PETALING JAYA, Aug 29 — Inspiration for fashion can come from almost anything.

But chances are you wouldn’t think of forklifts when looking for something to stimulate your creativity.That might change, as Egan Equipment & Parts Sdn Bhd is looking to diversify their forklift business into fashion, with the help of the creative minds at Saito University College in Petaling Jaya.Named, “CULT” derived from the word “culture”, EGAN’s fashion label is the brainchild of director and co-founder, Nicholas Gan, who wants to change the way the public looks at forklifts.

“Forklift parts are often misunderstood. Last time when you think about forklifts, that’s it, that’s all it is, but now it is different,” said Gan during an interview with Malay Mail at the finals of EGAN/CULT’s fashion accessory design competition yesterday in Petaling Jaya.

Gan, who is the son of EGAN’s founder B.P. Gan, was tired of people viewing forklifts as “boring” and had an epiphany after being inspired by his predominantly young workforce.

“About 70 percent of our workforce is Gen Y, because I love to employ young people because they are so creative, innovative and passionate,” said Gan

“So I wanted to cultivate the interest in forklifts amongst them by making forklifts fun and trendy, because these parts are an inspiration, they are so much more than what you see.”

In light of his epiphany, Gan got to work as he approached various universities to take on the task of producing fashionable accessories from forklift parts, and found the right partner in Saito University College.

Twenty students were chosen to take part in the EGAN/CULT Fashion Design Accessory Competition 2019, with the winners’ designs being featured in CULT’s first-ever unisex fashion line.

But only if they managed to impress the notable panel of judges, Bill Keith, Orson Liyu and Keith Kee, who designed Amber Chia’s RM 380,000 silk chiffon wedding gown.

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