacrifice the design, not really.
18:49Yes, maybe.
18:50Maybe, yeah.
18:52Yeah.
18:52Or in a way, like, make it, make it kind of like, macam, I want this cape for this dress.
18:58Yeah.
18:59Um, but then on a normal day, I don't want, so we make the cape detachable.
19:03Ah.
19:03Something like that.
19:04Right, right.
19:05So, so it starts with it and then you work with it and, and it will adhere to your ultimate, like, vision.
19:12Yeah, but then I, I think that's why my designs are so, um, minimal.
19:19I mean, I wouldn't say I'm so super minimal, like we're not super clean.
19:22We have the pleats and the colors and, um, but, but yeah.
19:28Yeah, so we, we try to keep the design more wearable.
19:33Yeah.
19:34Yeah.
19:34And you have to also find this other balance of being the creative and also being a businesswoman.
19:40Yeah.
19:40Right.
19:41So, what's the most radical risk you've ever taken as a businesswoman and how did it shape the future of your brand?
19:49I think as a businesswoman, every day you take risks.
19:55Mm-hmm.
19:56Um, for us, it's, um, threading in the international market.
20:02Um, and we found, I mean, like we've learned that some cities are more receptable of our designs and our style.
20:14Um, at the moment it's Dubai.
20:17Mm-hmm.
20:17So, we're stocked up in Dubai at some multi-label boutiques.
20:21Mm-hmm.
20:21Um, Dubai for now is our most, um, um, how do I say, suitable.
20:30Mm-hmm.
20:31A suitable market for us.
20:33Yeah.
20:34But.
20:35Did it surprise you?
20:36Yeah.
20:36Mm-hmm.
20:37It, it did surprise me.
20:39Um, yeah, the women of Dubai, they're fabulous.
20:42Mm-hmm.
20:44And not all, not all of them want super heavy, right, uh, heavily embellished dresses.
20:53They also want fluid, sensual pieces that's easy to wear.
20:58Yeah.
20:59And they've got great taste.
21:00And they've got great taste.
21:01As proven by how well your brand is doing there.
21:06Now, we, we talked a little bit about MIFA earlier, right?
21:09Mm-hmm.
21:09About how initially, um, there was pushback.
21:14Fashion weeks have long been seen as kind of like gatekeepers of taste and relevance.
21:19Do you believe these platforms still serve emerging designers now?
21:24Or have they become an echo chamber for more established names?
21:29That's a good question.
21:30It's a tough one.
21:31Yeah.
21:31Yeah.
21:32Um, of course, they can be relevant.
21:37It's just, I guess they need to evolve.
21:40It is, it's a great platform to show creativity, um, especially with new brands.
21:49I mean, it's a great platform to, to have a show.
21:53Mm-hmm.
21:53But the real question is, does it, does it support, um, young designers?
22:04Right.
22:04Does it teach young designers the business of fashion?
22:07Um, does it support, expand a business?
22:14Right.
22:15Um, those are the real questions that we should ask.
22:18Right.
22:18Because when you, when we see the shows that are put up during, not, during any fashion week,
22:25not just the Malaysian fashion week, right?
22:27Is the idea, in your opinion, that, is it supposed to reflect on what the trend is now?
22:34Or is it supposed to show what's coming up next?
22:36Or is it supposed to show what the future could be?
22:40What is the point of it?
22:42Or is it all of the above, in your opinion?
22:43No, I guess, um, I mean, trend, forecast, and all, um, that's for the, for the market.
22:52But for the designers, it's for them to express themselves as a brand, to show their aesthetic,
23:00to show what their brand is about.
23:03Um, yeah.
23:04So, I guess, um, uh, trend, forecast, color, forecast, um, silhouette, forecast, that, that
23:13one is, uh, I don't think it's about the fashion week.
23:17Um, the fashion week is more, more for the designers to show.
23:23But I think, at the end of the day, what does it do for the fashion brand?
23:28It, it helps market your brand, yes.
23:32Um, are there any buyers coming to, to purchase your collections?
23:38Are you, but are the designers ready?
23:42If the buyers come, are they ready to, to make a certain X amount for this design, for this store?
23:51Right.
23:51It's, it's, it's the whole thing.
23:52Right.
23:53I think it's so interesting that you say this because you are, I think from the outside looking in,
23:58many people would see you mainly as the creative, mainly as a fashion designer.
24:01But right there in your answer, you gave both sides of both the designer and also the businesswoman
24:06who's thinking of also the marketability.
24:10And do you find that wearing two hats all the time is, does it come easy to you?
24:15Actually, I don't wear that hat.
24:16Okay.
24:16That one is my partner, Jimmy, Shah, and Shaman.
24:20My partner's Jimmy and Shah, and Shaman.
24:21And then, that's just me.
24:24Um, um, I mean, like, I'm so used to what, what they do every day.
24:28I mean, like, we, we share an office table.
24:30Like, we practically face each other every day.
24:33So, I hear their conversations.
24:35And, um, I do the creative design, design part.
24:40A little bit of the production, timeline, you know, like,
24:44make sure everything gets ready on time for deliveries.
24:49Um, not just delivery.
24:50I'm not talking about delivery to customers, but delivery to our, um, like,
24:56Zalora, for instance.
24:57Right.
24:57You know, like, or delivery to our production for samples and stuff like that.
25:02But, um, yeah, at the end of the day, it's like a whole ecosystem.
25:06You just don't churn out designs and then don't sell it.
25:11Right.
25:11Like, you need to make a collection that can sell.
25:14And then, yeah.
25:15I think you don't give yourself enough credit.
25:17Right.
25:18I feel that you, you're so much more than just the, the designer,
25:22but you, you always, you, you throw back to, um, to also your team,
25:26which is a very important aspect of your business.
25:28But it sure feels like you're a big part of the business side of it as well.
25:33Of course.
25:33Yeah.
25:34Um, but like, um, my partners will be like, okay, we need this.
25:38Like, um, you, you late or whatever.
25:40Like, you know, not on time.
25:43Um, yeah.
25:45So the, the business side of it, I am, I am, uh, I, I leave it to my team.
25:52I, you know, cause I, I like designing and I don't want to cloud my brain too much on the business side.
25:58And, um, Jimmy takes a big chunk of, of it.
26:03I mean, he's in charge of all of that.
26:05And, um, Shah is the creative with me as well.
26:09So, um, yeah, it's team.
26:12It's a teamwork.
26:13That's right.
26:14Makes the dream work.
26:15Teamwork makes the dream work.
26:17Yeah.
26:17Um, another aspect of the industry that's, of course, growing steadily over the years has been influencer culture.
26:25Now, some would argue that the rise of influencer culture has diluted the craft of fashion design.
26:32How do you view this balance between visibility, virality, and, and actual design integrity?
26:40Okay.
26:41Actual design integrity.
26:43Okay.
26:44Um, virality.
26:47I mean, influencer culture kan, like virality obviously helps, but influencer culture ni, it's, it's not new.
26:58It's been around and we already know virality memang it helps, but.
27:04Like how much effort?
27:05Design, design is important because virality fades in a day.
27:10You know, it's, there's like a space for both influencer and designer and design.
27:17But, it can co-exist.
27:19It can, but just, I think designers need to stay true to their craft.
27:25Right.
27:26Don't just create things for virality.
27:30Is there, do you see some of that happening sometimes?
27:34Yeah, yeah, of course.
27:35It's for the state.
27:36You even see big brands do it.
27:38Like, why do they buy a bag like that?
27:41You get what I mean?
27:42Like, why, why is it suddenly the design, the collection looks like this?
27:46Yeah.
27:47Almost like pandering to the influencers to pick it up and make it viral.
27:52Yeah.
27:53And that is something that feels like a person.
27:56Integrity.
27:57Right.
27:59Better you say it than me.
28:00As a female entrepreneur in the fashion industry, right, what personal values have guided you through the complexities of balancing creativity with business acumen?
28:15And we've kind of touched a little bit on this already, but now, how, how do you do this every day?
28:21I'm not a businesswoman, sebenarnya.
28:25I'm very, like, I'm just purely creative.
28:29Now, now, now I am more of a businesswoman.
28:36I've learned through the years.
28:37Okay, last time when I was designing, I was like, okay, I'll just design whatever I want to design.
28:41And then, they like it, they like it, they don't like it, whatever.
28:44You know, but being in the business for 15 years, and also before that as designers to other brands.
28:54And after owning my own brand, the money that we put in is ours, and it's hard work, and you got to stay, you got to stay curious, you got to stay humble, you got to listen.
29:14Like, number one, listen to your team.
29:17Listen to your clients, listen to your consumers, listen to the market.
29:21And always keep learning.
29:25I feel like their creativity can exist within structure.
29:31So, we have, you must have structure, you must have a plan.
29:37You must already know what you want to do by end of this year, by next year.
29:42With us, it's like that.
29:44Right.
29:44So, we plan ahead what we want to do, so I know already what to do.
29:51As a businesswoman.
29:52But as a creative, I'm like, my head is like here and there, everywhere.
29:56And a part of being in a business and being a creative as well involves looking ahead.
30:01You've mentioned a little bit about it, actually.
30:03What are your aspirations for the Alia Basimam brand and its role in evolving, the evolving landscape of fashion?
30:11I want Alia B and Alia Basimam to, like you say, Alia B and Alia Basimam, we have to evolve.
30:21We can't just stay stagnant.
30:23I want to do so much more.
30:25Expand the company, expand the product line.
30:32At the end of the day, it's just us telling our Southeast Asian story throughout the lines and making women look fabulous.
30:43So, yeah, but basically just being recognized in Southeast Asia, try to become a household name.
30:57Trying?
30:57I think you pretty much, you're there, right?
31:01Yeah, I don't know.
31:04Okay lah.
31:05And modest as well.
31:09Tak de lah.
31:09I mean, like, we want to, you know, we want to expand, we want to do more, we want to expand our product line, maybe do menswear.
31:17Yeah.
31:18Do you worry about longevity when it comes to, because you are now the creative, who is going to be able to keep this going?
31:27I think so I'll learn that it keeps me up at night.
31:33Yeah, I do think about it.
31:35Of course, we're all getting older.
31:38I don't want to keep designing when I'm already 60, right?
31:41So, yeah, of course, we want to keep, that's why Alia B and Alia Basuam needs to evolve.
31:50And then we have to expand our product line, get more designers.
31:55And then...
31:56Is that an issue?
31:57Is getting more talent that would be able to carry your brand forward,
32:02Is that something that you see being an issue?
32:06Yeah.
32:06Yes, of course.
32:07Because these young ones, they want to work, they want to learn, and then they leave you, right?
32:14So, finding also a talent, a designer that really gels and really gets the aesthetic of Alia Basuam is also another issue.
32:28But, yeah, I believe that I will find that person or a team.
32:33We already have a creative team, of course.
32:37But finding someone that could take over me when I want to retire is, I think, yeah.
32:44Like you said, it keeps you up at night.
32:45It keeps me up at night, but we'll get there.
32:48For the sake of the sleep that you definitely deserve.
32:53When I'm 55.
32:56Thank you for being so candid with everything that you've been sharing.
33:00Now, we're going to ask you some rapid-fire questions.
33:04Oh, okay.
33:05So, when it comes to mind, you have to answer.
33:10Takut salah.
33:11There are no wrong answers.
33:13Just, okay, like your brand itself, Sujats.
33:17Relax, Je.
33:18Okay.
33:18Yeah, like the brand.
33:19Okay.
33:20What do you think is the biggest fashion faux pas?
33:24Crocs.
33:27No, they were, they were, they came back and like, celebrities were wearing them.
33:32I'm like, why?
33:33No.
33:34Again.
33:34Again.
33:35Okay.
33:36Okay, first thing you do when you get design block?
33:39Think about what I want to wear.
33:40Ah.
33:41Yeah.
33:41But in not a narcissistic way.
33:44That's okay.
33:45Either way.
33:46It's your brand.
33:48Right?
33:48Okay.
33:49Most inspiring city you've ever visited?
33:52Rome.
33:53Tokyo.
33:55Rome because much I'm very historic and I can see like the museums and the ancient sites.
34:02It's very inspiring.
34:03Right.
34:04Tokyo is like the people, like people watching.
34:07Yeah.
34:07Yeah.
34:07I don't know how you managed to look at the sites in Rome.
34:09When I was there, I had to keep looking down.
34:11All those Vespas were trying to kill me.
34:13Oh my God.
34:13Like they're just zoomies.
34:14Yeah.
34:14They're like zoomies, right?
34:15Yeah.
34:16Yeah.
34:16I'm like, look up.
34:16Oh, Vespa coming.
34:17You know?
34:18Okay.
34:18So nice to walk.
34:20You're right.
34:20So nice to walk around Rome.
34:21Yeah.
34:22Right.
34:22Maybe they treated you better than they treated me.
34:24I say, you know.
34:24Okay.
34:25When you look at your first ever design now, what's your honest reaction to it?
34:30Oh gosh.
34:31And what is it?
34:32It was, it was, okay.
34:33So if you're talking about like proper collection, first collection was my Raffles Design Institute
34:39final, final year collection.
34:43Okay.
34:43So we had a show, Tengku Azura model for me.
34:47Yeah.
34:48Yeah.
34:49But like, my God, what was that?
34:51Do you feel like you need to apologize to her?
34:53Yes, yes.
34:55Like it was too, I don't know, so much color, hair too big, and there was faux fur.
35:03There was like everything that I wanted to try.
35:06I guess, I guess as a student, like I wanted to try every single sewing technique that I
35:10knew.
35:11So like everything was on the collection, but collection 4 saja.
35:144 pieces only.
35:16Are there photos floating around?
35:17Yes, there are photos.
35:19I have to look somewhere in my Facebook, I think.
35:22Is it safe for public consumption?
35:24No, no, no.
35:25Tak payah lah.
35:25Just thought I was prying my luck there, you know.
35:28We could like flash it here at the bottom of the podcast.
35:32Okay.
35:33What would you, what would we catch you doing on a day off when you're not being Alia Bastermam,
35:38the designer?
35:38Like I said just now.
35:41Nothing.
35:42Nothing.
35:43Nothing.
35:43Literally nothing.
35:44And at home.
35:45Nothing.
35:45At home.
35:46TV, couch, my iPad, playing my game, or I don't know, on a beach somewhere.
35:53What game do you play?
35:55Royal Match.
35:56That is so from left field.
36:04What?
36:06Are you, would you consider yourself a good player?
36:08No, no, no.
36:09I'm very bad.
36:10But it feels good.
36:11Yeah, yeah.
36:12Is that your first choice?
36:14Yeah, it's fine.
36:15Okay, what?
36:16You get to build the royal, the room lah, the painting room, the diner.
36:22That was a good chef.
36:27Okay.
36:28All right.
36:29Now, this is something we ask all of our guests, right?
36:32If you had the opportunity to make one change as Prime Minister of Malaysia for just one day,
36:41what would it be and why?
36:45I don't talk about politics.
36:48You wouldn't even run, is it?
36:50No, I wouldn't even run.
36:51Thank you so much, Alia Basama, for joining us.
36:54It's been a very eye-opening conversation.
36:58Thank you so much for having me.
37:00And we look forward to seeing what happens next.
37:02Thank you so much.
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