Studio project by Tammy Koh

ARTISAN DUO

CULT MAGAZINE 2018

Follow the Artisan Duo, who chose to devote their lives to each other, as well as chasing their passion together. Including various brands of unisex fashion collection, see how Zeyra and Alif pulls off their everyday look and have a closer look into their lives and their passion in woods-making.

Long Sleeve American Apparel Pocketed Shirt Mango Denim Jeans Lee Belt, Bracelet Pull&Bear Spectacles Owndays

Long Sleeve American Apparel Pocketed Shirt Mango Cargo Pants Muttonhead Belt and Watch Pull&Bear

Rocking matching double layered striped outfits, start the day with this couple as they head to their workshop, where they claim â&#x20AC;&#x153;If dreams and magic were to be a place, this will be it.â&#x20AC;&#x153; 5

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Planning is a crucial foundation for every projectâ&#x20AC;?, as Zeyra mentioned before. Planning is one of the most important step as foundation have to be strong to anything to be built stable. A pocket big enough to put materials needed for planning is just what both of them needed to kick start their enterprise.

Spectacles Owndays Long Sleeve Muttonhead Flannel and Rings Pull&Bear Denim Jeans American Apparel

Long Sleeve American Apparel Denim Overalls Muttonhead Flannel and Rings Pull&Bear

Denim Overalls Mango Bracelet and Goggles Pull&Bear Boots Timberland

Overalls Mango Man Beanie American Apparel Boots Amblers

Graphic Shirts Pull&Bear // MONO GRAPHICS COLLECTION Red Bandana American Apparel 12

When asked what they were making for the day, the duo kept it a secret. The only clue given was that the end product will only be purely made of wood. Handling with purely wood seems like no sweat for both of them! 13

Black Jeans American Apparel Pullover Mango

Pullover Mango Man Black Jeans Pull&Bear

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the big reveal! The Duo actually built a train-and-crane toy that is extremely adorable! Perfect for children, it has great educational aspect as well! Together with chic and placid outfits, the Duo surely and clearly knows how to end their enterprise in style.

Shirt American Apparels Spectacles Owndays Jeans Muttonhead Watch Pull&Bear Flannel American Apparels

Graphic Shirt Pull&Bears Spectacles Owndays Flannel Muttonhead Jeans Lee

Boots Timberland

Boots Clarks Boots

Photographer Tammy Models Alif and Zeyra Makeup Zeyra and Tammy Assistants Ili and Nicolle Toy Bing Jun

After a long day, Alif and Zeyra enjoy hanging outside their studio and just chilling. Sometimes, even Wunknowingly coming up with fresh ideas. As both of them always say â&#x20AC;&#x153;Teamwork makes the dream work.â&#x20AC;&#x153;

NO LONGER MANUFACTURED! In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s context in Singapore, there is a rise of craftsmanship and people prefer quality over quantity goods. Which means most stuffs are preferred to be handmade and not mass produced. Follow the research of 4 students form Nanyang Technological University and see how they attempt to raise awareness to craftsmen.

Four final-year communications undergraduates at Nanyang Technological University have started Makers Of Singapore, a non-profit initiative to raise awareness of the local crafts scene. They also hope to link up craftsmen and designers across disciplines, from leathercraft to graphic design, so that they can share their knowledge and create business opportunities. There are also plans to compile a one-stop directory of the different craftsmen in Singapore. Reference throughout NO LONGER MANUFACTURED: http:// www.straitstimes.com/singapore/selling-craft-made-in-singapore

As small, independent craftsmaking businesses start to take off here, a group of university students are hoping to help these craftsmen fly the “made in Singapore” flag as a collective. Four final-year communications undergraduates at Nanyang Technological University have started Makers Of Singapore, a non-profit initiative to raise awareness of the local crafts scene.

Ms Wong Jing Ying, 22

They also hope to link up craftsmen and designers across disciplines, from leathercraft to graphic design, so that they can share their knowledge and create business opportunities. There are also plans to compile a one-stop directory of the different craftsmen in Singapore. Ms Wong Jing Ying, 22, Ms Sophial Foo, 22, Mr Alex Tai, 25, and Mr Loh Jun Wei, 25, are helming the initiative as part of their final-year project. Ms Wong says they were inspired by the Maker movement in the United States and Indonesia, which they discovered through research online. These movements, which are not connected but

Mr Alex Tai, 25

have the same goal, bring together people who sell self-made products to form a vibrant craft scene in those countries. Ms Wong adds: “Singapore’s craft scene is fragmented with many pockets of talent everywhere. This is a timely start as we have seen the recent rise of local initiatives in support of craft businesses such as Market of Artists and Designers (Maad), Public Garden, Temporium and The U Factory, for example, which have gained traction in the public eye.

“We want to complement such efforts and improve the awareness of local craft businesses, whose goods are produced entirely in Singapore, from conceptualisation to production.” Kick-starting Makers Of Singapore tomorrow is The Makers’ Forum, a closed-door talk which will see about 100 craftsmen, designers and entrepreneurs discuss the booming craft industry

Ms Sophial Foo, 22

here and how to turn a crafts hobby into a thriving business. Held at rooftop bar Loof in North Bridge Road, it will be fronted by four panellists who are veterans in their fields: Ms Jasmine Tuan, founder of BlackMarket, an independent fashion retailer that supports Singapore designers; Ms Carolyn Kan, founder of Carrie K., a jewellery and accessories label; Mr Felix Ng, an award-winning creative director and founder of Anonymous, a multi- disciplinary creative and design studio; and Mr Jeremiah Ang, founder of The J.Myers Co, a one-man company that produces fine leather goods. The panellists will also talk about craftsmen collaborating across disciplines such as leather-making and industrial design. Ms Michelle Yu, 24, who runs two-year-old The Gentlemen’s Press, a letterpress company, is excited at the prospect of exchanging knowledge and ideas with other local craftsmen. She

Mr Loh Jun Wei, 25

will attend the forum tomorrow as a participant. Ms Yu, who graduated from the Temasek Polytechnic School of Design in 2011 and runs the company full-time, says: “The craftsmaking industry is small and everyone pretty much knows one another through regular crafts events.

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INTERVIEW

WITH SINGAPORE’S

CRAFTS(WO)MEN,

KWA MEI JUN

Kwa Mei Jun did a one-year wood craftsmanship apprentice course run by the institute after her Alevels, where she worked in a furniture factory and learnt how to craft furnitures. The experience helped her to decide on a university course she

by Sandra Davie

knows she enjoys - an engineering course that combines the science with design thinking. Reference throughout INTERVIEW OF SINGAPORE’S CRAFTS(W0)MEN: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ education/why-do-a-carpentry-stint-before-going-to-university interview made up

SANDRA : So wooden furnitures are your specialty? May I ask you to make a chair for me too? [laughs] MEI JUN : I don’t see why not! I am an expert in operating a computer-controlled wood carving machine to create a piece of furniture for a customer. But that being said, there’s still much for me to improve, which is why I decided to pursue an engineering course as well. SANDRA : You’re not the only mid-20s that gave up almost all and start afresh with something they like, but how does it feel like? to do such a thing knowing there’s risk?

SANDRA : So Ms Mei Jun, why do you decide to take a gap year? Despite being in elite schools like Nanyang Girls’ High and Hwa Chong Institution MEI JUN : The reason why I took a gap year was because I felt like studying is not my kind of thing, if you get what I mean. It’s practical, of course, as education is important, but I just don’t see the purpose of it. I was more into something more hands on. SANDRA : That’s pretty interesting, but why craftsman? I mean, hands on, can mean different items, like for instance a chef? That’s pretty hands on. MEI JUN : [laughs] Oh no, you don’t want to see me cook. But yea, it’s still working out. There’s been ups and downs in my choice but then I remind myself it’s something I really enjoy.

MEI JUN : Passion is an understatement of how I feel. To me it’s more than just being a craftsman, it’s more of like how I portray my creativity using simple everyday objects, it’s my interactions with my customers as well, seeing them happy and using my product makes me happy as well. I strongly encourage those people who are stuck in what they are doing and do not like it, think carefully and if needed, leave. Go to a place where you will enjoy. You only can live once. It’s now or never. SANDRA : What wise words! However some may have stricter parents, which don’t allow them to do so. When you dropped out, what did your parents felt and told you? MEI JUN : Unfortunately, you’re right, there are strict parents. However fortunate for me, my parents were really supportive and I’m really thankful for my friend’s support too! SANDRA : That’s a nice thing to hear! I wish you all the best in your new schooling environment! MEI JUN : Thank you !

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Cult Magazine presents

NEUTRALIZED

28 March 2018 to 9 April 2018 Somerset Grange Carpark 1pm to 9pm daily

Kenny Lim Andrew Loh 36