E'tho: A Cinderella Story

With the arrival of Hari Raya Puasa, fashion superstar Eric Tho has once again come out with new designs to suit the fall season and welcome in this Muslim “Day of Celebration.” “ A Glamorous Fall/Rya 2008” is a combination of the old and the new where tradition meets innovation and diverse cultures fuse into one spectacular show.

Under the brand name E’tho, designer Eric Tho’s latest collection includes a total of 30 unique pieces made of silk, batik chiffons and lace. For the women, he features 24 year-end party-wear, which consists of “baby doll” cocktail dresses and elegant gowns in a variety of colours. The 6 designs for the men include the “Nehru” and basic collar batik shirts as well as batik vests and waistcoats.

As one on Malaysia’s top designers, Eric Tho did not start out there. His rise to the top is in fact a Cinderella story of sorts. In 1987, he started work at factory in Marang—a peaceful seaside town in Terengganu, which is also where the art of batik was first introduced to Malaysia. In exchange for little pay, his employer allowed him to have a 12-by-12 feet corner in which to do his own work. The town was a popular destination for many European tourists who were attracted to Tho’s stylish western attire with batik prints. Although most had little prior knowledge of batik, Tho’s designs turned them into batik lovers.

With fame comes its own set of problems however. As his designs became more popular, the local markets began to copy his work. Thus, in order to escape the brutal and unregulated competition of these small shops and gain recognition for his exclusive works, he decided to move his business to Kuala Lumpur in 1992.

E’tho’s continued success in the relentlessly changing fashion industry can be attributed to his ability to change and adapt with it. He creates a Malay traditional handicraft with a western point of view to make a unique product. This fusion of cultures in which batik meets Western designs is his talent and how he keeps his designs upbeat and trendy. His goal is not to dictate fashion, but to move with it. From a 12-by-12 feet corner, Eric Tho is now an icon of Malaysian batik.