Melaka: The organisation of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) is seen as the best platform to raise awareness among local and international communities about heritage handicraft, including beaded shoes that are a cultural identity of the Peranakan community in Melaka.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, beaded shoe entrepreneur Ong Bee Hong said this effort is necessary because there is still a misconception among the people, with some thinking that beaded shoes are made by pasting the beads, when in fact they are high-value hand-embroidered products. Ong expressed concern over the perception that beaded shoes are considered old-fashioned and unattractive due to repetitive patterns and colors. She aims to use VM2026 to educate the public on the exclusivity of each pair, emphasizing that even similar patterns have differing color combinations.
Ong, who has over 30 years of experience in the trade, emphasized the necessity of promoting beaded shoes on the world stage through efforts by Kraftangan Malaysia. She highlighted that each pair of beaded shoes is unique and valuable, appealing to foreign customers who appreciate their distinctiveness. Ong believes that reviving these shoes in contemporary fashion will preserve their legacy for future generations.
Meanwhile, mini clog entrepreneur Koo Su Fen acknowledged that VM2026 will provide greater opportunities to introduce local handicraft products internationally, especially those representing specific races, cultures, and states. Koo plans to focus on producing tourist-friendly sizes of Melaka mini clogs with affordable pricing to meet the anticipated increase in demand during VM2026. These clogs will cater to various age groups, and the designs aim to serve as souvenirs for tourists.
Koo also mentioned that the organisation of World Tourism Day (WTD) and World Tourism Conference (WTC) acts as a catalyst for introducing local handicraft products to international visitors. She noted that the feedback from foreign delegates visiting their booth since September 27 has been encouraging, indicating strong potential for local handicrafts in the international market.