January 21, 2021, by Communications
Nottingham alumnus impresses global economic leaders with unique gift box
The Balau Box, an artisanal gift box created by Nottingham alumnus Harith Ridzuan (BA Management Studies, 2008), was gifted to all 20 economic leaders who took part in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020, which was hosted in Malaysia.
The handmade gift box was made from Balau wood and contains locally made artisanal gifts.
“It is one of the most complex boxes I have designed so far, and it has an invisible magnet clasp, chains and velvet components,” Harith said about the artistic nature of his work.
Keeping to the University’s sustainable values, he ensured the Balau wood he sourced for the project had a Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and was harvested from a sustainably managed source.
Harith chose Balau wood to pay homage to Malaysian culture, where the beautiful and durable wood was used to build many of the houses in villages. Coming from a family of furniture manufacturers, Harith fell in love with woodworking at the tender age of 10 and as he grew older, he combined his passion for woodworking with his awareness of the importance of sustainability, leading him to focus on promoting only sustainable wood products. Now, nearly 10 years after he first started manufacturing his products in 2012, Harith’s woodworks enjoy popularity in both local and international markets.
Harith shares some advice to those who are thinking of pursuing their passion, “It’s always difficult at first, but trust in what you do, and you will become more resilient to the challenges ahead. You will get stronger.”
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