Our daily feature celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns from the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
MALAYSIA. The family behind leading Malaysian luxury and lifestyle retailer Valiram have released a coffee table book to mark 100 years of their history, marked by a special event in Kuala Lumpur.
Valiram: The First Hundred Years traces the family’s beginnings in Malaya to their thriving retail enterprise today. The publication was presented to 500 guests comprising family, friends, prominent members of the community, partners and members of the media at a high-tea event at the Grand Ballroom of the St Regis Kuala Lumpur.
The event was officiated by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. His consort Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin was also in attendance.
A “passion project” led by Valiram Executive Directors and brothers Sharan, Ashvin and Mukesh Valiram, along with their mother Datin Champa Valiram, the book is a tribute to the late family patriarch Datuk Jethanand Valiram, who died in 2017.
Valiram: The First Hundred Years features interviews as well as photographs and artefacts from the family archives. It covers the journey of the family in the last century and the family tree, presented with snapshots of the heritage and traditions of the Sindhi people as well as footnotes from the histories of Sindh and Malaysia.
A century-long story
The Valiram story began like that of many other Sindhi families in Malaysia. Their enterprising forefathers left their families in India in the 1800s to build their fortunes in Malaya and across Asia. It was to be their temporary base, an avenue to make their money and eventually return to their homeland, but the Partition of India forced them to change their plans.
Readers are first introduced to Utumal, son of Valiram Bhojwani, who journeyed to Malaya at the turn of the century. What follows is a portrait of three generations interwoven through love, family, tragedy, heritage and enterprise. The wholesale textile business Utumal started with his brothers later became a powerhouse of luxury retail.
The company said: “The book details the family’s vast network of friends and relatives, and their fierce blend of audacity and tenacity, all of which have enabled the Valirams access to and influence over global fashion houses, high-end luxury watchmakers, industry captains and high-profile personalities. What makes the Valirams’ story remarkable is the series of firsts that garland the history of their enterprise, particularly in the first-to-market brands and retail concepts they introduced in Malaysia, and subsequently Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and Thailand, to name a few.”
The launch event
The foyer of the St Regis Kuala Lumpur Grand Ballroom became a live ‘time capsule’ showcasing outsized reproduction of pages from the book, which was introduced by Executive Directors Sharan, Ashvin and Mukesh Valiram. Each brother focused on different aspects of the book, from how it was conceptualised to how the decision was made to include notes on the age-old customs and rituals they still practice as children of the Sindhi diaspora.
“This book has been three generations in the making, and we dedicate it to the next with the hope that they leave their imprint in the future chapters of the Valiram story. Every element in this book was carefully curated with input from all of us as a family,” said Sharan Valiram.
“We titled it The First Hundred Years because we believe that the Valiram story will evolve further and the next generation will take on the task to record the next hundred years. We hope that the tales within this first volume will remind them of the legacy they come from and inspire them to work towards creating their own epic tale,” said Ashvin Valiram.
Mukesh Valiram said: “Our father always reminded us that family and upholding the family name is always the main priority. We’re proud of how far the family name has come, enabled further by the many relatives, friends and partners who’ve been there throughout the decades, supporting our endeavours. We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”
Their session was followed by a speech by Datin Champa Valiram, who spoke about her personal journey into the Valiram family.
“I am honoured to have shared my journey with all of you here today… Our journeys together may have started when I was born, when you were born, some more recently and some just about to start. It’s true what writer Tim Cahill said: ‘A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles,” she said.
The Sultan said: “Through the ups and downs, I am glad that Valiram’s business has become prosperous and successful. The Valirams are a true Malaysian success story, and it’s a story that should be shared. [They] are an icon for Malaysia’s multicultural society.”
After the speech, Datin Champa Valiram escorted the Tengku Permaisuri to join the three brothers and the Sultan on stage for the launch of the book. Datin Champa then presented Valiram: The First Hundred Years, numbered edition V0001, to the Sultan. Books number V0002 to V0005, signed by the Sultan, were then presented to Datin Champa, Sharan, Ashvin and Mukesh. The ceremony was followed by high tea.
Footnote: Do you have photos or video you would like to share via one of The Moodie Davitt Report’s most popular features? Simply send them to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com and Liam@MoodieDavittReport.com
