The Collector

Aziah is in a casual Friday outfit, but she says she doesn’t usually sweat the small stuff when it comes to dressing up. “My boss doesn’t really care what I wear as long as it’s not too short or ugly,” she says. “But I don’t think people should take Casual Fridays to be Dress Less Fridays.” Aziah’s style is at times androgynous, and she has a penchant for clean lines, subtle detailing, quality workmanship and craftsmanship, and with stories attached to particular things.  “I especially love things with stories about where, how, and by whom things are made, and I personalise my outfits not just by what goes well together, but what fits the mood of the day. And cheeky is one of my favourite moods of the day,” she says. “Having to dress for a professional environment still always leaves room for something cheeky, or unexpected.” Her love for new stories and experiences leads her to say that if she wasn’t a lawyer, she would love to be an astronaut. “Outer space, and the idea of something out there being beyond human comprehension and being limitless in potential and boundaries, have always captured my imagination and interest.” Even down on earth, Aziah is thankful for the people she’s managed to meet and interact with. “Travelling to Iran last year has been one of the highlights of my recent years. From speaking to the locals I learnt that many Iranians do not have the privilege of the ease of travel to foreign countries the way we do, but their thirst and hunger to forge friendships and hear stories of where you come from, who you are, what or where you consider home and how culture, religion and politics shape your beliefs, values and opinions is truly remarkable,” she says. “The experience taught me that a sense of adventure, wonderment, and kinship is something that can exist even with people who have never crossed international boundaries, or own passports. It is one of the experiences that has inspired me to pursue a life beyond ourselves — knowing that we play but a mere part in a bigger context, and there is always much more we can do for our fellow man.”