KUALA LUMPUR – In light of the nation’s worst floods in recent history, citizens from all walks of life have stepped up to aid victims affected by the deadly disaster.
Guided by the belief that the good you put out into the world has a way of returning to you, nine-year-old aspiring artist Marc Aiden Fernandez is no exception.
Despite his age, Marc is intent on doing his best to bring some cheer to those less fortunate. With proceeds from the sale of his self-designed T-shirts – part of his clothing line Apparently Marc – the boy now aims to relieve the burden shouldered by flood victims.
Speaking to The Vibes, Marc’s father Malcolm Fernandez recalled how the brand, founded earlier this year, always bore charity in mind.
Marc had wanted to donate profits from the T-shirts to charities for the homeless, children foster homes, and environmental groups.
“But since there is now a necessity to provide flood relief aid, we’ll be donating part of our earnings to help flood victims instead,” he said.
He added that their contributions will be channelled through the Kiwanis Club of KL Sentral, which, like many other organisations, has been involved in assisting flood victims to receive proper support and care.
As of this month, Apparently Marc has collected upwards of RM1,000 in sales, with each T-shirt priced at RM45.
However, Malcolm said, the establishment of the brand is not financially motivated. Instead, the ability to make a difference in the lives of others is the takeaway he wants his son to gain from their venture.
Marc is not really about making money. It’s a way for my son to have fun and creatively express himself, while also instilling in him the good he can do through charity.
“I don’t want a situation where we have the means, but forget the value of our humanity,” he said.
For now, the promotion and sale of the products are done only through word of mouth and his Instagram page, with a website in the works.
“The shirts are tie-dyed, so every design is unique with no two being the same. Buyers will receive their customised T-shirts in a rustic-style package, along with a personal message handwritten by Marc.
“This way, besides learning to be charitable, he can also develop his linguistic skills by learning how to arrange words into a sentence,” said Malcolm, who is an art enthusiast.
In June 2019, the father-son duo exhibited their artwork in a collaboration titled Dialects Of The Soul – Expressions at the Sireh Pinang Gallery in Putrajaya.
Following the exhibition, Malcolm said, his son took a year-long break from painting before returning to the craft and exploring various artistic techniques that were then utilised as an outlet for his creativity.
“I noticed that his style has since evolved to be more abstract and fluid, which is reflected in the designs of the tie-dyed T-shirts,” Malcolm said, adding that he is glad his son has a medium to channel his thoughts and emotions into.
Having dabbled in painting since his own childhood, the lawyer by profession told The Vibes that as Marc had expressed an interest in painting from an early age, he is more than happy to teach the young boy different artistic approaches.
“Even when he was just four years old, he would observe me while I painted, and once I set him up with some art supplies, he came up with his own painting soon after.
“He’s an amazing kid, and I’m doing my best to give him the childhood he deserves, filled with good memories for him to look back on.” – The Vibes, December 31, 2021
