From the Brit Fashion Awards to meeting names like Manolo Blahnik and Marc Jacobs, it’s clear that many would kill to walk a day in the stylish heels of Soo Shea Pin, MD of Anya Hindmarch in Malaysia.
Shea Pin, as everyone calls her, embodies the natural temperament of a lady of elegance and poise. From the way she sits to the way she delicately places her hands on her chin, it’s as if she’s aware the cameras are watching her. She presents herself carefully to the outside world. She’s confident, stylish and friendly.
But beneath all that lies a soul with the determination comparable to that of a lioness on the hunt. Soo Shea Pin knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to get it.
And those are essentially, the qualities that make her a woman of substance.
“We are celebrating the 10th Anniversary for Anya Hindmarch in Malaysia this year. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years!” Shea Pin said brightly. The lady in focus is currently the managing director and franchise owner for the brand within the country. Speaking of which, it’s unbelievable how much the brand has evolved. And in trying to recall a memorable experience of the brand’s presence, the tall and sophisticated Shea Pin gladly brought up one that took place within its Suria KLCC outlet a few years ago.
“I’ll always remember the time when we launched the non-profit making environmental awareness project with a bag called ‘I’m not a plastic bag’ which was retailed at RM55 as a way of promoting regular shopping bags instead of plastic ones,” she started to say. “It was in 2007 and we had people queuing outside the building from 12am the night before and by 6am there were thousands of them."
For Shea Pin, its bespoke products and personalised pieces that often embody pieces of British quirkiness play a major role in the brand’s voice. But despite its huge global success, it still somehow manages to retain the appealing qualities of a niche brand.“I believe that Anya Hindmarch is a very unique brand with an understated elegance. It allows the woman to express personal style in a subtle and luxurious manner, with character and confidence. It’s all about being quietly unconventional.”
It’s obvious that this lady, with wavy shoulder-length hair and a set of twinkling eyes has a clear eye for fashion and what women want. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to find out that she also acquires franchises for other international labels as well.
For the accomplished lady, the industry encompasses many thrilling aspects of the evolving modern society. There is a little bit of art, creativity, lifestyle and commercialism all in one. For Shea Pin, life now encompasses attending glamorous fashion awards, fine dining at fancy restaurants and the occasional bumping into Hollywood stars. Hearing her tales of the latter, well let’s just say we wouldn’t want her to stop! So one naturally had to ask, what is her take on the Malaysian luxury scene if compared to those internationally?
The business-savvy lady credibly answered, “Malaysian women are really spoilt with great choices. I think luxury bags have evolved to become part of the must-haves for high society.” But even so, she reiterates the fact that having style isn’t always about the price of the bag, it’s how you carry it. So now that she’s made her mark in the luxury fashion retail, what’s next?
“I have a great passion for property investment in London, perhaps that’s another exciting journey to explore. The greatest success is not here yet, in the meantime, let us just enjoy the ride in getting there!”
This article previously appeared in the September 2013 issue of Malaysia Tatler.