People

“Right now, my design philosophy is to be myself—Van. Jokes aside, I would say I’m just doing whatever I like, experimenting with more controversial stuff.”

“I always go to Peninsula Plaza to eat Burmese food, especially with rice. It’s my favourite place in Singapore because there are always a lot of Burmese people there. I also like to cook all kinds of food—Singaporean, Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Thai.”

“I studied fashion design and worked as a fashion designer after graduating from poly in 2021, but then I got burnt out and am now pivoting away from the fashion industry. I learnt a lot during my time in fashion, but I don’t think I could do that forever.”

“I got my tattoos done at 18 when I thought it was cool to get tatted like everybody else—ultimate regret! I’m in the process of removing them all because I think I’ll look better with a clean slate in a wedding gown. I’m currently single but a girl can dream.”

“My style is very different to most people in my university course (Biological and Biomedical Science) as I get a lot of inspiration from my fashionable younger brother. I customise thrifted clothes and accessorise with bits and bobs.”

“I grew up in Jakarta with my three sisters, one of them being my twin. I’m very close to them, so it was tough developing my own identity as an individual, but since moving to Singapore alone to pursue my studies, I’ve discovered more about my personality.”

“I get a visceral reaction when I see famous artworks, because it feels like I’m meeting a celebrity. When I saw Fountain by Marcel Duchamp, I got the urge to visit all the museums in the world to see renowned art pieces like these in the flesh!”

“My dream is to own an art gallery to provide more representation for ASEAN artists and make art more accessible to the general public. We could really learn from the inclusivity and warmth of the art scene in Melbourne, where I’m currently studying.”

“My resolution for 2024 is to make more money so I can travel wherever I want! I love tropical beaches, so I’d like to go to Hawaii or the Maldives. I also travel a lot within my home country, Indonesia—Pulau Komodo in Nusa Tenggara is great for pretty beaches.”

“To me, the perfect way to relax is just spending whatever down time I have with my friends, having conversations, and not doing anything in particular. My friends are my chosen family, so it’s always nice to have them around.”

“I started collecting bird feathers a few years back when I found a huge feather in a park—it was so beautiful with its intricate lining, and I just felt a connection with it, so since then, I’ve been looking out for fallen feathers on my walks in the park.”

“I work at AS'FALL, a fashion boutique along Haji Lane! I love the warmth and soul of the place, and of the people too. When I first joined the company, I didn’t even need to be introduced to anyone as I was quickly able to become acquainted with our neighbours.”