Left to Right: Hany Cheng and Ivan Eng | Co-Founders of Havan Clothing
As their 4-year-old goes for class in the next room, Hany Cheng and Ivan Eng spend some time with me to chat about their Malalaysia-based soci enterprise, Havan Clothing where children at risk design minimalist t-shirts showing their skill. It’s a regular Tuesday morning that’s fueled with coffee and large doses of inspiration.
Sticking it out
Before Havan Clothing was founded, Hany, a professional counsellor, had actively volunteered in shelter homes. She regularly conducted lessons on emotional intelligence (EQ) to the children-at-risk.
Occasionally, these shelter homes would have volunteers who came to spend time with the children for a day as part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. “One-time volunteering events can be more harmful than helpful for children, emotionally. They would build bonds with many different volunteers just to see them go away at the end of the day – a pattern they’ve seen in their parents or relatives,” said Hany.
This fueled the founding of Havan Clothing. Ivan quit his job in corporate finance to pursue a social enterprise with his wife Hany. Through teaching EQ and fashion retailing, Havan Clothing aims to inspire, empower, and educate underprivileged children.
Teaching to the heart, not just the mind
Too many adults have been pushed to a corner dealing with work stress and societal expectations. We’re smart. We’re hardworking. But we also need a healthy way to process stress and difficult situations.
Thanks to the competition in university applications and job-hunting, there is an overemphasis on academics and intelligence (IQ) in schools. As a result, IQ has to be balanced out with EQ, and Hany believes it has to start from childhood. Once a week, Hany and her team of teachers meet a group of children in shelter homes across the Klang Valley. They conduct EQ lessons, in hopes of equipping them with practical strategies to respond positively to their extremely challenging situations.
Drawing Lesson
Young fashion designers
Ivan, who leads Havan Clothing’s fashion retail business, tells me about how they financially sustain the social enterprise. “Our main product is high-quality t-shirts which are designed by the children,” explains Ivan. “The children produce drawings to reflect their learning of the EQ lessons. Then, we print them on soft Peruvian Pima cotton tees.”
Havan Clothing Model for Men’s Shirts
Havan Clothing Model for Women’s Shirts
Support came pouring in from Malaysians and customers worldwide since Havan Clothing launched their range of luxury cotton t-shirts. By making a purchase, customers have a direct impact on supporting the underprivileged children as well.
First, 10% of the profits go to developing and enhancing the EQ programs. Also, every t-shirt bought and worn is a recognition of each child’s talents, and this does wonders for their self-esteem. In 2019, the Picole Kids Global Fashion Show in Washington DC came knocking on Havan’s door, inviting them to showcase their t-shirt designs.
The children’s stories were being told halfway across the world – this was a huge milestone.” Support came pouring in from Malaysians and customers worldwide since Havan Clothing launched their range of luxury cotton t-shirts.
By making a purchase, customers have a direct impact on supporting the underprivileged children as well. First, 10% of the profits go to developing and enhancing the EQ programs. Also, every t-shirt bought and worn is a recognition of each child’s talents, and this does wonders for their self-esteem.
In 2019, the Picole Kids Global Fashion Show in Washington DC came knocking on Havan’s door, inviting them to showcase their t-shirt designs. The children’s stories were being told halfway across the world – this was a huge milestone.
Real transformation observed
Children Enjoying a Fun Activity
The first few years of the program proved successful as the children began to show improvement in their behaviour and confidence. In the EQ lessons, they learned to practise effective communication and respect. They also managed to regulate their emotions during the Covid-19 lockdown quite well, which was a surprise to Hany and the caretakers at the shelter home.
However, Havan Clothing’s investors needed more concrete results. So, Hany conducted a 2-year qualitative and quantitative research to study the impact of the Havan Program on the children’s behaviour. They found that children who stayed on for the program for 2 years demonstrated a 50% reduction in difficult behaviour (like temper tantrums and bullying).
Some children were also invited to comment on themselves, with one teenager stating, “I see myself more like a human.”
Fashion with a purpose
When they started on this venture, Hany and Ivan had little to no experience in entrepreneurship, let alone leading a social enterprise. It was unchartered territory to them. They started out with the sole vision of empowering children through fashion. Eventually, the results of their research have shown them that they are on the right track.
To support their cause, you can shop Havan Clothing’s collection.
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