Having studied electrical engineering at a post graduate level, Hana Fedora Abdul Aziz’s ambition to go into lecturing seemed set in stone. However, after working as an engineer for a while, she felt a desire to venture into something more creative. It was when she was living in the UK in 2018 with her husband and three children that she began dabbling in leather crafting, enrolling herself in the London College of Fashion to hone her skills.
“I posted my work online and friends began asking me if I could make bags for them. So that’s how it started as a business,” said Hana during an interview at her studio in Kuala Lumpur. The family moved to Taiwan when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, and the business was on hiatus until she started it back up again in KL in January 2024.
Ten months in, the popularity of Hana’s products continues to rise – she creates custom leather bags and has also began producing ready made items available for purchase online. “Leather crafting has helped me rediscover my creative side,” says Hana. “I consider myself an extrovert, but doing hands-on work in a quiet space is extremely fulfilling.
” One of Hana’s long-term goals is to establish an academy for crafting, as she feels there is a lot of talent and potential here at home. Hana Fedora Abdul Aziz began dabbling in leather crafting while she was in the UK. She enrolled in the London College of Fashion to hone her skills.
Photo: The Star/ART CHEN Read more: Malaysian fashion .