Cover Han Wen, founder of GHW Shoes
Han Wen, founder of GHW Shoes
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What started as a personal search by enthusiast Han Wen for affordable quality footwear has evolved into GHW Shoes, a Malaysian made-to-order shoe label rooted in craftsmanship and smart-casual sophistication
For the past six years, Yap Han Wen has been quietly building a vocabulary of leather, lasts, and construction methods that most men never think to learn. His brand, GHW Shoes, is a made-to-order label rooted in a deceptively simple idea: that well-made shoes should be within reach of anyone who cares enough to look for them.
The name carries history. GHW is a portmanteau of Galea Bespoke, a beloved Barcelona shoemaker that ceased operations in 2024, and Yap’s own name. When Galea closed, GHW inherited some of its designs. “We are proud to honour them in our name,” he says. It is a quiet act of continuity in an industry that moves quickly and forgets easily.
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Above The stable of loafers from GHW Shoes
The stable of loafers from GHW Shoes
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And with that, what began as a personal obsession with quality footwear has since evolved into an emerging made-to-order shoe brand, specialising in versatile smart-casual silhouettes inspired by Spanish shoemaking traditions. But for Yap, GHW Shoes is also a response to a gap he experienced firsthand as a young shoe enthusiast.
“I always found a gap in the market for quality yet affordable shoes in Malaysia,” he says. “Back then, I had expensive tastes but a limited budget. I searched far and wide for quality shoes that I could afford with my meagre salary, but had no luck.”
Armed with years of research into footwear, leather, and construction techniques, Han Wen eventually decided to create the kind of brand he wished existed when he first started collecting shoes. The turning point came after a friend encouraged him to stop merely talking about launching a label and finally take the leap.
Above Belgian loafers by GHW Shoes
Belgian loafers by GHW Shoes
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Today, GHW Shoes focuses primarily on loafers and relaxed dress shoes built around four core principles: versatility, lightweight construction, travel-friendliness, and flexibility. Their shoes are designed to move easily between formal and casual settings, reflecting the realities of modern dressing where tailoring and sneakers increasingly coexist.
“The idea is owning less but owning better,” Yap explains. “Our shoes are meant to be dressed up and down.”
Much of this philosophy is embedded in the construction itself. GHW uses Blake construction, which creates lighter, more flexible footwear while maintaining durability. Many of the brand’s unstructured shoes can also be collapsed and packed for travel without losing their shape, an increasingly relevant feature for today’s mobile professionals.
Above For Yap, a well-made shoe should balance comfort, versatility, and timeless style
For Yap, a well-made shoe should balance comfort, versatility, and timeless style
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Still, building a made-to-order shoe brand in Malaysia has come with its own challenges, particularly in educating consumers about quality footwear.
“Most men aren’t aware that there’s a need for quality shoes for comfort and long-term foot health,” he says. “People often gravitate towards the most budget-friendly or design-focused options, but build quality matters when it comes to support and repairability.”
Delving deeper into his philosophy for men’s footwear, Yap views shoes as an extension of the shoemaker’s knowledge, craftsmanship, and intent.
“When one wears a meticulously crafted shoe, you can feel the lines and curves of the last resting neatly on your feet,” he says. “The uppers wrap around your feet like a nice, firm handshake.”
That balance between style and practicality shapes how he sees his role within the business. Rather than identifying purely as a designer or craftsman, Han Wen describes himself equally as a problem-solver: someone who spends time understanding customers' frustrations with footwear before designing solutions to address them.
It is also why GHW has found a loyal following among men seeking something more considered than mass-market footwear. The brand’s clientele often includes customers who struggle with the rigid sizing limitations of ready-to-wear shoes and are drawn to GHW’s Made-to-Order and Made-to-Measure programmes.
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Black penny loafers
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At the same time, Yap is careful to dispel misconceptions surrounding custom footwear. Many assume that made-to-order automatically guarantees a perfect fit, though he points out that true fit adjustments come only through made-to-measure or bespoke processes involving modifications to the last itself.
“Everyone’s feet are different,” he explains. “You have the instep, arch, heel shape, foot volume… not just length and width. The reality is that not every shoe style or brand will work for every person.”
That nuanced understanding of fit has become one of GHW’s defining strengths, particularly in its niche focus on smart-casual shoes and unlined loafers.
Above The Superfeather loafer by GHW Shoes
The Superfeather loafer by GHW Shoes
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Among the brand’s growing catalogue, Yap still counts the Superfeather loafer as his personal favourite. The design is a Spanish-inspired penny loafer distinguished by its sweeping curves and lightweight construction. It embodies much of what GHW stands for: understated elegance, comfort, and individuality without excess.
Yet even as trends evolve and sneakers continue to dominate contemporary wardrobes, Yap believes classic silhouettes still have an important place in menswear today.
“A black penny loafer can be both formal and casual depending on the shape and sole type,” he says. “A sleek leather-soled loafer works beautifully with tailoring, while chunkier loafers with wedge or lug soles become much more casual.”
In many ways, GHW Shoes reflect the changing relationship modern men have with style itself: less rigid, more informed, and increasingly driven by intentionality rather than trend-chasing. And for Yap, that evolution presents an opportunity not only to create beautiful shoes, but to reshape how Malaysian men think about footwear altogether.
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Credits
Photography: Amru Shakir
Sim Wie Boon is the general manager of Tatler Malaysia. Previously the print and digital editor, Sim hails from the land of the hornbills, Sarawak. Sim is now based in Kuala Lumpur and brings more than a decade of experience in the media industry as a journalist and broadcast producer.
As a self-proclaimed geriatric millennial, he appreciates the finer things in life, from savouring a sip of single malt whisky to relishing in the deliciousness of char siew. While reminiscing about the indie-sleaze era, Sim now finds solace in the soothing tunes of ambient music, staying active through running and occasionally succumbing to the addictive world of doom scrolling.
Follow him on Instagram or Threads at @simwb
