Creative Capital: The Singaporean entrepreneur who tells stories through clever bags

CNA Lifestyle

Creative Capital: The Singaporean entrepreneur who tells stories through clever bags

Now stocked in countries similar Japan and Sweden, Gnome & Bow are inspired past literary tales that founder Quanda Ong hopes volition inspire positive change and free energy in its owner.

07 Oct 2022 07:18AM (Updated: 04 Jul 2022 09:31PM)

Quanda Ong, the 32-year-old founder and CEO of leather accessories make Gnome & Bow, likes to call himself a Master Talesmith. For him, books and storytelling are paramount, not just in business, but also in life. A literacy advocate, this 32-twelvemonth-onetime entrepreneur spearheaded a projection to build mobile libraries in Cambodia and teach kids to read.

In 2014, Quanda set up Gnome & Bow subsequently a successful crowdfunding campaign – "The largest style crowdfunding campaign at the time" – he proudly claims. The products were billed as "cleverly crafted numberless for the discerning gentleman", and included a page instance, briefcase, duffel bag and haversack. He as well sold bracelets, card sleeves and wallets.

To create a distinct identity for the brand, he used literary references. Each collection, for example, is called a new book, and classic tales inspire many of his pieces from the packaging to the pattern motifs. To engagement, at that place have been three collections too as three special collaborations.

Ane such project was a fencing bag for Zzuma, a specialty store for elite fencers in Brooklyn, New York. It may exist the unmarried most beautiful style to behave a sword (or any other martial arts gear) nosotros have ever seen.

The brand too launched women'southward handbags in the fourth quarter of 2017. Reviews and sales have been positive, and this v-year-erstwhile local make is now stocked in countries such as Sweden and Japan. It's as well available to global customers through the Gnome & Bow site as well as other e-tailers.

Despite the relative success, Quanda stays very grounded. In person, he's cheerful, humble, well-dressed and charming, and oozes a sincerity that makes you desire to root for his success. He unwinds with a practiced book, karaoke with friends, and hitting, as he puts it, "the salsa dance floor".

Here, in a new CNA Lifestyle serial where we speak with creatives making their marking in Singapore, Quanda chats near how he incorporates letters in his products, and how he balances being both a artistic and an entrepreneur.

Gnome & Bow founder Quanda Ong is inspired past books and storytelling. (Photo: Quanda Ong) Anyone tin exist a creative in his own correct, but what's really tough in beingness a creative is beingness a commercial i. Exercise YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ENTREPRENEUR OR A Creative Showtime?

QUANDA ONG: When I kickoff founded Gnome & Bow, everyone saw me as an entrepreneur, but on hindsight, the truth is I was more than of a creative – an artist wanting to paint my stories using bags as my canvas. Even so, reality soon kicked in.

As I grew the business, I found myself condign more and more than of an entrepreneur – charting the time to come, analysing numbers and seeking commercial opportunities. Therefore, the non-so-directly respond to the question is that information technology will ever be an act of balancing the 2 and finding the sugariness spot where they synergise.

Practice YOU Always Take Ane OF THOSE "WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING?" MOMENTS?

Many times! It's like shooting fish in a barrel to get into the daily grind and be overwhelmed past work that comes your style. And then of a sudden, 1 of those moments comes. Information technology'southward a blessing though; a wake-up phone call to rethink your management and acuminate your strategies.

READ More than FROM THE SERIES: The Singapore artist who paints on Hermes Birkin bags

WHAT'Due south BEEN YOUR HERO Production And so FAR? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS ITS Appeal?

Our Strand Briefcase from Book Ii – Jekyll's Hyde is probably our about iconic production so far. The bag boasts two singled-out looks in ane: A classic, work-friendly side and a more radical, creative side when reversed.

Above all, subtle details make this pocketbook a standout, such as the inner voices of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde engraved on the base of the bag, and tasteful touches like our signature oxblood hand-stitching.

It's piece of cake to get into the daily grind and be overwhelmed by 'work' that comes your way. Then of a sudden, one of those moments comes.

WHAT'S BEEN THE TOUGHEST Artistic CHALLENGE You'VE FACED SO FAR?

That would be designing and launching that same collection, Jekyll's Hyde. The idea was to create a series of reversible bags that showcases the two contending faces of human nature: The rational, reserved side versus the wilder, more spontaneous inner cocky. The question is: "Which side will prevail?"

Two sides to every homo. (Photo: Gnome & Bow)

The pattern cursory was to create a bag that could keep upwards with the modern individual's lifestyle, one that was non only adaptable to work and play, but also interactive and emotionally engaging.

One side of the numberless features a classic and lustrous nylon which speaks of a distinguished Dr Jekyll. When flipped, the bags reveal a custom printed cotton canvass, each motif testament to the unconventional means of Mr Hyde.

Designing information technology was only one half of the claiming. Then came the fabrication, which took an incredible amount of resolve and resourcefulness. The creative in me really pushed to perfect the collection. Meanwhile, the entrepreneur in me hoped for the best. I'yard glad it turned out well.

Who better to model his own creations than the founder himself? (Photograph: Quanda Ong)

WHO IS YOUR DESIGN OR Creative HERO?

Paul Smith. His curiosity for all things around him, quirky personality and passion for life inspire me.

TELL US SOMETHING Nigh YOUR CREATIVE Procedure THAT NO Ane WOULD Await?

We plan our books (collections) at least v books ahead to ensure a seamless transition and story line. Each drove is inspired by stories chosen non randomly, but via a rigorous checklist to ensure both creative and commercial appeal. Every chemical element of our design is thought through in detail, from the name of each product to the symbolic representation of our key messages. Finally, we tell stories through our appurtenances on 2 levels.

READ: Why watch aficionados should collect niche brands, co-ordinate to Arnold & Son

The first is how our bags communicate the narrative or concept of the story through details, colours and textures. The 2nd, which most people might non know about is how our products chronicle to the user in a personal or emotional way. What do they hateful across the narrative and into the lives of the user?

Book I: The Hare & The Flying Tortoise, for instance, represents the underdog in the rat race, the wings innovation and perseverance, characteristics of a victor. We designed it in a way to assistance consumers tell their story, in turn hoping to inspire positive change and energy in them.

Each collection is inspired by stories chosen not randomly, but via a rigorous checklist to ensure both creative and commercial appeal.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF RETAIL?

The future of retail is in onmi-channel, making sure that offline and online bear upon points work hand-in-hand. Farther to this, the real pivot lies in how brands tin differentiate themselves through a consistent and engaging brand experience.

Brands need to go up shut and personal with consumers or work with stores (the middleman) who can interpret or replicate their brand experience without dilution. These are increasingly hard to find. Mass distribution and ambitious marketing is not just going to work anymore every bit consumers become more discerning.

Quanda is leaping alee into the future with a v-to-10-yr roadmap. (Photo: Quanda Ong)

IS SINGAPORE A TOUGH Identify TO Be Creative?

The respond lies in what makes a artistic tick. Singapore has grown leaps and bounds in the artistic scene since my dad's time, where engineering was the hot manufacture. Anyone can be a creative in his own right, but what'south really tough in being a creative is being a commercial ane. Information technology's a constant challenge breaking through creative clutter while making business sense, agreement consumer needs and coming together them.

So, yes, it is very tough in my opinion equally Singapore still has a herd mentality, especially when information technology comes to the arts and manner, following mass trends, playing safety and fitting into popular stereotypes.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED BY RUNNING YOUR Ain BUSINESS?

I've learned loads. I almost don't know where to get-go when asked this question. I guess a key learning point is the importance of commercial creativity. Creativity and commercial reality have a strong symbiotic relationship that you lot need to harness to stay competitive and relevant in the business. Some other is the importance of people. They are what make whatsoever business live and thriving. Always invest in them.

Creative Capital: The Singaporean entrepreneur who tells stories through clever bags

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