A Vintage Penang – ( Part 1 )

One of the highlights this year was my long-overdue trip to Penang in November. I had been there once before, when I was 17. But when you’re 17, pretty much the only thing on your mind would be food, which is what Penang is famous for. Good to know that nothing much has changed! Food was at the top of our list of agendas, along with the other magic F word: Fabric.

An artist friend of ours had been very supportive of The Bag Bar and pushed for us to visit Penang because she knew that we were into vintage and retro fabric. ‘It’s the only place where you can find it now’. We are such kids of the 70′s and I’ve always loved those barkcloth fabric with the Panton-esque geometric prints. I still remember vividly the pattern that was on our curtains when I was a kid and I used to marvel at the fact that a lot of the households at the time had the same ones too. This was probably because there were only 2 fabric shops in town during the 70′s. The ladies at the only remaining shop left now are the 2nd generation running the shop and often regaled us with stories of how everyone used to go to the shop in their Sunday best and sit around with their coffees, teas and port catching up with their friends. The shop was kinda like the Starbucks of their generation then!

Remember those Panton-esque fabric so popular in the 70's?

On our 1st day in Penang, my travel companion and I had a task. We were drafted to help out a friend’s mum, Ulla who is an amazing artist and a jewellery-maker to set up her booth in the International Women’s Association’s annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Bazaar. I can’t think of a more enjoyable task, to be honest! I used to peddle my wares in London’s famous Camden and Spitalfields Markets back in the days ( way before they went all high-street and blah… ) and having the opportunity to do it again was like a trip down memory-lane. I was looking forward to see all the traders’ crafts too.

The next day’s task? Food and fabric! Read Part 2 here.

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