THEDECK

ISSUE 03

featuringjulian ohhsuylnn pangchef nik imranjimmy bligs

indiepen

dan

t

boarding passnepal

08shop feature: pulp by papa palhetamarcus foo deals some cranked up caffeine and tells us about this coffee joint with a twist.

12talent feature: hsulynn pangthe rising star of an artist is slowly scriblling and doodling her way in to our books and hearts.

16family feature: chef nik imrantoo hot to handle, the superhero chef tells us some deep, dark secrets.

22lookbook: summer collection 2014

photo: pestle & m

ortar clothing summ

er collection

table of contents

34spotlight: julian ohtattooist, photographer and traveller, julian oh tells us how he manages his verylimited time.

40fashion spotlight:jimmy bligsthe bossman of grand scheme takes us through being your own employer.

42store feature: major drop

44boarding pass: nepalour staff photographer took a holiday and didn’t tell us until he came back to work too tan to recognize.

Hey all,

August, just like that! The past 7 months have flown past in the blink of an eye. It is amazing to know Malaysia has been on the rise of producing some very talented individuals. Whether it be art or music, Malaysians have shown a constant strive for improving our standards in every aspect of the game. Some of us may still have long journeys ahead but with our constant never-say-die attitude it is all only a matter of time. We have dedicated issue 03 - entitled INDIEpendent - to highlight certain key figures in varying fields.

Gracing our cover is the very talented Julian Oh - tattoo artist and photographer extraordinaire. He has been a good friend of Pestle & Mortar’s for a long time and we’ve even collaborated on a few projects. The saying “jack of all trades, master of none” is definitely not one applicable to this gentlemen.

We hope that issue 03 will inspire you to take the less traveled road and strive to chase your dreams. Let Malaysia, for a change, be the place others seek out to gather inspiration from. Let us chase this communal dream as one, as a collective and strive to be the nation’s best!

This issue is dedicated to all the people who have inspired us to constantly push our boundaries. The world is our playground and no grown-up is going to ruin our party.

As our current distribution of The Deck is only limited to the Klang Valley, we have decided to spread our wings and take flight on the interwebs - so be sure to check out www.thedeckzine.com for all your quarterly reads + needs + more!

Love & Peace,The Pestle & Mortar Family

editor’s letter

EDITOR & RETAIL EXECUTIVEArthur Loharthur@thedeckzine.com

BRAND MANAGERDanny Newdanny@pestlemortarclothing.com

PROJECT MANAGERAndy Poon

WRITERSDanny New Nina ImanRazlan Yusof

CREATIVE DIRECTORHugh Kohhugh@pestlemortarclothing.com

ART DIRECTORJulian Kohjulian@thedeckzine.com

PHOTOGRAPHYRazlan Yusof

photo: grand scheme

ADVERTISING3A10, Block C, Phileo Damansara 1, 9 Jalan 16/11, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 46350, Malaysiathedeck@pestlemortarclothing.com

The Deck is a quarterly zine published and distributed by Pestle & Mortar Clothing (Pencil Produce Sdn. Bhd.)

Printed in Malaysia by Art Printing Works Sdn. Bhd

masthead

PULP by Papa Palheta is a triple threat: a café, a showroom, and a forum for education – the perfect place for any coffee aficionado - from the curious java virgin to a qualified professional to an aspiring café owner - who is looking to learn more about the craft, cop some quality equipment and crockery, share their experience, or just have a damn good cup of coffee.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Marcus Foo, the head coffee purveyor at PULP and he gave us a little insight into the awesomeness that is PULP and Papa Palheta.

What does independence mean to you and the rest of the Papa Palheta family? Why is it important?It isn’t the importance of independence but what you believe in and the “buy-in” mentality of the organization at every level that matters. There are big coffee chains out there that remain ignorant to their sources while there are some big coffee chains who, in fact, believe in amazing farming practices or culture building. At Papa Palheta, we have a very big “buy-in” approach on how we conduct ourselves. Our answer to being independent is doing what we believe in for the cause of good coffee.

On the front window of PULP, it says “A city that deserves great coffee.” What are your views on the coffee scene in Kuala Lumpur and why did a Singaporean coffee company decide to venture across the border?We have always envisioned ourselves as a Malaysian-Singaporean brand. In our drive to promote and push for better coffee, the team at Papa Palheta has been continuously pushing bound-aries and redefining the coffee retail experience, and we wanted to extend this passion beyond Singapore. We were drawn to Malaysia due to marked increase in demand for superior coffee and brewing equipment in recent years, which is very much in line with our love for better coffee.

What differentiates PULP from the many other coffee shops in Kuala Lumpur? We do not compare ourselves to cafes or coffee shops, as we focus on the coffee retail experience - the purchas-ing of coffee, brewing apparatus and machines – and are committed to the core business of supporting and serving the commercial and retail business. It is about buying coffee in every sense. Hence why we allocated a large portion of our space to education and cof-fee-centric activities.

pulp by papa palheta

shop feature: pulp café

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We very much want to support the coffee shops here in Kuala Lumpur in a way that we can all grow together.

If anything, we differentiate ourselves with our beliefs, our sourcing tech-niques and roasting practices. Our standpoint is based on transparency, traceability and quality.

Located on Jalan Riong near NST, PULP is slightly off the beaten track. Why did you choose the lot you’re in? After months of groundwork and seeking an ideal home in Malaysia, we met the people behind The Royal Press (TRP) and Art Printing Works (APW) who were in the process of rejuvenating and reinventing their business in Melaka and Kuala Lumpur respectively. The APW site, built in 1965, is unique and its char-acter hits you the moment you enter the building. Its long history, coupled with APW’s future plans for the site, comple-mented the vision of Papa Palheta, and we set out to collaborate.

We found the history of the printing site very intriguing, especially when we discovered a similarity between paper and coffee. While the journey of paper generally begins with wood pulp, coffee has to go through the process of depulping in order to extract the seeds needed to make coffee. This synchrony was the main inspiration behind the name of our latest addition to the Papa Palheta family – PULP.

PULP CAFE29-01 Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Close on Mondays. Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 7pm. Weekends from 9am to 10pm.

#pestlemortarclothing

Megan Tan. TV Host, Emcee & Aspiring Actor Neon Lights Tank Top Sky Blue, RM70.00

www.facebook.com/megantym

Hsulynn Pang, a graduate in commu-nications from AUT, New Zealand, and a student in 3D animation, has always been a natural at drawing – a passion she’s held on to since she was a kid, learning techniques and constantly discovering and rediscovering the joy of it through her parents, friends and even through books. Having been a com-munications student, this skill set only became relevant to her again during her days as a post-graduate studying 3D animation, where she was hailed as literally the only one in her class that could actually put pencil to paper and illustrate concepts, storyboards and character designs. Upon coming back to KL, she found herself working in a mul-timedia training company – all the while exercising her little fingers on well-in-demand illustration work on the side.

These little outside influences soon became her catalyst to take the plunge in to becoming a freelance illustrator, which she did for well over 2 years taking a job as a concept artist in an an-imation company in between. Yearning for the freedom of expression, she is now an independent artist working only on projects that drives her passion – a good mix of fun and work without the brooding clients breathing down her neck. Something many of us silently wish for everyday.

putting pencil to paper

talent feature: hsulynn pang

hsulynn pang doodles her way to happiness.

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Siphoning through her piles of art scattered across her workspace, it wasn’t hard to envision her thought process and the progression at which a story would unfold through an entire project. With a child-like, scribbly soft coloured style, her concepts seem to fit in any children’s book – an avenue of projecting her creativity flawlessly. When asked, Hsulynn coyly cites some of her creative inspirations, the likes of Oliver Jeffers, Quinten Bake (notable for his work on Roald Dahl books), Claire Keane (Disney’s Tangled, Frozen), Glenn Keane (Concept Art for Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Aladinn, Beauty and The Beast) and Brittney Lee.

Hsulynn’s work isn’t limited to the pages of children’s books – she finds fun in anything that would require her to create, doodle and story tell across different mediums. Some notable ones would be the menu for the “Three Little Pigs & The Big Bad Wolf”, a wall mural at Ipoh Sepaloh Art Gallery and Bou-tique Hotel, as well as the BSC Markets design and artwork.

To Hsulynn, starting out on her own as a freelance illustrator/artist was one of the best decisions that she has ever made as it has enabled her to do the things that she loves most, retaining passion for her career as an illustrator all while travelling with her husband Sam, spend-ing time with family, baking, writing music and painting.

So how did she succeed in her career as a freelance illustrator, and still be passionate about it? Her answer was a simple and often repeated mantra that many successful people live by, “Work hard, don’t be afraid to fail, don’t be afraid of consequences, and of what people think. Love what you do. Con-stantly come up with concepts, keep drawing, doodles, sketches, journals and conversations. Instead of focusing on yourself, focus on the outcome and be adventurous. I rather live trying than not knowing. Success is doing something that you don’t regret; we’ve only got so much time left on this earth, don’t regret and waste your life away. Live life with a purpose, where you make choices that you won’t regret.”

Hsulynn can be reached at:facebook.com/hsulynnpangillustrationsinstagram.com/hsulynn

#pestlemortarclothing

John Lloyd. Art DirectorVictoria Pocket Tee Black, RM80.00

ISH Salon, Bangsar

John Paul Chen. Managing DirectorHeritage Logo Tee Melange, RM70.00

www.flyvision.sg

family feature: chef nik imran

familyfeature:chef nik michael imran

If you don’t know Chef Nik Michael Imran, then now is the time! He’s one of the hottest commodities that Malaysia has to offer to the culinary world and never fails to push the boundaries of fusion cuisine, bringing in new, vibrant and tantalising creations to the palettes of Malaysians. His journey eventually led him to front his very own restaurant, PickNik Comfort Food Café. With his father at his side, they serve up some of the most original ideas in comfort food right in our backyard. It’s amazing how much has been accomplished by this 25 year old and we can only guess what he’ll have in-store for us in the future.

Between a plate of Nasi Lemak and his famous Korean Lamb Cutlets, we stopped chewing just long enough to ask Nik a few questions.

How did you get into the industry? My dad was a chef back in Australia and I’ve been picking up little bits of it ever since I was a kid. Until he instilled sturdy fundamentals of cooking in me, the first thing I really learned how to make was a Crepe Suzette when I was 9. Then came MasterChef Malaysia, and three years later, I found myself needing a bigger kitchen to cope with the private func-tions & demonstrations that my team and I did. So get a production kitchen I did, added in a few tables and chairs and voila, here I am with a full fledged restaurant.

Whats your relationship with your dad like in the kitchen? My dad & I, we have this working yet dysfunctional love-hate relationship. I don’t know how to explain it but you have to catch us at the restaurant to-gether. It’s like we’re constantly sarcastic to each other, always trying to one-up the other but at the same time we bump heads on things we’re dealing with while also complimenting each other on what we did right. It’s weird. Haha!

What is that one ingredient that you consider basic in any kitchen - the one thing that can transform a bland meal into a banquet? Sea salt. I swear by it. I use it for every-thing I cook.

What’s your personal favourite dish? My favourite dish changes from time to time. Right now, I’m craving some Bolognese with Chili Padi.

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family feature: chef nik imran

Malaysian food culture is like no other because....Just today I saw a friend’s Facebook status: “where are your favourite food spots in Malaysia ah?” The replies were varied from fine dining to street stalls, from Johor to Sabah. I think as a nation, we have an extremely intimate relationship with food. We’re on this constant quest of finding the best and then, we share.

Do you have a secret spot for really good food? There’s this little Thai stall at the car park of Aeon (used to be Carrefour) in Ampang, near Bukit Belacan. They’ve got RM5 tom yam laksa that “tapaus” a lot of Thai restaurants in KL. For dessert, have the sticky mango rice.

What is one of the best recipes you have made and why? One that really stands out is Kari Kapi-tan. It’s so simple, barely any spices but the flavour it packs is so good that it feels like I’m cheating sometimes.

What’s your advice to home cooks in KL? You don’t need to be a genius to cook

– and practice definitely makes perfect. Try classic dishes often & you’ll soon find that you can cook anything.

How would you describe your cloth-ing style? And what made you like it?I would describe my clothing style as a streetwear mixtape played on a tape deck. The utility of it with some individ-ual freedom thrown in the mix is what makes me love it.

Do you have a favourite piece of Pestle & Mortar Clothing? That batik print pocket tee. If I had to choose another, it would probably be the golden ticket. Or that Victoria Pock-et Tee from the “All Fresh” Summer Collection. Now that’s dope!

What can your audience, customers look forward to in the upcoming months?If all goes smoothly, a series of shows on YouTube - imagine an international quality show with local content BUT without the local censorship.

Be sure to pop by his restaurant at: facebook.com/PickNikComfortFoodCafe

Follow Nik at: instagram.com/nik9_facebook.com/nikmichael

#pestlemortarclothing

Fuad Alhabshi. Lead Vocalist of Kyoto ProtocolOtto Long Sleeve Shirt Dark Green, RM160.00

www.kyotoband.com

Jun-Elle. Artist ExtraordinaireAkimbo Pocket Dress Black, RM120.00

www.ellephant-art.com

lookbook: summer collection 2014

all fresh collectionIt’s summer; the suns out more and evidently so are we - the clouds are be-ginning to give us a break and all that’s left of the rain lingers in the moisture of the air. It’s time to dust off our shorts and reduce our sleeve lengths for a more even tan.

For all your fun-in-the-sun needs, Pestle & Mortar Clothing has released our “All Fresh” collection this season. Featuring bold, contrasting colours and designs, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to freshen up pre-millenial palettes and give them a better display out in the sun.

In addition to our staple Pocket Tees, we’ve got some new Logo prints and even a full Camo design. Borrowing creative energy from the pioneering generation of the electric 80’s and rock-in’ 90’s, we’ve even enlisted elements like Geometry, Galactic views, Manly Illustrations and Neon Signs.

Stay “All Fresh” this season as the sun shines down upon you and your new threads.

all fresh collection

lookbook: summer collection 2014

lookbook: summer collection 2014

lookbook: summer collection 2014

lookbook: summer collection 2014

#pestlemortarclothing

Bryzoid. Surrealist PhotographerBermuda Pocket Tee Black, RM75.00

www.bryzoid.com

Ezra Chua. Radio Announcer on MIX.fmSeafarer Short Sleeve Shirt, RM150.00

www.facebook.com/EzraMIXfm

spotlight: julian oh

through the needle’s eye

an independent tattooer under the wayang kulit collective and one-half of the creative duo behind redd bullets.

Calm, collected, insightful, and humble, Julian is a renowned tattooer known for his sketch-style and constant traveling. Allowing me some of his precious time, we discussed his life as an independent tattooer, his craft, and the creative scene of our city.

How did you get into the tattoo busi-ness? Did you wake up one morning, look at yourself in the mirror, and say

– “I want to poke people with needles and draw on them”?I was in between things and back then I was getting my tattoos done by a few close friends of mine. I asked one day if I could try tattooing out and I actually tried it on myself and that was the turn-ing point. I was intrigued and I started tattooing more and before I knew it, I was in the shop and helping out, asking how to do things, and that’s how it all started.

In regards to tattooing, what does independence mean to you and why is it important? I used to work in a shop with a crew and I think that’s really important when you start out because you need colleagues to learn from, talk to, and throw ideas around with. I later chose to work on my own because my wife and I started Redd Bullets and being a private tattooer allows me to be more flexible with my schedule, more focus on my art and time to travel and work.

spotlight: julian oh

36

You’re known for your unique sketch-style tattoos. How did you develop your personal style? Is it something you’ve always done or a skill you’ve honed over the years? After five years of tattooing, I have only just discovered “my style” – some-thing that I’m really comfortable with, something I know and understand while I’m doing it. It kind of came about by accident as I looked up artists on the Internet to see what I identified with, and this just happened. I just started developing this type of drawing more and what I draw basically goes onto skin as well, complete with sketchy lines, missing joints, odd angles - basically, just a lot of line textures.

A gun is pointed to your head and you’re asked to give up either pho-tography or tattooing. Which one would you choose? I would stop doing photography. I’ve cut down on photography now actu-ally and find myself focusing more on tattooing. I think tattooing gives me a really different sense of self-fulfillment. I feel really good when I tattoo; I really love it. Everyday it’s a new thing.

spotlight: julian oh

When you first started out in this business, did you have any idea it would one day bring you around the world? I never thought that I would be able to travel like how I do. I didn’t travel much until I met Taco Joe from Sabah (editor’s note: another awesome Malaysian tattooer, also part of Wayang Kulit) and we’ve been travel buddies for the past three years. I met him in Europe at a convention and Joe had been traveling for some time, so he helped me get hooked up with some tattooers in Holland and Germany and we got to conventions there together.

What are your views on the creative scene in Kuala Lumpur? Honestly, I’m not really socially involved with the creative scene but I don’t think we’re very tight as a creative commu-nity in Malaysia when compared to Singapore, Philippines, or Hong Kong. I’ve seen the scene in those countries and it’s so tight – across music, design, and photography, everyone knows everyone. I think the scene here should be more together so everybody feels on the same level - like creative col-leagues - and talk out ideas, trash each other’s ideas, and learn from it. If there were a better sense of community and if people would share more, the scene would grow.

fashion spotlight: jimmy bligs

Grand Scheme is a homegrown Austra-lian independent lifestyle label that has seen great success the world over since its foundations were built back in 2006. Leading with a self-professed rebellious and DIY spirit, they are literally the Grand Scheme of things; working with Australian and international designers, artists, photographers and musicians, all of whom help define the brand’s unique attitude that ultimately makes up its identity.

Head honcho, Jimmy Bligs, answers a few of our pestering questions:

What does independence mean to you and why is it important?To me independence is how we started from the ground up as a DIY enterprise and not part of a big corporation that’s just worried about their bottom line. It’s about doing things for the right reasons and supporting other people doing the same thing.

What sparked your interest in fashion? I have always worked as a freelance artist/graffiti scumbag, and like most graffiti afficianados, some friends and I just started printing our own T-shirts for ourselves to rock. That was my moment of enlightenment and I have been obsessed with it ever since.

Seeing as you are your own boss, what’s your day-to-day schedule like? I usually start work at the Melbourne design studio at 10am earliest; I’m not one to enjoy mornings. A typical workday would end at 6pm but being your own boss only means your hands stop working – the brain on the other hand, is constantly inspired and there is never enough time in a day to feed my creative needs.

jimmy bligs: grand scheme

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If you hadn’t started Grand Scheme, what would you be doing? I’d still be scheming on something creative.

In previous interviews, you have said that Grand Scheme was like your baby. Seeing as you’ve now expanded outside of Australia, do you still consider it a baby or is it more like an adventurous teenager pushing the boundaries and asserting itself? Grand Scheme will always be my baby – but having said that, it definitely has grown a lot since, and its really exciting to see it slowly make its own way in to the world.

Major Drop is going to be stocking Grand Scheme and we’re so psyched to be bringing it to Malaysian shores! When you first started out, did you ever imagine that Grand Scheme would have such an international impact? No! It still blows my mind to see people around the world wearing my designs, and it’s an awesome feeling. I really feel blessed.

How’s the streetwear scene in Australia? I think Australian street wear is a mix of different lifestyles; street, fashion and skate, with a lot of different influences. It’s a much smaller scene than the larger markets but there is some great quality stuff coming out of some of the best independent retailers I’ve seen by far.

What are your future ambitions for Grand Scheme? I just want to keep expanding the brand while staying true to our core ideals. Our international account list is growing really quickly so I think more traveling is on the cards.

Can you imagine yourself doing anything else? I really can’t imagine ever working for any-one else and I don’t think they would hire me anway. Running a business is hard but I love the hustle and freedom of it all.

Do you have any advice for someone starting their own label? It’s hard work! Someone once told me M.A.P – Marketing, Accounting, and Production. If you can get on top of these 3 elements from the beginning or partner with someone who can, you’re headed in the right direction.

We had the liberty of meeting Louie. Why did you choose to get a French Bull dog and how has he impacted your life? My girlfriend (especially) and I were a little obsessed with these little freaks of nature; they are the perfect mix of ridiculously cute and ugly. He has so much personality I don’t think he’s a dog, more like a mogwai/piglet. He’s such a part of the family now that we just spoil him rotten.

Photos by G

rand Schem

e

store feature: major drop

major dropIt is our distinct honor to present our new-est venture, Major Drop, a new multi-brand concept store. The central idea of Major Drop is that it is a collection of your day-to-day sartorial and life needs; a selection of the freshest styles, curated especially for the contemporary individual.

With the launch of the first store in Sunway Pyramid on the 27th of June – after much blood, sweat, tears, caffeinating, binge eating, and retail therapy on our end – Major Drop is a fresh new addition to Kuala Lumpur’s retail scene. Carrying internation-ally recognized brands such as Benny Gold, Grand Scheme, HUF, Billionaires Boys Club, and UNIF, Major Drop is the perfect place for men and women alike to cop some edgy new pieces for their wardrobe. In addition to apparel, Major Drop also stocks a range of home and tech accessories from a range of brands like Keep Cup, thecoopidea, Hangin’ With the Homies, and Good Worth & Co. More brands will be added to the list as we grow, so keep an eye out!

If our store is a little too out of reach for you, fret not, we got you covered! We’ll be rolling out a Major Drop online store super soon and have multiple stores around the region on the expansion plan. Rest assured, it is just the beginning.

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Photos by Jeremy Choy

boarding pass: nepal

I never thought of myself ever going to a place like this. Kathmandu was one of those trips that happened on a whim – buying my flight ticket without knowing what to expect, not having any previous knowledge of the culture, history or geography. It just happened and I’m glad it did.

Like a child again, I found myself in a place where I didn’t understand the language, the local pallet or the traffic situation. It was a short 2 weeks and I knew I barely had time to explore, but I had a mission and that was to photo-graph – not wanting to come back with a set of pictures of food, buildings and touristy trinkets, I set out to explore the land through the faces of its locals. Every wrinkle, every smile, every frown, told me a story that I would never be able to put down in words. It was excit-ing learning to communicate without using a properly stringed sentence – one woman had me follow her into a less than attractive alley after I asked for a photo, I didn’t know what was going on or what was happening but I came out unscathed and triumphant with that portrait; that was the beauty of travel in strange lands.

Shooting with a 50mm lens forced me to get up close and personal with each subject – I think photographers nowa-days have been spoilt with the ability to take a photo while incognito with a fancy tele-photo lens. This worked espe-cially well on children and I even had the chance to have a sit down with some kids fishing by Phewa Lake just because I had a camera.

Kathmandu was one location I came to love for its exoticism of culture, so foreign and strange to me and yet, so enticing at the same time. The best part of my trip has got to be trekking through with my eyes wide open and camera lens capped, somethings just can’t be viewed through a camera.

speaking through my shutter

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boarding pass: nepal

Words and photos by Razlan Yusof

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