It all began in 1883 when a young man named Jhamatmall Gurbamall (J.G.) Melwani left Penang , Malaysia , in search of a better life. With only a case of leather slippers, he set sail for Medan , Sumatra . Not hard cash, but slippers, for his plan was to start immediately. Ambition and youth served him well. The money made from the slippers was quickly invested on a bicycle and acquiring more goods. Just after two years of peddling the streets, he saved enough for his own shop in Medan - Jhamatmall Gurbamall & Co. Not bad, considering Jhamatmall had only just turned 27. By 1890, offices were established in Singapore, Yokohama, Calcutta and Padang.

The helm was passed over to Chandiram Melwani in 1938 who took the business one step further to include trade in European textiles. However, turbulent times from the '30s to the early '50s, which included the Great Depression, affected several businesses, and J.G.'s business was no exception. Almost all of its offices were forced to close.

Well-tempered by the hard times, the company met with yet another turning point as leadership was handed over to a young Moti Melwani in 1956, who embarked on a new strategy - obtain new agency contracts and franchises. In 1964, the landmark distribution deal with Levis Strauss & Co, for South-East Asia was signed. Given the rights to market and distribute Levi's jeans in the region, the company, through aggressive marketing and positioning, successfully translated the jean's iconic image over to the Asian market.

Back on the retail front, B.H. Melwani, Moti's cousin started an exclusive menswear store in 1971. Situated at Singapore 's High Street, Melwani's Men's Shop was an instant hit. Then in 1975, Moti and B.H. consolidated their businesses and efforts together to create MB Melwani Pte Ltd., an associate company of Jay Gee Enterprises, which went on to acquire coveted exclusive franchises for high fashion brands, many of which are still held today.

In 1989, Moti's eldest daughter, Tara Melwani, joined Jay Gee Melwani Group as an advertising and promotions executive. Slowly working up the ranks, she was eventually appointed as Managing Director in April 1999.

It has been over a century since J.G. Melwani braved Medan alone, his business assets all on a bicycle. Today, the Jay Gee Melwani Group has well over a hundred retail outlets, with distribution contracts with all major departmental stores and wholesalers. Employing over a thousand people, its business regional, the group has indeed come a long way.

But some things remain the same. You can still be assured of quality; you can still expect great service; and yes, you can still buy leather slippers from Jay Gee Melwani Group's designer boutiques.