Turning Closet Chaos Into A Source Of Income

By Norhidayyu Zainal

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) — In the rush of daily life, many find themselves with little time to properly manage their wardrobes. Closets become the silent casualties, overflowing with clothes, disorganised and piling up into clutter.

It often begins with small delays. Laundry left undone, clothes waiting to be folded, garments yet to be put away, until the accumulation turns dressing each morning into a frustrating ritual, a daily ‘mission impossible’.

For Wan Malini Idris, 33, however, this all-too-familiar struggle has become an opportunity. Since May last year, she has carved out a niche by turning wardrobe organisation into a thriving source of income.

Operating under the brand almari.mili, the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) diploma holder in business studies has seen growing demand for her services, with clients increasingly seeking her expertise to restore order to their closets.

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The idea, she said, came unexpectedly.

“I stumbled upon a video by an overseas influencer showing how a cluttered home could be transformed into a neat, organised space. It inspired me,” she shared in a recent interview.

Curious, she took to Threads to share her thoughts, only to be met with an overwhelming response. What began as a casual post soon revealed the potential for something more.

With strong encouragement from her mother, Nora’shikin Abd Rahman, whose own love for neat, well-arranged spaces left a lasting impression, Wan Malini turned her natural inclination for organising into a business.

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Today, the Kuala Lumpur-born entrepreneur is almost fully booked. Promoting her services through social media, she receives requests daily, though she limits herself to just one client per day.

“Most of my clients are corporate professionals, busy individuals who simply don’t have the time to manage their clothes,” she explained. “It’s not that they dislike organising. In fact, their homes are often already neat and well-kept.”

"Clothing is different. It requires constant attention, almost daily. Without domestic help, and with demanding work schedules, it’s easy to put it off, and once that happens, the pile just grows.”

Before accepting a booking, Wan Malini asks clients to send a video of their wardrobe, allowing her to assess its condition and estimate the time required.

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While the task may appear straightforward, it comes with its own challenges. The work is physically demanding, and some clients struggle to part with clothes they no longer wear.

Yet, beyond the physical labour, the job has given her deeper insight into the emotional weight of clutter.

“Some clients feel completely overwhelmed,” she said. “There are those who break down because they’ve tried to organise their space but eventually gave up; it was just too much.”

“Being able to help them reclaim their space brings a sense of relief, not just physically, but emotionally.”

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When it comes to organising, Wan Malini advocates practicality over perfection.

“Keep frequently worn clothes within easy reach, preferably at the front or in accessible areas. If you have hanging space, use it, especially for working individuals who don’t have time to manage their clothes daily.”

“For items you rarely wear, store them at the back. As for winter clothing, I recommend vacuum bags to save space.”

For her, the work is more than just tidying, it is, in many ways, therapeutic.

Currently serving clients across the Klang Valley and nearby areas, Wan Malini believes the demand for such services will only continue to grow.

“Everyone wears clothes, but not everyone has the time or motivation to manage them properly. When people want an organised home and wardrobe, they need someone to help make it happen,” she said.

Looking ahead, she plans to hire an assistant to manage customer enquiries and hopes to expand the almari.mili brand regionally, with Singapore as her first step beyond Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA