One letter saw this Malaysian leather craftsman’s business close. Now he’s back
Tyde Goods founder Fong Zi Xian talks about the mentor who changed his life, passing on his own skills, and his ambitious future vision
Leather craftsman Fong Zi Xian landed in hot water in December 2021 when he received a lawyer’s letter from a major French luxury brand regarding a possible trademark infringement. What he was selling looked too much like the real deal.
“It was my fault, I admit that. I apologised,” says the 31-year-old founder of Malaysian leather craftsmanship company Tyde Goods. “And now I know where not to touch, and where I can go back.”
A tough lesson – one that led to the voluntary temporary closure of his then seven-year-old business – was learned. But Fong is now back on his feet and preparing to open his first showroom in Kuala Lumpur in October.
It is a long way from where he started – and an even longer way from where his dream almost ended.
Fong’s journey into leather began at arts and design institute The One Academy where, as a graphic design major, he had to choose a particular material to study in-depth for an assignment. He had his eye on a leather wallet from the brand Bellroy, but as a student, he could not afford it.
“I used that assignment as an excuse for my dad. I told him I needed to buy this wallet to study leather,” he says.
After making the purchase, he took the wallet apart to study the craftsmanship – and then went further. He bought tools and materials online and began working with leather to show his lecturer what he had learned.