MimpiKita means “our dreams” in Malay. For the co-founders of the clothing brand, it was indeed a dream come true when the outfit was set up in 2008.
Nurul Afidah Zulkifli says: “We wanted MimipiKita to be a successful fashion retail brand, like what Zara had achieved on the global front.
“We were amazed at how the Spanish outfit achieved success as a fast-paced fashion line that produces apparel in bulk.
“It was a learning process for us at the early stage.
“We found it was quite difficult to operate a retail business because we did not have a fashion background.”
After many brainstorming sessions and feedback from their staff, they decided that MimpiKita was more suited to be a fashion house.
“We need to differentiate ourselves from a fashion retailer.
“As with other designer brands, every MimpiKita collection will have a storyline and chosen colours.”
There is a meaning and story behind every outfit produced, she adds.
A learning curve
Nurul says as a fashion house, it is open to ideas and criticism from partners, staff and customers.
“At the end of the day, everybody wants the best for the company and understands the need to communicate and engage with one another,” she adds.
Nurul says different people have different backgrounds and knowledge that the three of them do not necessarily have.
“One never stops learning. It’s a learning process every day when we come to work.
“You open your mind to learn something new every day, not just from someone who is older, but also those younger than you.
“They may not have much experience, but they will have different perspectives and backgrounds.
“It is painful to admit that you are wrong and listen to someone who is younger than you, but you know you have to.
“It is for the right reasons,” she says.
Amirah Hanis says their mimpi is the same, which is to be successful.
“We hold on tight to what we started with and evolve with time,” she says.
Amirah says they did not label themselves as designers when they started in 2008.
“Those with a fashion background will recognise themselves as designers, but we don’t because we don’t have that background.
“We learnt through trial and error.
“ As a fashion house, we have to design our own style or cuts and collections,” she says.
As MimpiKita grows, develops and expands, Amirah says they start to understand how things work better in the industry.
“Our dream is the same, it’s just that it has evolved for the better,” she adds.
HOW THEY MANAGE
What’s more difficult than handling a big company where your staff’s livelihood depends on your creativity and sales?
Working with your sisters, says Fatimah Ani Syahira, better known as Syahira.
“We fight a lot, just like sisters do,” she adds.
Disagreeing is natural for siblings, she says, so they take it postively.
“When we argue, communication happens and from there, it will become an exchange of ideas, which certainly improves our work,” Syahira says.
Nurul adds that there should not be restrictions on who to work with and how you work with them.
“We are all doing something that we love. You put relationships and friendships aside. As colleagues, you bring your professional attitude and give your best, ” she says.
Amirah says MimpiKita has a system where each sister is in charge of specific areas.
“When you are dealing with your siblings, you know the strength of each person, so you do not always get into arguments,” she says.
Nurul, who has a master’s degree in engineering, is MimpiKita’s designer. Amirah looks after business development and Syahira is in charge of human resources.
Nurul says running a fashion business is hard, thus the team needs to have a strong financial background on top of brand identity.
A brand identity, she says, is what keeps the business sustainable in years to come and what distinguishes your brand from others in fashion.
STIGMA ON CHEAP PRICES
While MimpiKita has been a success story, there are challenges to contend with.
Nurul say one such challenges is to dispel the notion that Malaysian brands should not command a high price.
“We have ventured abroad and will continue to expand our horizon beyond Malaysian shores.
“However, we find local brands are treated differently when it comes to pricing.
“People have the mentality that Asian products should not be expensive.
“It is something that we have
to work on to convince them that our products are jusy as good
as others in the market and should not be discriminated against, price wise.”
#KitaSepuloh
In conjunction with its anniversary, MimpiKita launches an exhibition, which is open for public viewing until Sept 2.
The exhibition, which is specially curated into four sections, is held at Isetan, Lot 10 shopping mall, Kuala Lumpur from 11am to 9pm.
Visitors will get to discover Mimpikita’s garments and in-house designed textile prints over the past decade, from the earliest to the latest collection, which includes things that have never been seen before from the archives.
There is an interactive space the sisters have opened to share MimpiKita’s journey and milestones. Their Fall/Winter collection will be available for purchase along with other #KitaSepuloh limited edition collectible merchandise.