ST Headstart: Building your dream home on a budget
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Buying a new home is a huge financial outlay, and with it also come renovation costs. But there are ways to save without compromising your aesthetic ambitions. ST's Sharon Salim, who recently built her dream home, shares tips on what she would have done differently in order to reap more savings.
Do you have home renovation questions? Let us know at headstart@sph.com.sg
Meanwhile, some young Singaporeans are living the dream - generating five-figures in sales with just three hours' work - by being TikTok live stream stars. They let us in on some of their secrets.
One more thing - come share your ideas and questions with our editors at a Conversations with ST event for young professionals on May 27. There'll be free dinner too! Get the details here.
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Straits Times
17 hours ago
- Straits Times
Made In Singapore: Charles & Keith's risks and rewards strategy of doing business in crisis
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Looking back on his decades-long journey in shoes, Charles & Keith co-founder Charles Wong believes the brand's success abroad has to do with good timing and a healthy risk appetite. SINGAPORE – Mr Neeraj Teckchandani remembers the first time he saw a Charles & Keith store. It was 2003 and the chief executive of Apparel Group, a Dubai-based fashion and retail conglomerate, had been visiting Singapore for market research. The group had just secured the rights to launch Canadian footwear brand Aldo in South-east Asia, with Singapore as its first market. 'When we were doing the market research, the one name which popped up everywhere in our research with the landlords and consumers was Charles & Keith,' says Mr Teckchandani, who decided to visit its Wisma Atria store. 'It was crazy. The traffic was mind-boggling. We saw a huge potential in this brand.' That would be the start of a beautiful partnership that has lasted till today, with Apparel Group now the brand's official UAE partner, responsible for opening more than 70 Charles & Keith stores in the Middle East. By now, most Singaporeans will know and cheer the fact that footwear label Charles & Keith (C&K) is a proudly home-grown brand. Beginning in 1990 as a discount shoe store in Ang Mo Kio, it is today Singapore's most successful fashion export, with more than 600 stores in over 30 countries. They never set out to conquer the world, confesses chief executive Charles Wong. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore 4 housebreaking suspects taken to Bukit Timah crime scene under police escort Singapore To Vers or not to Vers: How will this scheme affect HDB prices? Asia Citizenship for foreign talents: How this footballer from Brazil became Vietnam's favourite 'Son' Business MyRepublic customers to see no immediate changes to existing services: StarHub Asia Malaysian MP Rafizi says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack, threatened with Aids Asia India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength 'We didn't have a big plan on how this brand would eventually become. We just wanted to create accessible fashion products for our consumers in the neighbourhood,' he tells The Straits Times. Charles & Keith co-founder and chief executive Charles Wong at the brand's headquarters in Tai Seng. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY Once the enthusiastic face of the brand, Mr Wong, 51, stepped out of the spotlight in recent years to let the company's global accent speak for itself. He was also busy growing the business in China over the last decade. The eldest of three sons – who clinched the top accolade, Businessman of the Year, at the 2024 Singapore Business Awards – returned during the Covid-19 pandemic to spend time with his ageing parents. His younger brothers Keith Wong, 49, and Kelvin Wong, 46, remained in Singapore to grow the business while Mr Wong was in China. Co-founder and chief operating officer Keith Wong leads the group's creative vision – from product design to store architecture to the overall brand aesthetic – while Kelvin Wong, who joined the family business later, heads bag design and technology. Reflecting on his almost 35-year journey in shoes, Mr Charles Wong credits the brand's success in international markets to a mix of good timing, good luck and a healthy risk appetite. After C&K was established in 1996 as a shoe label independent from the Ang Mo Kio store, Mr Charles Wong and Mr Keith Wong opened their first boutique in Amara Shopping Centre. Cash-strapped, they renovated it on a budget just shy of $50,000, and bought from their suppliers on credit. The Asian financial crisis struck soon after, but instead of getting spooked, they strode forward. Their father's friend, who operated and was scaling down the Giordano chain of clothing stores, offered to let them take over the lease of his unit in Causeway Point mall. A young Charles Wong in 2008. His brother and co-founder Keith, who leads the group's creative vision, has always been more media-shy. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE Rent was steep – $20,000 a month, Mr Charles Wong recalls. 'I thought for a week if I should take the risk. The uncle said, 'If you don't jump, you'll never jump.' So, I took the first jump at a high rental store.' Their forecasted annual revenue of $60,000 ended up closer to $100,000. 'It was a good motivation factor, that the first risk we took was right.' Risky business Risk would turn out to be an enticing constant in the brothers' lives. During the financial crisis, an Indonesian expatriate customer proposed franchising the brand to Indonesia once the market improved. Then in his 20s, Mr Wong was apprehensive in view of Indonesia's unstable economy, fresh from a string of bombings. The customer goaded him into agreeing by asking: 'You served national service, right? So, why are you scared? You're military trained.' The Jakarta store, their first one overseas, was a huge success – and has led to 43 stores in Indonesia today. 'You never know what you don't know, so you just have to keep an open mind,' says Mr Wong. Charles & Keith's first Indonesia store in Mall Taman Anggrek opened in1998. PHOTO: CHARLES & KEITH In the 2000s, while other brands were eyeing expansion into China, the brothers chose the Middle East. You could chalk it down to Mr Wong's unusual business strategy: growing during a crisis. After successfully penetrating the Indonesian market, he sought 'the next crisis' – and set his sights on the region which had been going through the Iraq War from 2003 to 2011. 'Shop locations are more affordable; hiring talent is easier as people are retrenched,' he says. 'I feel newcomers have an equal opportunity as established players.' After that first encounter at C&K's boutique in Wisma Atria, the brothers continued to impress at every turn, Mr Teckchandani says. They were an early adopter in digital commerce too, launching a website in 2004. Mr Teckchandani adds: 'E-commerce was hardly talked about then. There were no And we saw Charles & Keith embarking on that journey – that showed their vision, the forward-thinking, the strategic direction. That was very critical for us, how they were looking at building it as a global brand.' An early iteration of Charles & Keith's first website. PHOTO: CHARLES & KEITH At the time, the Middle East's retail landscape was just beginning to evolve from its street shopping and souk culture to organised malls. The newly announced Mall of the Emirates was being primed as a game changer in Dubai retail, and Mr Teckchandani was on the lookout for fresh voices. Competition bloomed in the fast-fashion space – from Zara's parent company Inditex to H&M Group – but not yet in footwear. C&K, he says, addressed the need in the local market for a South-east Asian brand that could cut through the noise of the West – with its trend-led designs, accessibility in pricing and commercial sensibility. When Mall of the Emirates and the store opened in 2005, consumers responded. 'It fit into that space of affordable luxury – with the feeling and ambience of a luxury store, but the prices were wow for the consumers,' recalls Mr Teckchandani. 'After that, we didn't have to pitch to the landlords. It was the landlords running after us. And then came Dubai Mall, and the rest was history.' It was also in Dubai that C&K first launched bags, to answer Middle Eastern women's needs for accessories to show off personal style while dressed in a traditional abaya. On Mr Teckchandani's suggestion, they expanded the handbag category, which now makes up close to half of C&K's business and is arguably what it has become known for among the younger generation. Charles & Keith's first operational Dubai store at Al Manal Centre. It opened its Mall of the Emirates store in 2005. PHOTO: CHARLES & KEITH 'Crisis is not necessarily a bad thing,' reiterates Mr Wong. 'It's also a good time to enter a market when the pace may be a bit slower. We have to take advantage during the downtime.' Such was his mindset when the 2008 global financial crisis struck. He considered moving to the United States then to expand into the market, but felt it was too far away. So, he settled for China, which proved another winning move. Today, the market accounts for more than 50 per cent of C&K's business. Luxury's stamp of approval A healthy dose of star power propelled C&K to global recognition in the 2010s, but what retail observers believe cemented its position was the stamp of approval from the luxury world. In 2011, French luxury conglomerate LVMH's private equity arm L Capital Asia invested in a 20 per cent stake in the company, raising eyebrows among the fashion set. The headline-making investment gave C&K 'fashion legitimacy on a global level', says Mr Kenneth Goh, editor-in-chief of fashion publication Harper's Bazaar Singapore. Harper's Bazaar Singapore editor-in-chief Kenneth Goh wears the largest women's size in Charles & Keith boots. ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH A string of celebrity red-carpet sightings followed, starting with Game Of Thrones (2011 to 2019) actress Maisie Williams rocking a C&K bag to the 2016 Emmy Awards. It was not long before the brand was spotted on A-listers including actress Nicole Kidman and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez. Collaborations with emerging cult fashion designers such as Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen and Shanghai-based label Shushu/Tong, before they became 'it' brands, gave C&K further street cred. 'They've got the foresight to find that cool designer of the moment. It immediately injects cool into the brand, and you can't buy cool,' says Mr Goh, who wears C&K's largest women's shoe size, EU41, on business trips and to attend fashion shows abroad. 'They live and breathe and are submerged in social media. They communicate it via the people they dress, and it builds a community.' British actress Maisie Williams with the Evening Wristlet from Charles & Keith at the 2016 Bafta Tea Party (left) and Cecilie Bahnsen x Charles & Keith Upcycled Patchwork Anemone Mary Janes launched in 2020. PHOTOS: CHARLES & KEITH In 2025, C&K hit another industry milestone: debuting on the Met Gala red carpet. Its shoes were spotted on Colombian pop star Shakira and American singer-actress Nicole Scherzinger – another coup for Singapore, says Mr Goh. Looking ahead For all its successes, C&K has not forgotten its roots. 'We're very fortunate to be in this country, where Singapore has a great brand name,' Mr Wong says, noting that the Singapore branding set a high standard for customers in the region when C&K first embarked on international expansion. Its next move is building a product that can cut across all markets simultaneously. 'We like the Apple model – of lesser designs for the whole world,' he quips. No longer chasing numbers, he adds modestly: 'Having the right talent and mindset brings us a longer way than just setting high growth targets.' Back in Singapore to be closer to family, Mr Charles Wong is no longer chasing numbers. Instead, he wants to focus on designing quality products and experiences. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY What continues to impress Mr Teckchandani, who plans to open up to 115 new C&K stores in the Middle East in the next three to five years, is how grounded the brothers have stayed. He once witnessed them patrolling a mall in Dubai after operating hours to check on their store and scope out the competition. 'We work with 85-odd brands, but I have not seen any founder who has built such a large business, walking humbly in malls at midnight to see what are the latest trends in the market and the wants of the consumer,' he says. 'The responsiveness, dedicating years to learn and adapt, and the humble attitude are the secret recipe for their success.'
Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Straits Times
Style News: Bag brand The Sophia Label turns 10, craft market of 250 local makers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Sophia Label turns 10 Home-grown bag brand The Sophia Label is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a series of bag drops. With seven fresh designs in three drops from August to 2026, the milestone collection honours the ethos of timeless appeal and functionality that founder Sophia Chen first prized when establishing her brand in August 2015. First to launch on Aug 8 was the Signature Pocket Micro Bag ($28), a dainty crescent shape made in padded nylon and from the brand's Posh series. It is sold in a blind bag for an added surprise, with five possible colourways. (From left) The Sophia Label Signature Pocket M Rei Tote Bag in Chalk, Signature Pocket L Rei Tote Bag in Camel and Taupe. PHOTOS: THE SOPHIA LABEL Launched on Aug 13, the Signature Pocket M/L Rei Tote Bag ($88 to $98) is for those who crave more structure. In vegan leather, the trendy boxy silhouette takes you from work to play with an envelope-style pocket on the outside, a spacious main compartment and inner pockets. The bag comes in sizes M and L, and the larger version has a nifty back luggage slot for hands-free travel. In September, fans can look forward to slouchier hobo bags and padded crossbodies. Info: Available at Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia India, Singapore ministers discuss deeper tie-ups in digitalisation, skills, industrial parks Business More seniors remain employed after retirement and re-employment ages raised in 2022: MOM study Singapore To Vers or not to Vers: How will this scheme affect HDB prices? Asia Malaysian MP Rafizi says his son was jabbed with syringe in planned attack, threatened with Aids Singapore askST: Will assets seized in $3b money laundering case be sold at public auctions? Singapore Woman, 68, charged over assaulting maid with scissors and nail clipper Business StarHub first-half profit falls 41.7% to $47.9m; telco eyes 'more aggressive stance' amid competition Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength SG60 craft market of more than 250 local makers Wood carving artist @ is one of more than 250 local makers participating in the Common Touch Craft Festival. PHOTO: COMMON TOUCH In the spirit of National Day and SG60, local pottery studio Common Touch Craft Unit is bringing together more than 250 local makers for a market celebrating the creative community. From Aug 16 to 17, the Common Touch Craft Festival showcases booths across three zones: Handcrafted Items, featuring artisanal ceramics, textiles, jewellery and heritage crafts; Design & Lifestyle Products that include art and homeware; and Illustrative Merchandise, encompassing prints and zines. The aim is to bridge different disciplines – positioning traditional potters, weavers and woodworkers alongside contemporary designers and digital illustrators, says Common Touch co-founder Zestro Leow. The potter, who runs a studio with partner and ceramicist Fyon Cheong, got his own start selling at art markets in the 2010s. Creations from pottery label @___life_25 (left) and Creations from earrings label @mayzydazy. PHOTOS: COMMON TOUCH While you will not find their handmade works at the event, look out for pieces from more than 250 other labels, including earrings brand Mayzydazy, wood carving artist Lyn Ng of Studio Mu Yu and a part-time potter who goes by @___life_25 on Instagram. Info: Hall 405, Suntec City Convention Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard, from Aug 16 (noon to 8pm) to 17 (11am to 7pm). Entry is free. For more information, go to Fragrance pop-ups from Byredo, Rare Beauty and Gucci Beauty Rare Beauty Rare Eau de Parfum by Selena Gomez. PHOTOS: RARE BEAUTY Orchard Road is a perfume lover's dream this weekend, with several pop-ups launching new fragrances for the season. Start your scent trail at Sephora Ion Orchard, decked out for the debut of Rare Beauty's first perfume. The Rare Eau de Parfum ($125 for 50ml) is sweet but not cloyingly so, with notes of caramel, pistachio, vanilla, spicy ginger, tonka beans and skin musks. Founder and pop star Selena Gomez, who suffers from lupus and arthritis-like symptoms, worked with a hand therapist and packaging engineers to design an ergonomic yet luxe fragrance bottle that enables easy dispensing for persons with disabilities. Until Aug 20 at the store launchpad, receive a two-piece gift set with a minimum spending of $45 on Rare Beauty. On Aug 16 and 17, buy a 50ml Rare EDP and any Rare Beauty blush, and get to personalise a keychain for free. Byredo Alto Astral. PHOTO: BYREDO Stop by Ngee Ann City for a whiff of Alto Astral ($297 for 50ml), the latest eau de parfum from luxury Swedish fragrance house Byredo. Named after the Brazilian Portuguese expression 'alto astral', which translates to an elevated state of mind, it seeks to evoke the feeling of joy and optimism. The vibrant summer scent opens with a sparkling coconut note and fresh aldehydes, moving to a complex heart of incense, jasmine petals and milky musk, before settling on a base of sandalwood, cashmere wood and salted amber. Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum Intense featuring singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus. PHOTO: GUCCI BEAUTY Over at Paragon Shopping Centre, check out the Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum Intense ($285 for 100ml). Fronted by singer-songwriter Miley Cyrus, the floral-woody gourmand scent deepens the original, sweeter Gorgeous Gardenia scent with a rich, creamy sandalwood essence. Here, you can also swatch the brand's Blush de Beaute ($95) in Silky Rose and Bright Coral, and Rouge De Beaute Brillant in They Met In Argentina ($65), in limited-edition packaging. Info: Rare Beauty's pop-up is at Sephora Ion Orchard (B2-14/15) until Aug 20. Byredo's pop-up is at Ngee Ann City (Basement 1 atrium) until Aug 24. Gucci Beauty's pop-up is at Paragon Shopping Centre atrium from Aug 15 to 21.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce namedrops ‘scorching hot' Singapore in new GQ interview
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Football star Travis Kelce says he and pop superstar Taylor Swift are "just two people who are in love". It has been over a year since American football star Travis Kelce was in town to attend his girlfriend Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts at the National Stadium in March 2024, but Singapore's heat and humidity is still on his mind. In a cover story interview with GQ for the US magazine's September issue, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end praised the American pop superstar for having the endurance and stamina of an athlete. 'She may not think of herself as an athlete, but I've seen what she goes through. I've seen the amount of work that she puts on her body, and it's mind-blowing,' he said. He shared about the tough conditions Swift, 35, had to endure during her global The Eras Tour, comprising 149 sell-out concerts that ran from March 17, 2023, to Dec 8, 2024. Kelce, 35, zeroed in on her six shows in Singapore. Not only did she brave the heat generated by electronic equipment beneath the massive stage floor, she also had to put up with the country's punishing weather. 'The (Eras Tour) floor is literally a football field-sized computer. You take that into Singapore, where it is scorching hot, and all of a sudden you're feeling the fumes from the computer, and you're feeling the fumes from the sun, and you're doing a show for three hours with a lot of energy, bringing it every single song,' he said. 'That is arguably more exhausting than how much I put in on a Sunday, and she's doing it three, four, five days in a row.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore banks face headwinds in rest of 2025, but DBS is pulling ahead: Analysts Singapore Allianz insures Singapore's first fully driverless bus amid challenges posed by autonomous vehicles Asia Mixed reactions among Malaysia drivers on S'pore move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services Business Singtel Q1 profit soars 317.4% to $2.9 billion on exceptional gains of $2.2 billion Asia Diamonds, watches and shoes: Luxury items at heart of probe into South Korea's former first lady Singapore Yishun man admits to making etomidate-laced pods for vaporisers; first Kpod case conviction Sport New Hui Fen becomes first Singaporean bowler to win PWBA Tour Player of the Year Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story This is not the first time Kelce has commented on Singapore's heat. In the March 13, 2024 episode of Kelce and his brother Jason's New Heights podcast, Kelce gave a glowing review of his visit between March 7 and 9, calling the city state 'high-tech' and 'futuristic', exceedingly 'well planned out' and 'more interesting' to him than Sydney, Australia, where he also travelled to for The Eras Tour. He also made nods to the diverse cuisine and the '100 deg F' (38 deg C) temperatures. In the same interview, Kelce gushed about the couple's relationship and how he is the 'happiest guy in the world' since they started dating in 2023. He said they could relate to each other, revealing how they have a lot in common, such as entertaining sold-out stadiums. 'I hadn't experienced somebody in the same shoes as me, having a partner who understands the scrutiny, understands the ups and downs of being in front of millions. That was very relatable, seeing how exhausted she would get after shows.' He also stressed that their romance is not a publicity stunt. 'Whenever I'm with her, it feels like we're just regular people... we're just two people who are in love,' Kelce said, adding that their relationship happened 'very organically'. Meanwhile, the celebrity lovebirds look set to break records together in the days to come. A teaser clip from Swift's upcoming highly anticipated guest starring episode of New Heights, featuring the Grammy-winning singer's surprise reveal of her new 12th studio album The Life Of A Showgirl, was posted on Aug 12. It officially became her most viewed Instagram reel ever, garnering over 130 million views in less than 24 hours. It has since received over 168 million views and 5.1 million likes. The full podcast episode will be released on Aug 13, marking Swift's debut podcast interview and their inaugural joint interview appearance.
