PropertyGuru and Mr Sabotage reimagines the souvenir jacket

Vogue Singapore

3 days ago

As Singapore celebrates 60 years of independence, PropertyGuru pays tribute not just to nationhood, but to the unsung heroes who help build it—property agents. Often overlooked yet integral to the fabric of everyday life, agents guide families through new chapters, quietly shaping neighbourhoods and helping Singaporeans find a place in this city to call home. This SG60, their journey becomes the heart to a powerful fashion statement.
In a rare collaboration, PropertyGuru partners with homegrown streetwear icon Mark Ong—better known as Mr Sabotage—to reimagine the classic souvenir jacket as a layered expression of this duality and devotion. Inspired by the lives of agents, who juggle personal commitments with professional ambition, the design honours their emotional labour and enduring presence in our communities. Jazreel Lim, ERA property agent, wears the PropertyGuru x Mr. Sabotage SG60 jacket slung over her shoulder, revealing the bold red reverse embroidered with icons of everyday Singapore. Courtesy of PropertyGuru
'There's a quiet beauty in how property agents move through the world, helping others begin new chapters, while balancing their own,' shares Sivaram Parameswaran, marketing director of PropertyGuru Singapore. 'That tension between the personal and professional felt poetic to us, and we wanted the jacket to express that duality with subtle power.' Beyond its tribute to agents, the jacket also honours SG60 as a reflection of our collective national spirit—rooted in everyday stories, cultural nuance, and the evolving pride of a nation still writing its story.
Reversible in design and rich in symbolism, the piece channels the duality many Singaporeans—like the property agents featured in the campaign—navigate daily between tradition and progress, home and hustle. Their lived experiences form the emotional backbone of this collaboration, grounding the jacket's narrative in authenticity and resonance.
Drawing from the inspiration of the classic souvenir jacket, Ong modernises the form with a deliberate balance of sophistication and personality, infusing the silhouette with unmistakably local references. Featuring a reversible structure, one side of the jacket presents a refined grey pinstripe, a nod to Singapore's polished modernity and sense of structure. On the reverse, a vibrant red canvas comes alive with embroidered motifs: a heartland cat emerging from the louvre windows of a Peranakan shophouse, the island's outline stitched beneath its paws, and a blooming Vanda Miss Joaquim beside the words 'Orchid City', anchoring the look. Like the agents it was inspired by, this contrast mirrors their duality of a tailored exterior with an inner depth rooted in care and connection. A subtle tribute to resilience and hybridity, the elements come together to build a narrative, capturing fragments of a collective memory and transforming the jacket into a wearable story.
'There's a quiet beauty in how property agents move through the world, helping others begin new chapters, while balancing their own'
Ong's mastery lies not just in motif, but in meaning. Every detail is considered, from the tension placed on each thread—intentionally loosened to create subtle imperfections—to the symbolism woven throughout. 'Creating this piece was personal,' Ong shares. 'It was about capturing the lived-in textures of Singapore, not the polished façade. It had to feel emotional, imperfect, real.' In typical Sabotage style, the result is raw but refined, nostalgic yet current—a design language that mirrors the rhythms of the city itself.
This collaboration goes beyond aesthetics—it is a quiet tribute to those who contribute daily to nation building, and a reminder that fashion, too, can hold space for reflection and gratitude. While its production run remains limited, the jacket's impact is far from small. It stands as a testament to the power of fashion to hold memory, provoke reflection, and connect people across backgrounds and aspirations. ERA property agent Shaun Dillon wears the PropertyGuru x Mr. Sabotage reversible SG60 jacket, showcasing its tailored grey pinstripe side—a nod to professional polish with a streetwear edge. Courtesy of PropertyGuru
Only 150 jackets have been produced, most of which will be gifted to standout property agents who embody the spirit of the campaign. But 10 have been set aside for the public through a special SG60 scavenger hunt activation—where they'll be hidden at secret locations across the island. In celebrating the nation's 60th year, PropertyGuru and Mr. Sabotage invite Singaporeans to rediscover their sense of place, pride, and belonging—through a piece of design that threads together identity, memory, and home.
In distilling the spirit of Singapore into a single garment, PropertyGuru and Mr Sabotage craft more than outerwear—they offer a poetic salute to the everyday heroes whose work often goes unseen, yet never unfelt.
From now to 9 August, follow them on Instagram to uncover clues and join the hunt for your chance to own a piece of design that threads together the fabric of identity, memory and home.