Former interior designer finds new calling as leather artisan

Maverick approach that ended one career opens door to new business

- Timothy Goh

Maverick Made founder Shaun-Joel Liew at his studio. He put aside about $10,000 from his GrabFood delivery earnings to turn his leathercraft hobby into a business. He prefers steady, reliable growth rather than chasing quick wins, and thinks family, relationships and integrity matter far more than money. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

(ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR)

Mr Shaun-Joel Liew’s colleagues used to call him “maverick” for his unconventional approach to design and craftsmanship.

At the time, he was working in interior design and woodworking. The stint ended when he was let go over differing working styles.

“I turned to GrabFood delivery to make ends meet... It was tough work but surprisingly sustainable financially at the time,” he said.

“I had quite a bit of free time after my shifts, so I began experimenting with leathercraft as a hobby.”

Mr Liew eventually put aside about $10,000 from his delivery earnings to turn that hobby into Maverick Made, a leather goods and accessories label that crafts small-batch pieces from leathers sourced from Japan and Italy.

The leathers are vegetable-tanned, meaning they are treated with natural tannins derived from plants to make them durable and resistant to decay.

“What started as a side passion became a way to merge creativity, craftsmanship and independence into something I could call my own,” said Mr Liew, 35.

He holds a master’s degree in fine art from RMIT University and is in a relationship with a partner who works in an advertising firm.

Q Do you invest in anything? If yes, what do you invest in and why?

A Most of my investments are in a few long-term plans that I manage with my financial adviser. Beyond that, I’ve been dollar-cost averaging into a mix of local and overseas blue-chip stocks over the years.