Meet the two Malaysian designers changing the course of avant garde maximalism in South East Asia
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Courtesy of @motoguo
Name: MOTO GUO
Age: 30
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Star Sign: Scorpio
3 year goal? Slowly adapt into the next phase of life, adulting. From the mundane tasks - learning how to do taxes, to a more notable goal - owning a house, I wish to accomplish these mini milestones that will propel me further into newer heights in life. In the meantime, I hope to continue doing what I enjoy most and nurture this brand to its full potential.
Name: KINDER ENG
Age: 29
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Star Sign: Pisces
3 year goal? I hope that we are able to expand our team here at motoguo. Having different departments with their respective person in charge can help us keep our razor focus and achieve a higher rate of efficiency.
Founded by Malaysian designers, Moto Guo and Kinder Eng, their eponymous label, MOTOGUO is a means for the duo to engage in the exploration of gender, fashion and fluidity while sharing equal footing in the managing and creative direction of the emerging brand.
Moto Guo, who’s ardor for the double bass and violin led him to graduate from music school, shares that the education he received helped shape his intuition and improve his precision to minute details – a trait that has carried forward in designing clothes. “My time at music school has taught me to shape my intuition and sensitivity to details,” he explains.
Kinder Eng, Guo’s other half, is involved with designing new collections, artistic direction for campaign shoots and runway shows. A hopeless romantic by nature, Eng describes himself as a dreamer, a trait self-ingrained and a reflection of his identity in the brand. Drawing inspirations from visuals, sounds and smells, he works his way to present these into tangible designs in fun and peculiar ways.
A label that challenges peculiarity in the romantic, the two directors carefully nurture the identity of the label to express what they feel. Drawing inspiration from their individual lives and the occurrences in the labels journey – weaving it onto the identity of the clothes they put out.
Pravin Nair: What were you involved with prior to starting up the eponymous brand?
Moto Guo: Before pursuing a career in fashion design, I had a background in classical music. Upon graduating with the best academic and best collection award in 2013, I started gaining exposure when my graduate collection caught the attention of a buyer from Wut Berlin Tokyo and when I got my first feature on Fucking Young!
Kinder Eng: I started my course in fashion design straight out of high school and graduated with the best collection award in 2014 (one year after Moto). I also assisted Moto with his pre-debut collection before eventually starting the label with Moto and our business partner, Jay Ang. The rest is history.
PN: What is the story behind the name ‘motoguo’?
MG: The word “Guo” is my family’s surname, and the nickname “Moto” was given to me by some of my friends in high school, as they would refer to me as the Hippo named “Moto Moto” from the movie Madagascar.
PN: What is one vital and necessary food item that you need when you are having a stressful period?
MG: Anything is fine as long as there is food!!!
KE: Pepsi Zero.
PN: What is the perfect day for you?
MG: Working while it's pouring cats & dogs.
KE: Any day would be perfect if I’m in the right mood.
PN: Share an ideal vacation that you envision!
MG: Vintage thrifting all day!
KE: Shopping all day in any country!
PN: One lip gloss or lip balm that you swear by?
MG: I use neither.
KE: Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil.
PN: What was the first designer item you owned?
MG: I can’t recall.
KE: Jenny Fax.
PN: Best and worst social media trend at the moment?
MG: I’ve never paid attention to ongoing social trends, what’s the latest social trend now?
KE: Social media trends to stress me out!
PN: What’s a favourite bag you want to have or own?
MG: The cloud bag from Walter Van Beirendonck’s Spring Summer 2012 collection!
KE: At this moment, the Prada Brique Brushed Leather Bag.
PN: Lastly, what is your routine that you follow through each time you leave the house?
MG: It’s always been straight to the studio, work through the night and go straight home, and occasionally spend the night in the studio. It really depends on my mood on the day.
KE: Doing my make-up on my way to the studio.
