Finest fibres for footwear
This makes the shoes more durable and non-slippery. Meanwhile, the foot bed has a layer of sponge for comfort and some straps are fitted with Velcro so they can be adjusted for width. Other straps are made of a scuba fabric, which is soft and can expand to the wearer’s feet.
“The silhouettes for our sandals are quite simple but we like to mix materials,” says Yokie. “When the materials change, they will change the look of the shoe even though the pattern is the same. For our first collection we used a lot of mesh. A sandal that uses mesh and black leather looks very different even though it is essentially the same design.”
Lately, Yoke & Theam has been experimenting with microfibre leather. Yokie explains that it is the highest standard of synthetic leather with the added advantage of being sustainable, while “not killing any animals”.
For creative purposes, the sisters are not cutting leather out completely although they are slowly phasing it out. But using other materials has enabled them to expand their creative choices in other ways.
“By not limiting ourselves to leather, we are finding a lot more colours and materials that we can play with. Shoe textiles come in various textures where they not only look but also feel different. Leather is quite limited in that sense,” says Yokie. Sliders from the brand’s collaboration with Alia B.
A Yoke & Theam poster and photos of the family’s past work, including the children’s shoes that Yokie wore as a child.
WORK WITH OTHERS
Shoe lasts decorate Yokie’s home, along with a photo of the family’s factory in Menglembu. make sure that it’s the right blend of her image and ours,” says Yokie.
It can take up to two months from sketch to finished shoe. Sketching requires design brainstorming between the sisters, to see if it fits the brand image. They discuss colours next, and source for material.
Shoe sampling usually takes a bit of time too. “We need to decide how to manufacture it,” says Yoke Sin. “We also test to see if it’s durable and comfortable, so there are a lot of processes before a shoe is released.”
The price for a pair of Yoke & Theam range between RM200 to 300. They aren’t cheap, Yokie admits, but they can’t go lower, given the high quality components that go into it. The sisters can sell at RM50 but it won’t have the same material, and so it won’t be the same shoe.
Yokie says it’s a good time to be a designer in Malaysia, as consumers are more accepting of homegrown brands. Her father’s shoe factory has been around for 30 years; hopefully it will continue for another 30.