Out of the woodwork

IT would have been easy – and to an extent even expected of them – if Zac Tan, Bryan Chang and Wallace Fong took up normal employments after their graduations. After all, with a degree in architecture, finance and environmental technology respectively, they are poised for the workforce.
Instead, they chose to revolutionise the sustainability landscape in Malaysia by establishing Project Woodworks. This homegrown brand produces wooden watches from wood waste and for every product purchased, a buyer can support causes such as reforestation projects, preservation of endangered flora and fauna species, and the empowerment of underprivileged communities.
WOODEN WONDERS
Although the label was founded in 2015, it took another year of planning before it was officially launched in September last year. The 23-year-old trio transform wood waste into intricately crafted timepieces and in their inaugural collection, they debuted four designs in limited quantities.
“We decided on watch because of sentiment and practical reasons. Firstly, we find that watches are precious and more than that, there is a gap in the Malaysian market because there wasn’t any wooden watches brand before us,” explained Chang.
As for their wood-based model, it stemmed from Tan’s family background.
“My dad used to manufacture wooden antique furniture, but the business had to close down in 2008 due to the sharp increase of wood prices driven by illegal logging.
From there, and influenced by other social impact brands, Project Woodworks was formed,” elaborated Tan.
Priced at RM469 each, their watches are certainly priced on the steep side. In spite of this, the lads believe that their products justify the cost.
“Wood is a unique material since no two trees are the same, and the wood grain on each watch differs from one another, making it one-of-a-kind. Moreover, our watches are socially impactful too. You're not just paying for the watch, but you're also playing a part in preserving the environment,” added Fong.
The watches are made from three types of woods – maple wood, black sandalwood, and dark hardwood – sourced globally and utilise the quartz watch movement imported from Japan. While their production line is currently based abroad, they are looking into localising it on the grounds that Malaysia has a lot of resources.
GREEN GOALS
Project Woodworks is structured around three main pillars: impact, responsibility and sustainability. Hence, it collaborates with Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Center (TRCRC) for plantation and research on endangered tree species.
“Part of our revenue is channelled to TRCRC to support their tree plantation programmes. There are a few places where they are currently researching and planting, namely in Sabah, Kelantan and Perak,” said Fong.
Positioning itself as a label that empowers sustainable lifestyle and aims to expand their social impact across continents, Tan expressed that “Project Woodworks is not just another brand, we’re creating a movement for sustainable consumerism in Malaysia”.
“The social impact wave is still new here, so the market needs some time to adapt. In order to convey the story and impact behind our watches to consumers, we also participate in bazaars and events. Reception has been good, with customers being surprised and happy that they are making a difference,” added Chang.
They too opined that Malaysians can adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle, only that locals have to be more mindful of their shopping decisions and purchasing power. As such, they think that fashion is a good platform to raise awareness – nice designs will reel in customers' attention, thus providing them with the opportunity to educate.
“How you style yourself can change the world, even if it’s one product at a time. For example, you can help the environment by making a conscious fashion decision to only buy clothes that are made from biodegradable materials. Therefore, our ultimate goal with Project Woodworks is to inspire and change the public’s way of styling, so we can create a more sustainable community in our country,” affirmed Chang.
Same like any other start-up, Project Woodworks still has obstacles to clear before it can root itself in success. But if these young men are as passionate and determined as they are, who is to say that they can’t do it?