A STITCH IN TIME
“I believe only busy people have time.” While it may appear mathematically impossible, this is Dato’ Sri Bernard Chandran’s curious reply to how he manages his schedule with clockwork precision. Meticulous and highly organised, the renowned fashion designer and father of ve possesses a unique understanding of the value of time, recounting instances which left him only 24 hours to complete a project. Till today, he’s not failed to deliver on a single deadline, no matter how demanding.
A 30-year career in the Malaysian fashion industry has only served to strengthen his decisive sense of priority, a trait that one person in particular has admired since childhood. That person is his youngest son, Tanestrran Lournard Chandran, whose own interest in fashion and music has grown in recent years.
“What I nd interesting about my father’s way of working is that it’s not really a work style but a lifestyle. How he is in the ofce is how he is outside the ofce—his mind functions the same, he sees things in the same way,” the 17-year-old reveals.
“During the process, you might think he’s insane or that he’s overdoing it, but he knows what he wants, he’s very specic about it and he gets the job done.”
Dato’ Sri Bernard’s design studio is an exercise in military-like tidiness. Not one button, garment or roll of fabric lies out of its place; drawing utensils and work stations are kept in awless condition. A workplace as functional as this takes the chaos out of the creative process.
Despite their different creative styles, there’s one thing that resonates with both father and son: the rm belief that time is irreplaceable, an essential element to creativity. “Time is important because time is a luxury. Money can buy you anything, but one thing money can never buy you back is time,” Tanestrran says.