KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — It’s a frustration many Malaysian shoppers often share; walk into any shopping mall and you encounter the same stores over and over. Where does one go for retail satisfaction that does not come from run-of-the-mill brands?
That’s one of the motivations behind Merchant & Sisters which opened last December above the popular Restoran Shangri-la at Plaza Batai. Guided by the tagline ‘Purveyors of Extremely Good Taste’, it’s a welcoming space that’s modern yet rustic, with an old-world elegance.
As a customer commented, stepping in is like walking into someone’s living room — except this one is more lifestyle than living, combining retail with a café, barber and tattoo parlour.
Merchant & Sisters calls itself a “general store”, a concept inspired by what its owners had come across on their travels. “There is a revival of this kind of stores in Los Angeles,” says Sunita Petrus, who makes up one half of the Sisters with her sibling Perin, while the Merchant is Farouk Aljoffery. Perin and Farouk are also partners at a film production company.
With Merchant & Sisters, Sunita continues, they wanted to recreate the traditional elements that used to accompany retail experiences, in a contemporary setting. “Think of our kedai runcit back in the day, you always knew the boss and he knew you. We wanted this to be the kind of intimate space where people would feel at home, a place they’d be drawn to come in and have a chat.”
The idea of a general store also appealed to the sisters as it brings together everything they personally love: fashion, lifestyle, home décor, and food. “We were always talking about beautiful things,” Perin reveals.
“We’d always say, oh we wish we had our own furniture shop.” It wasn’t until Sunita, who was also in the film industry, decided she had had enough of that and wanted a change of environment, that they decided to turn their wishful thinking into reality.
That was a year and a half ago. “It was the right time,” says Perin, “things just fell into place.” So began their foray into the retail business, a completely new scene for the three film veterans. “We’re learning along the way, and still making mistakes!” Sunita admits. It took them six months just to find the right spot, as they wanted to be in an area where people would appreciate their concept.
For the retail front, they sourced a variety of lifestyle brands through trade fairs, making it a point to choose designs that are casual and well made. When it comes to apparel, they don’t target any particular age group but select pieces that they feel are relevant to a way of thinking. “We don’t believe that you must dress a certain way because of your age,” says Sunita. “It’s about having your own style, doing your own thing.”
They also consider the people behind the brands, leaning towards those who show a keen knowledge of their craft and a passion for their trade. Price is another driving factor, especially given our challenging exchange rates.
Their current selection features brands from Australia, Thailand, Japan, France, Italy, Romania, Indonesia, Madagascar and several Malaysian labels. The product range includes jewellery, apparel, enamelware, bags, jeans, soft furnishings, handmade soaps, men’s wear and grooming products.
Since their opening, they have also come to know many more Malaysian brands that they are keen to work with as it’s obvious “they put love into what they do,” says Perin. “We want to support these small-scale artisans who may not have a space or channel to sell their products.”
In time to come, they want to collaborate with or host events like workshops that will bring people together and eventually, have their own line of products, starting with white shirts that they can’t get enough of.
Sunita reveals she loves to design things, but “I can’t draw! I can sketch my ideas on paper but they won’t be in the right proportions!” Farouk, on the other hand, is very passionate about salvaged Japanese denim and vintage Japanese fabrics.
For now, they’re focusing a fair bit on men’s fashion and lifestyle as they feel that there is a gap in the market. Their service partnerships with Prinz Classic Barber and The Tattoo Parlor, who share a glass-encased space carved out inside Merchant but are two separate businesses, support that idea.
Prinz, which has its first outlet in Wangsa Maju, offers haircuts (for children too), hair washes, facials and hot towel shaves. The Tattoo Parlor started in Kelana Jaya, helmed by Cheryl Pinto and Teh Juwei, who lead a stable of five tattoo artists and a piercer. Each of their artists has his or her individual style, so they can cater to a wide range of clientele and preferences. Prices depend on size and how elaborate the designs are, with the simplest ones starting at RM300 a piece.
“Having a barber on board makes us more complete. Like general stores, we had noticed that traditional barbers were enjoying a new lease of life. Besides, they have that classic, retro appeal that we wanted for our store,” Sunita explains, whereas it was a friend who suggested that they include a tattoo parlour in their line-up. “A lot of things came about organically for us,” says Perin. “We felt it was a good addition as we also wanted to attract a different array of people.”
The idea is that customers can come for a shave, snip or get inked, and after that, have a browse around, then perhaps sit down for a coffee and some bites at the café. You can tuck into toasties (the sisters’ childhood favourite), sandwiches, and all-day breakfast such as French toast, waffles, granola with milk, and Big Breakfast. The breads, as well as cakes and coffees are supplied by Huckleberry Food and Fare, which is owned by another of their sisters, Shantini, who also helped design their menu.
The small dining area is a highlight in itself, a soothing spot blessed with natural light coming through large windows, plump cushions propped up against the wall, and an all-white mosaic floor that spells out ‘Elvis never left the building’ in black tiles.
In many ways, this little corner captures the heart of Merchant & Sisters: Peaceful and homey, with a touch of fun and whimsy, it’s a happy place that quickly becomes a comfort zone.
Merchant & Sisters
8A, Jalan Batai
Damansara Heights, KL
Tel +603 2011 4774
Opens 8am to 6pm, Tue-Fri; 9am to 6pm, Sat-Sun
Note Prinz Classic Barber and The Tattoo Parlour operate slightly different hours, it’s best to call ahead
https://www.facebook.com/merchantandsisters/
Vivian Chong is a nomad, foodie and lover of all things beautiful and handmade. Read more of her travel and lifestyle stories at http://thisbunnyhops.com/
