My artistic journey as maker and crafter
“To explore the many possibilities of kiss lock purse frames” is the main idea behind Misala Handmade creations. The metal closure mechanism has been in use by bag and purse makers for more than 100 years, but few had elected to put their entire focus on it. This fact had prompted me to choose kiss lock as the restricting form and exploratory element for my art, and had always inspired me to create pieces that are actually wearable.
I was unaware of my artistic side before I moved to Dubai with my husband in 2009. Typical for kids in Asia, I was raised in Hong Kong under a spoon-feeding education system that does not encourage individual creativity. I took Electric Engineering in collage, got into an Engineering firm after graduation and thought it was my best outcome. What I had ignored and repressed unconsciously was the fact that I do not feel that I belong in the industry, but was merely following the track set by others for me.
A change in setting was what broke me free from these invisible chains in the end. I was lucky to have a supportive partner who had encouraged me to search for my true self. Out of frustration in the difficulties of adopting to a foreign living environment I went back to my childhood hobby and experimented with the little fabrics & purse parts I had and became a self-taught bag crafter & designer.
Polka dots, vibrant colors and cute & expressive shapes are symbols of my desires, while a separate line of products focusing on subtle elegance reflects my mood and dreams. The two clashes and overlaps to become the foundation of my work.
Riding on the success of my creations, my husband had decided to quit his day job and devote full-time into the Misala business. We have now opened our craft workshop and are living in Taipei, Taiwan.
