Gin & Jacqie

Gin & Jacqie’s founder, Jacqueline or Jacqie as she’s known to most of her customers got her start when she ditched her bulky and dull laptop bag and made her own bag. “Most of the time people have no choice but to use their ugly, black laptop case because the alternatives were so expensive. So I decided to give them an option with my very own designs.” Besides her obvious penchant for gin and tonic (see brand name), Jacqie’s passion is making the dull, interesting. Armed with her background in economics, Jacqie decided to trade in her monotonous corporate job for a more fun and colorful gig running her own bag making business.

Aiming to make anything and everything that she deems ugly and turn it to something pretty, Jacqie takes everyday items like laptop cases, cheque book, notebooks covers to diaper bags and spruces them up with her signature colorful prints. Jacqie says the winning formula for Gin & Jacqie products is that it’s functional, practical, fun and most importantly affordable. Prices for Gin & Jacqie bags vary from RM35 (for a digital camera pouch) to RM250 (for a laptop bag).

Gin & Jacqie also offer their design and manufacturing services to corporate clients who prefer having bags custom-made to their specific requirements. This gives the clients the freedom to order in small quantities (hundreds) as opposed to the typical thousand-unit minimum order, which more often than not largely ends up in storage. But Jacqie insists she’s more than willing to turn them down if they want something boring made.

Markets overseas, namely US and Australia have shown keen interest in her attractively colorful bags. Jacqie wishes that Malaysians would break from the monotony of black and boldly venture into the realm of bright hues adding “the bag should accessorize you not the other way round.”

At the moment, Isetan KLCC and Isetan The Gardens are the main retailers of the full Gin & Jacqie’s range. Customers can also order online via Gin & Jacqie website and enjoy the different promotions, discounts and the gift service offered. Be sure to check out Gin & Jacqie’s latest designs coming out this month.

Text Didi Ramlan Photo Gin & Jacqie