SHENTONISTA

“I think literature is downplayed these days, so yeah, my wife and I are quite the nerds—there’s always a magazine or a book in our bags whenever we go out. In fact, I used to work for Borders, which feels like a whole lifetime ago, so you can guess how old we are.”

“I run a business, FIN Crafted Goods, with my husband Fahmy, so as you can imagine, it’s really hard separating life from work. But when I do actively take a step back from work, I like to cook and read. Physical books only though! No e-books. It’s how Fahmy and I escape reality.”

"All my clothes are from a Japanese brand called Julius. I first discovered this brand a few years ago and found that their style really suits me and my body. I used to travel to Japan every year to buy their products, but I don’t have to do so anymore now that I can purchase their pieces directly online.”

“I get very anxious when I’m alone, so I’m trying to spend more time by myself because legit nobody cares. So far, I’ve gone shopping alone a few times and I’ve even tried eating alone, which was very scary. But again, nobody cares!”

Outside of work, N is quite the dancer. Having picked up dance in his polytechnic and university days, N tells us that he tries to go for dance classes when he can find the time.

“My favourite building in Singapore is the Golden Mile Complex which unfortunately will be demolished soon. Unlike the rest of the country that can feel very polished and rigid, this building feels alive—I can feel it breathing and changing, and it’s full of character!”

“I’m a Bartender at Night Hawks, a new bar that just opened in mid-2022. I’ll usually go for any drink, especially if it’s free, since it’s part of my job to try everything out there, but baijiu (Chinese liquor) is a no for me—it tastes like vomit!”

“I moved to Singapore from Ipoh, Malaysia to take on a job in Videography and Editing because of the currency. Apart from that, I also wanted to try working overseas and since there isn’t much cultural difference between both countries, Singapore became an obvious choice for me.”

“In my free time, I enjoy building mechanical keyboards and customising everything from the switches to the layout. I’ve also just picked up skateboarding after wanting to do so for a long time. There’s a constant fear of falling since I’m not as young as I used to be, but it’s a hobby I wish to continue.”

“Last year, I picked up the courage to make a career switch to Early Childhood Education after five years in Pharmaceuticals. The change was really tough on me at first, but thankfully I had guidance along the way. One of my students even said I’m their favourite teacher, which made me really happy!”

“I manage a bag retailer in Joo Chiat called The Bag Creature. As the face of the shop, my favourite part about working here is the connections I make with people and the cool stories they have to share. I feel that my purpose in life is to be the bridge that brings people together, so it’s what I’ll continue to do, whether at this job or elsewhere.”

We first spotted Clarisse, a freelance illustrator from Indonesia, across the street, glowing in her vibrant pink outfit in the light of day, sipping on her iced coffee with her dad by her side as they strolled around, seemingly unbothered by the midday heat, in search of a good spot for lunch.