Set up in early 2018, ESA’s members have wide-ranging job skills. Some are bankers, teachers and accountants.
“Some are good at writing, some at drawing, but everyone tells stories. So, we call ourselves a storytelling community,” said Adely Ariffin, 49, one of the community’s founders.
“You may be an accountant, but if you have a passion for making toys, make money from your toys. Do it through us,” he added.
All you need to do is submit your work to ESA whether its a piece of art or a collection of short stories. And here’s the interesting part: ESA will find a way to incorporate your work into the storyline of an alternate science fiction universe they created called “Unity Macroverse”.
According to Mohamed Azlan Mohamed Tahir, another co-founder of ESA, the idea of the alternate universe was sparked when he and Adely, both Star War fans, realised how well Star Wars merchandise had been monetised.
“We looked at the money we spent on Star Wars merchandise, and we thought, ‘Why are we giving so much to Disney?’ It’s not difficult to do something similar but in the local context,” recalled Azlan, 61.
The name “unity”, he revealed, was chosen to counter much of the angst surrounding race and religion here. “In our stories, a character is recognised purely based on where they are from, not race,” he explained.
Members’ submissions will be used to produce short stories, graphic novels, comics and even tabletop board games and collectible models. All are in English, hence their name “English-Speaking Asians” or ESA. Once the products are sold, contributors will receive their share of the profits.
The ESA community consists of those who write, draw, and design. It also includes toy makers and 3D printing enthusiasts. “It’s a collaborative platform. So, the connotation of ‘unity’ has many different layers to it,” said Paul Low, 43, a community collaborator.
Empowering the differently abled
The trio also launched “The Spectrum” to empower the differently abled in society who possess creative gifts.
While the main focus is on those with autism, they have received contributions from those with Down Syndrome as well. Low added that they also welcome those with physical disabilities.
Using these contributions, they have produced various merchandise such as tote bags, pouches and stickers.
A memorable moment, the trio shared, came when one of their member’s artworks was used on Agro Bank’s ang pow packets this year. Additionally, the bank also featured artworks by six members of “The Spectrum” in their calendar this year.
That’s not all as Adely also designs “gag gifts”, or gifts that are meant to be humorous. Primarily reflecting common Malaysian terms, each gift comes with an A6 card and a small plastic model.
For example, one of the gifts features the words “on the way” with a plastic male model relaxing on a couch. If you know someone who always says this but who is habitually late for any meeting, this could be a cheeky gift for them!
In their mission, the community is collaborating with Persatuan Pembangunan Artisans (PPA) to widen their reach. PPA is an NGO that helps local artisans market their products via its online platform, physical stores and pop-up events.
“We are also looking for retail partners to increase our distribution channels, especially in the Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, Sabah and Sarawak,” said Azlan.
As for the future, Azlan shared: “We want to set up a clubhouse, where we can place our computers, 3D printers and other necessary resources. So, if a mother comes in with a special child who has drawn something, we can create something on the spot.”
Learn more about ESA on its website and via Facebook or Instagram. You can also visit their booth at:
Amcorp Mall
Second Floor,
18, Jalan Persiaran Barat,
Seksyen 52, 46050, Petaling Jaya
Opening hours: 10am-5pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Contact: 012-570 5041