(Un)expected news!!!
Dear all,
There are many many types of people who join Kechara. Some come from an accounting background, some were previously lawyers, homemakers, bankers, doctors, singers, principals, lecturers etc etc. They all bring their experience and talents with them when they join full-time, with the motivation of bringing benefit to others.
A few months ago, a few of my students got together and designed a new art book called (Un)expected. It’s a collection of never-seen-before, creative photographs of both myself and my students! Together with JP, Karen and Ethan have been spearheading this project which will be released in the middle of this year.
In addition to the art book, they decided to collaborate with local fashion designers! The 3 designers chosen were given the opportunity to express their interpretation of the (Un)expected book. I saw their designs and love it! Their shirts were up for grabs during the Manjushri statue blog competition.
Both Karen and Ethan come from a background in fashion… I am very proud of the two of them for using what they know and for getting everything up and rolling! I would also like to say thank you to these talented up-and-coming local fashion designers for joining our cause and using fashion for charity!
Two local newspapers covered the (Un)expected project, The Star and China Press. I’m glad that both Karen and Ethan’s hard work has gained much attention by the local Malaysians. Take a look at the coverage below! Be sure and get the book!!
Tsem Rinpoche
Featured on The Star newspaper
Click on image to enlarge
Selfless style
When fashion gets real for a good cause, inspiration and creativity abound.
By Louisa Lim | star2@thestar.com.my
I love fashion but any happiness that I got from it was superficial,” says former designer Karen Chong. “Sure, you attend parties and mingle with lots of cool people, but at the end of the day, when you go home, you still have this sense of emptiness.”
It is this feeling that spurred Chong – who eventually gave up her career in Singapore to become a creative executive with a non-profit organisation Kechara House – to initiate a movement three months ago called (Un)expected Fashion. It’s part of the (Un)expected Project, a mission conceptualised by Kechara’s founder, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche to help the depressed and despondent.
“I thought, ‘What better way to do this than to convince young and upcoming fashion designers to join us’? They’ll make our project more relatable,” explains Chong.
While it’s not exactly a brand new concept – Kechara has worked with artists and musicians to get their messages across before – the fashion aspect puts a fresh spin on things. The idea also proved to be a hit among the fashion designers she approached. Those who rank among the local fashion industry’s most talented – Joe Chia, Teresa Thian and Eric Choong – agreed to lend their support without hesitation.
“We’ve chosen these designers because they’re young and extremely talented but still down-to-earth,” says Chong. “And they’re willing to use their fame for a good cause.”
Each of these designers were given a T-shirt and told to create a design based on quotes from Rinpoche. The final product – edgy, whimsical pieces that mirror the personalities of its creators – fuses stylishness with spirituality. Available in 100 pieces each, the T-shirts are selling for a reasonable price despirte their designer cachet, and part of the proceeds will go to Kechara Soup Kitchen, another non-profit arm founded by Rinpoche to feed the homeless and urban poor.
“Fahion folk are often perceived as shallow by people,” says Chong, “But what they don’t realise is that some of us do contribute, alneit in our own ways, to the world.”
These limited edition fashion pieces are priced from RM 49 to RM 89. Available at Lah’Lah’Land in Sungei Wang Plaza, Kuala Lumpur and Kechara House souvenir shops in SunwayMas Commercial Centre, Petaling Jaya. For more information, call Karen Chong (03-78033908) or visit www.facebook.com/UnexpectedTR.
Eric Choong, 49
For Choong, the (Un)expected Project is “an excellent way for creative people of all walks of life to channel their ideas and creativity into a positive direction.
“Not only do we get to showcase our designs but we also get to draw attention to the current issues faced by our society.”
Choong’s desing features the quote “Happiness is a choice.”
“They are wise words by Tsem Tulku Rinpoche which struck me deeply. We are always faced with choices in life. The two arrows in my design represent the paths in life that we are able to take. Both can lead to success and fulfillment, if you allow them to. I choose black and white to represent two clear choices.”
His hope is that “Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s wise words would allow us to think deeply and inspire us to step out of our comfort zones and challenge ourselves to do things that we haven’t done before. If we always think positively and do our best to tackle life’s challenges, I believe that we can live happily and contentedly.”
Choong is of the belief that fashion can be used for a good cause.
“All around the world, fashion houses and designers work hard annually with charity campaigns such as Fashion Rocks and Fashion Kicks. Awareness and money is raised for a good cause, while giving people something to enjoy at the same time. Individually, many designers also produce items with uplifting messages and posiutive designs where proceeds go to charities. I think that fashion has always had a wide reach and influence.”
Teresa Thian, 29
“The (Un)expected Project is a much needed project that should be done more frequently to offer what we can to those who need them most, including giving attention to those who feel marginalised by the community. It feels great to be doing something I love,” enthuses Thian.
Where her design is concerned, Thian says: “I’ve always been fascinated by the theory of being harmonious with other beings, be they humans or animals.
“Peace is a fundamental element needed to create a better living environment. Staying away from noise, troubles and hard work is not to have peace of mind, but to have calmness in our hearts is. Peace is from within,” adds Thian. “The embroidered wing-like laces on the shoulder of my design portray an angel, a symbolic figure of peace in the universe, with the colour white representing purity.”
For Chia, the (Un)expected Project is “a whole new experience for me.”
“It’s fun and exciting as this is the first charity project that I’m doing with my own ready-to-wear label. I’m really glad to be a part of this collaboration as I can use fashion as a charitable tool.”
Chia says he can relate to Tsem Rinpoches quote “True love is selfless” thanks to his girlfriend (model Shir Chong). “She has been my biggest fan right from the beginning when I first started my label, and would wear my clothes everywhere! The quote is discreetly embroudered onto the bottom right of the shirt, while the colour grey dominates.”
Adds Chia: “It’s grey because I believe that one has to set oneself free from negativities to acheive selflessness. It comes fromt he rhetorical question, ‘Is the glass half full or half empty?’ – I think it is neither. We should stop thinking of ourselves, to make space for the idea of others.
Chia’s shirt is unisex. “I place utmost importance in the cut and fabric because I want it to flatter everyone, reegardless of age, gender, size or skin colour. A man can wear it as a shirt, while a woman can turn it into a dress. It’s meant to look modern and edgy.”
Feature in China Press newspaper
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![Underprivileged residents of two PPRs in Kuala Lumpur recently received a total of 427kg from our longterm surplus produce sponsor, Lotuss Stores (formerly Tesco Stores). The 65 families are our regular beneficiaries, and are grateful to receive fresh vegetables on a consistent basis right at their doorstep. One of our recipients, Rajeswari, 52, single mother of 2 children, shared that she stopped receiving welfare aid due to unforeseen circumstances. Her words: "Saya cakap untuk Kechara [Soup Kitchen] banyak terima kasih sebab kasi makanan. Dan lebih mau tolong orang lain yang susah seperti saya". Our heartfelt thank-you goes to Lotuss Stores for being a dependable source of food aid and for #helpingthepoor with us. #kecharafoodbank #makingadifference #kitajagakita #charity #foodbank #bantuan #ngomalaysia #givingback #strongertogether - Vivian @ Kechara Soup Kitchen](https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/wp-content/gallery/user-pictures/tblogpics-2trta8739v.jpg)
This is an interesting and creative way to spread the dharma through fashion! Well done, Karen and Ethan for coming out with this idea and doing such a good job!
Its so amazing to see that our kechara shirt design on the newspaper!!
Cheers to Karen and Ethan!!!
WE are really becoming famous for a lot of things E.G clothes ETC…
You guys really rock!!!!!!!!
When one’s talent could contribute to something benefit the others especially those who are not so fortunate; to promote something positive and make our society a better one, and more harmony; I think this is something worth celebrating. And be happy about. Your talent and skill not only bring warm, food and comfort to yourself but the warm could be extended to others.
From the project (Un)Expected, fashion designers contribute their designing skill, whereas reporter and photographer contribute the writing and photograph skills to promote the idea of helping others. With this small effort, if everyone put in small effort like this, I believe our society will be a better place live with.
This is a very interesting project by Karen and Ethan. I rejoice upon their success. I really want to purchase the clothes that were released by the unexpected team. However, I doubt they have my size 🙁
I think that this is an exceptional way for people to learn more about Dharma as we attract people through non-spiritual means.
I love this innovative way of reaching out to a whole new group of people, especially the young, via fashion! This group may never have heard of Tsem Rinpoche but through these news coverage, they will see that spirituality can be fashionable, fun and cool! This was the message that attracted me when I first met Rinpoche because Rinpoche himself was the epitome of that! I hope this project is successful and that many more people will learn about Rinpoche and his teachings so that they will find peace of mind.
This is really cool! I’m so proud of all the Kecharians who are participating in this awesome project! I really love the title:” When fashion gets real for a good cause, inspiration and creativity abound.”
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
This is a very interesting project because it allows us and Rinpoche to reach out to a whole new group of people that we would normally wouldn’t be able to reach. This includes people in the design and fashion world. This would be very beneficial if the people put the hearts and minds into this project because it is only through like-minded creative people that would be able to attract and influence other creative people. Creative people are really interesting people with their quirks and varied personalities. However, like the rest of us, they have problems too and often they have to keep up pretense as in their world, appearance is most important. May many people who suffer find peace of mind in Rinpoche’s teachings.
Well done Ethan, Karen and those who were involved in the project. I would definitely wear the T shirts as they are so young and fashionable! To do this and benefit those in need is truly a wonderful cause! Must get them fast! I will get mine during Wesak Day fair at Kechara Gompa.
Great news coverage! Karen and Ethan certainly have found a new avenue to spread the Dharma. It was no easy job! They put a lot of hard work to designing the T-shirts and arranging for a lot of other things in relation to the Unexpected project, which includes a book… I’m so excited for the launch of the Unexpected book!!!
Well done Ethan and Karen for doing such a great job. I’m so happy to know you guys manage to get such great coverage one the news. I received one Chia’s design from my cousin, i really love it! Its so comfortable to wear and the added pockets makes it more comfy to place my hands in haha. Can’t wait for the full coverage coming out mid this year. Good job guys!
我一直都希望能够在时尚界用我一点点的綿力去做些善事，然后在几年前有因缘遇到上師詹杜固仁波切，使我更加坚持的有这个使命。。。看到Karen 和Ethan两人受仁波切佛法敎导的转化，身为朋友和同修的我非常高兴，他们也是利用自己本身的专业去幫助他人，仁波切一直都敎导我们无论你是什么行业或怎样的人，只要你有一颗善良的心，就可以善巧地去幫助或感染每一个人。。。我非常有福報能够参与这項活动，能够借此利用仁波切的佛法词典來设计成丅侐去幫助别人，谁说佛法不能够有创意呢？我们就是时尚佛法。。。
Bravo Karen and Ethan! Lots of people like those t-shirt a lot! They were surprised to find designer piece at such reasonable and affordable price too! Of course, they were even more happy knowing that it is for a good cause!
Dear Rinpoche,
I am glad that the (UN)expected Fashion Project is reaching out to many many people especially the young people.
I am very happy for Ethan and Karen for spear heading this wonderful, cool and beneficial it’s good to know that this Project making it’s way to both the English and Chinese youth readers reading both The Star Newspaper and The China Press Newspaper to know more about the (UN)Expected Project and what it is about.
Congratulations to Ethan and Karen for doing such a great job!!!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the good news!
Love
Jutika
This is an awesome project of Karen and Ethan, welldone to both! The nnew collection of Unexpected is very very cool and nice!!! Simple yet stylist and it is a meaningful project with style and fashionable people involved :)Thanks to all the designer with their effort and support. You guys ROCK!!