Mint Apparels co-founder, Geoh Hwa Tan (All photos: Mint Apparels)
It is a good thing that the stigma surrounding pre-loved shopping is slowly but surely fading. While new is always nice, the advantages of shopping second-hand are boundless. Apart from the significant savings (a pre-loved item can be 20% to 80% cheaper than retail), there is also the chance of finding something rare and unique: a discontinued handbag from a covetable name, for example, or a past-season item no longer available on the market. Besides the economic benefits, buying pre-loved is clearly the smarter, more sustainable option as the lifespan of clothing and accessories is extended, not to mention being saved from an inglorious end in an already overflowing landfill.
“The perception of pre-loved remains a key factor. That is why we try to build up a community of ‘converts’ via physical events and social media,” says Tan Geoh Hwa, 42, co-founder of Mint Apparels, alongside Tamara Lim. “We want people to see that pre-loved doesn’t equate worn and torn. In fact, many items have only been used once or twice. Think of it as snapping up a beautiful car with very low mileage. It’s the best deal — you get something that is of fantastic quality but without the high price tag!”
Occupying 850 sq ft of brightly lit space in Heritage House on trendy Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Kuala Lumpur, Mint Apparels is well laid out and filled with treasure for the savvy shopper. But let’s be clear — a bargain bin it is not. In fact, what grabs your attention from the get-go is the hit line-up of the most desired brands. There is a Toolbox bag by Hermès in bright blue (a collector’s item now that the model was discontinued in 2017), a lovely, nude-hued Chanel Coco Handle bag much beloved for its quilted design and structured top handle and, for those who like an edgier piece of arm candy, an iconic Balenciaga Motocross City bag in yellow calf leather. There are also designs from cult labels like Peter Pilotto, Isabel Marant, Dries van Noten and Malene Birger, along with the requisite Louboutin and Ferragamo heels and designer sunglasses to match.
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The stylish and lovely duo make great frontwomen for the business, apart from an ample supply of brains. Both graduated from Oxford University: Tan read economics and management at Pembroke College while Lim chose Trinity for engineering. “It’s a standing joke among Oxonians on how we are the worst dressed ever, with a fixed ‘uniform’ of sweatshirts and hoodies,” laughs Tan. Asked which university was best known for stylish undergrads, both immediately chime, “LSE (London School of Economics)! Or, well, most of the London unis, for sure.”
She adds, “We weren’t all that far from Bicester Village and its outlet shopping diversions but, honestly, we only ever shopped on the high street. It didn’t feel right blowing our parents’ hard-earned money on designer togs. It was only after I started working in London — being single and free to go out every weekend — did I begin to buy nice clothes and start dressing up. I used to check out the events during London Fashion Week that were open to the public and discover up-and-coming designers at the sample sales. I remember getting my first Alice Temperley skirt there.”
After chalking up years of work experience, the two friends had an epiphany while cleaning out their closets and compiling large piles of beautiful things. “Motherhood happened and we just couldn’t fit into them anymore,” Tan laments. “We tried to rehome the pieces and realised there wasn’t a platform where people could appreciate and enjoy these clothes as much as we had.”
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Setting up a stall at bazaars was considered but Lim had gone down that route before. “Somehow, the crowd would never be quite the right fit and I didn’t sell much,” she says. “It was only after I found this empty office unit that I approached Geoh Hwa to see if she would be keen to open a pre-loved boutique together. She said yes and that was how Mint Apparels was born.”
The name, of course, alludes to the clothes and accessories being in mint condition and a fresh, inviting experience far removed from musty racks in, say, an Oxfam or Barnardo’s. Having come a long way since it was opened in July 2023 with “a lot of naïve enthusiasm”, the founders acknowledge several factors worked in their favour.
“To have a long-time friend as a business partner certainly makes the entrepreneurial journey less intimidating and a whole lot more fun,” Tan enthuses. “We are also grateful to family and friends who supported us from the start, helping us spread the word. Many have never shopped pre-loved before. But once they came to the boutique to view and try things on, they were converted! And that really gave us the self-belief and encouragement to continue. We know the demand is there and we have the supply!”
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On the subject of supply, Lim and Tan are never short as they have a constant stream of eager consignors who know that Mint Apparels’ strong customer base is just right for their luxe items. “We also have a high customer retention rate. Once they shop with us, it is just the beginning, with many reordering online. Or they browse our Instagram or website and send us a DM, after which we will courier the purchases to them directly, up to Penang and as far as Sabah,” they say.
There is a hidden danger, though. How is it that two stylish, successful women with a great eye for design and detail resist snapping up steals every time fresh stock arrives? “I never resist, unfortunately,” says Lim while Tan still mourns the “loss” of a Moncler winter jacket. “It got pounced on so quickly we didn’t even manage to take a photo of it,” she laughs. “Once, it also took a lot of willpower not to buy a very flattering black Self-Portrait dress as well as a pair of black suede ankle boots by Christian Louboutin that just seemed to go with every outfit!”
Lim adds: “My mum loved shopping at designer stores and the highlight of many a holiday were the things we bought,” she smiles. “Her wardrobe is like a boutique itself, with many things worn just once and kept in pristine condition. The realisation they will just stay in the cupboard forever if nothing is done was a big part of why I went to Geoh Hwa with the Mint Apparels idea. Moreover, having lived in Europe for 15 years and hitting all the factory outlets, you can see I love designer clothing as much as I love a good bargain. And guess what? Mint Apparels represents the best of both worlds.”
This article first appeared on Sept 15, 2025 in The Edge Malaysia.
