Frian is an avid runner coming from Guangzhou, China. At age 15, he entered the optical industry, taught by his father how to hand make glasses using wire in their factory. This undertaking marked the start of his business career. Throughout his career over the past three decades, he experienced the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the 2020 pandemic. Every disaster posed unique challenges to his eyewear wholesale business.

The 2004 tsunami was especially devastating. The sudden disaster wiped out his hard-earned assets overnight, leaving him in debt and poorer than ever. At that time, most of his inventory in Indonesia was flooded, and his customers were unable to repay their debts. He decided to move the remaining goods to Malaysia where he landed in the small town of Lukut in Negeri Sembilan selling glasses in pasar pagi/malam for a living.

With zero knowledge of local dialects and unable to even read road signs, Frian struggled both in his business and personal life. Fortunately, a mentor lent a helping hand and his business began to thrive. Soon after earning some money, he bought himself a car, set up a warehouse in Seremban, and hired 3 staff. To prove himself further, he decided to move his business to Kuala Lumpur in 2019.

Looking back on the daunting path due to “black swan” incidents, Frian is no longer filled with desperation but rather tranquility. Without a strong will, most people would have changed their path. Yet he persists in the eyewear industry, continuing to deliver trendy, premium, and comfortable eyewear to his customers.