Good for the Sole

Everyone has a childhood hope but life has a tendency to get in the way, detracting us from pursuing what we yearn for. Here however we have a young lady that despite her obstacles never stopped chasing what was once a dream, but is now her reality.

Nabilah Fadzillah, a 27-year-old, who has had a passion for arts and crafts for as long as she can remember used to fill notebooks with sketches of characters in a wide enough array of outfits that the images itself could be defined as having character. Armed with a marketing management degree from Malaysia’s Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation she spent a year searching for work to no avail. When all seemed lost the key moment came quite unexpectedly. To her surprise her dad flipped the script completely. Asking her if she would like to enroll in a fashion course she was happy beyond measure.

Taking into account her 4 closest friends from her university days – who doubled up as her fashion crew, who tripled up as her sneakerhead gang – whom she discussed the sportsretail aspect of fashion with so often, she ended up doing a final year thesis on sneakers. Her next move was a given. With no local footwear designers and shoe lines in the Sultanate, there

was a huge gap for her to slip her foot into. Next stop: A Footwear Masterclass course at I Can Make Shoes (ICMS) Ltd in Bethnal Green, London in March of 2018. Fast forward 3 and half years and there are now women out there rocking her sandals on their feet.

biG: Tell us a little about the course you did?

NF: It was an amazing experience! I’ve never sewn leather before and even though it is very tricky I got the hang of it. I learned to sketch different designs, determine what type of materials are recommended to use, and the best way to communicate with shoe manufacturers when we are ready to create our own designs. My teachers shared their experiences of working with several high-end fashion brands in Europe and I enjoyed listening to their journeys. With classmates from France and the US as well, I must say I’m proud to be the first Bruneian to be certified from a Footwear Masterclass course, bringing a new and a rare skill back home.

biG: What shoes are you currently producing, and what’s next?

NF: I launched my first

debut collection on

November 21, 2021 and released my first designed pair of sandals. I exclusively sold them as part of the brand launch as I wanted my customers to feel special by being among the first to own my signature sandals. My next design will consist of casual high, mid and flat heels; to be unveiled sometime next year. They will be available to purchase on my website, which is coming soon.

biG: What are the materials you use for your sandals?

NF: The ‘LELA’ sandals are made out of polyester satin upper with rubber outsole and outsourced in Indonesia. I was inspired to use satin as the upper because I love how exclusive the material is when worn on your feet and that’s why I chose them to be used for my first sandal collection. I’m currently outsourcing the next design somewhere else.

biG: Where do you source your inspiration?

NF: My inspiration came from how I felt just before starting-up my own shoe line and brand. I endured great difficulties in my previous job. It affected my mental and physical health, and was draining me. The theme that reflects happiness for me is all about spring. When a flower blooms it represents the freedom I’ve gained from the breakdowns I used to have. I chose two specific colours representing this description – white and yellow – and applied this to my research on trending sandals of the year.

biG: Ergonomics or style, comfort or good lucks?

NF: My design balances between both, comfort yet stylish. What made me want to debut my first product as sandals were comments from my good friends, who said it was daunting for them to find a pair of sandals sold locally which are comfortable and at the same time trendy.

biG: You are a officially a pioneer. Women are wearing your sandals. How does that make you feel?

NF: One word. Proud. I’ve come a long way to be where I am today and seeing others wearing my designs is a huge accomplishment that I cherish forever. Knowing how much I hustled to get here is a remarkable journey. I still can’t believe it myself. Although it’s a dream come true, it’s just the first step towards everything. I dedicate what I’ve achieved to both of my parents for their support since day 1. They are the foundation behind this brand. The massive encouragement I had coming from them including; family members, husband, friends, former colleagues and especially my customers who followed me on my start-up journey, are what drives me to become better at what I do best.

biG: What’s the goal for the future?

NF: I aspire to provide more shoe designs to our local market, build recognition internationally and help boost Brunei’s economy by introducing a footwear industry in the country. I hope what I built today inspires our community and the next generation to delve into their undiscovered potentials and go beyond what we normally do, as it’s never too late to start something new. Someone once told me ‘nothing great ever comes easy’ and I truly believe those words. They are my daily motivation to always move onward. •• IG: @shoesbynf FB: NF