Latest news with #EmeraldHill–TheLittleNyonyaStory
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘I have pieces I've worn for years': Zoe Tay helps open iRoo's first eco-conscious outlet store
Veteran local actress Zoe Tay at the launch of Taiwanese fashion label iRoo's first outlet store in IMM as a VIP guest. PHOTO: IROO SINGAPORE – To veteran local actress Zoe Tay, sustainability does not begin and end with recycling bins or buzzwords. It starts in the wardrobe. 'I have pieces I've worn for years,' says the 57-year-old. 'Even if I rewear them, I'll style them differently. If it's well made and timeless, why not?' Among her favourites is a pair of jeans from Coterie – a label by Malaysia-based Singaporean fashion designer Celest Thoi – that she continues to reach for. While Tay says she has a soft spot for bags, she is just as quick to pass them on. 'Some of them, I give to my niece and nephew, in-laws or assistant,' she says. 'There're so many. I used to keep them all hidden in my wardrobe cabinets. But when I finally displayed them, I realised I had a lot of duplicates.' She has also contributed to donation drives, such as one organised by Channel 8 that collected celebrity fashion items to be resold. 'I think the important thing is when you re-give your items and people enjoy them.' The black-clad Mediacorp artiste was speaking to The Straits Times at the opening of Taiwanese fashion brand iRoo's first outlet store at Singapore's largest outlet mall IMM on May 23. iRoo has opened its first outlet store at IMM in Jurong. PHOTO: IROO The womenswear label founded in 1999, with more than 70 branches in Taiwan, is best known for its fast-turning weekly collections. Its fifth and newest 1,600 sq ft boutique in Singapore – which offers pieces from past seasons' collections at prices at least 40 per cent off – marks a more reflective chapter. Not only is it the brand's first outlet store, but it also introduces iRoo's first tentative steps into sustainability through a creative collaboration with Singaporean eco-innovation company Wynist. Under the initiative, Repurposing Waste For A Greener Future, the IMM outlet store showcases fixtures, hangers and even sunglasses made from compressed textile waste and discarded coffee grounds. Each display table, for instance, is made from 25kg of repurposed fabric waste – none of it iRoo's own, but a symbolic start to a wider ambition. Taiwanese fashion label iRoo's first outlet store in IMM spans 1,600 sq ft. PHOTO: IROO 'I'm drawn to a monochromatic palette – black, white, grey. My wardrobe is full of these colours,' says Tay, who was invited to the launch as a VIP guest, gesturing to the tailored blouse and belted skirt she had selected from iRoo's current collection for the occasion. But the actress' latest role – as formidable matriarch Liu Xiuniang in the Mediacorp Peranakan period drama Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story (2025) – did nudge her out of her monochrome comfort zone. She says each character had a distinct palette, thoughtfully assigned by the production team to reflect his or her personality. 'This was my first time dressing up as a Nonya,' adds Tay, who is Teochew and Cantonese. 'My colour was green.' Actresses Zoe Tay (centre, wearing a green kebaya labuh) and Jesseca Liu (right) in Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story. PHOTO: MEDIACORP Of all her on-screen outfits, one in particular stood out. 'The first one I wore – that long coat – it was very hot,' she says, referring to the kebaya labuh, a traditional full-length kebaya often associated with older women. 'But the colour lent so much vibrance to the character and the whole image.' Tay's openness to evolving with time – and staying true to what feels authentic – mirrors iRoo's new direction. Ms Emily Huang, chief operating officer of iRoo International, says: 'Sustainability often clashes with lifestyle. We travel, we shop – and that creates tension with the idea of a carbon-free blueprint. But we wanted to find a balance.' According to her, iRoo's production model has always diverged from traditional fast fashion. 'We don't do mass production,' she says. 'We release only about 20 styles a week – not 1,000 pieces like other brands – and we produce in limited quantities. If consumers respond well, we replenish. So, there's more variety, but also less waste.' Ms Emily Huang (left), chief operating officer of iRoo International, and actress Zoe Tay. PHOTO: IROO 'Singapore is always the first step for our brand to step out of its comfort zone,' adds Ms Huang, adding that iRoo's debut here in 2010 was a strategic move that established the city as a test bed for international growth. 'That's why our headquarters decided to launch this new concept – sustainability – in Singapore first. The next step is to bring it to other South-east Asian markets such as Malaysia and Vietnam.' Her goal? To one day recycle iRoo's leftover fabrics and unsold goods into store fixtures like hangers and tables. Whether this circular ambition becomes reality remains to be seen. In the store's quiet backroom, rows of conventional plastic hangers still line the racks – a quiet reminder that sustainability, like style, is a work in progress. iRoo's outlet store is at 01-112 IMM, 2 Jurong East Street 21. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Forum: TV producers working with mental health experts to ensure responsible storytelling
We thank Dr Charmaine Tang and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) for their feedback on the portrayal of schizophrenia in Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story (TV series' portrayal of schizophrenia can affect understanding of condition, May 8). We acknowledge the influence that media representations have on public understanding of mental health conditions, and the social responsibility that comes with this. It was never our intention to generalise or conflate mental illness with moral failing, and we regret that it was not conveyed more clearly in the show that An Na's evil-doings stem from her background and choices, not mental illness. To this, we apologise sincerely that the show unintentionally reinforced harmful stereotypes. We appreciate the concerns raised, and value the opportunity to reflect on how portrayals can be improved. We are currently consulting IMH on several upcoming productions, and remain committed to working with mental health professionals to support responsible storytelling. Loh Woon Woon Executive Producer of Emerald Hill Vice-President, Chinese Drama Productions Mediacorp More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Forum: TV series' portrayal of schizophrenia can affect understanding of condition
The drama series Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story has garnered over 1.35 million viewers across Mediacorp's platforms and ranks among the top shows on Netflix Singapore. Its impressive production, strong cast and tribute to our Peranakan heritage are commendable. However, we are concerned about the inaccurate and stigmatising portrayal of schizophrenia in the final episode. The character Zhang Anna, depicted throughout as a manipulative and villainous figure, is abruptly diagnosed with schizophrenia. Yet, she had not exhibited any symptoms consistent with this condition. Schizophrenia is a complex and serious mental disorder characterised by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, social withdrawal and cognitive difficulties – not cunning, calculated behaviour. The suggestion that schizophrenia serves as an explanation for moral failings or harmful acts conflates a serious medical condition with issues of character. Misrepresenting persons with schizophrenia as threats risks discouraging help-seeking and deepening their social isolation. In our daily work with patients and families, we see how these misconceptions fuel shame, delay treatment and make recovery unnecessarily challenging. When mental illness is used to justify harmful behaviour, it sets back years of public education and anti-stigma efforts. We encourage content creators to consult mental health professionals when portraying psychiatric conditions. Thoughtful and realistic depictions can go a long way in improving awareness, reducing stigma and showing that recovery is possible. Findings from the IMH's Mind Matters: A Study of Mental Health Literacy 2022-2023 show encouraging improvements in public recognition of conditions like depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. However, awareness and understanding of schizophrenia remain low, and many still report a desire to socially distance themselves from those affected. Popular media plays a powerful role in shaping public attitudes. Let us work together to tell stories that are not just compelling, but also responsible and humane. Charmaine Tang (Dr) Senior Consultant Chief, Department of Psychosis & Early Psychosis Intervention Programme Institute of Mental Health (IMH) More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Mediacorp actress Juin Teh moves to JB, takes public transport across Causeway
JOHOR BARU: To save on rising rental costs in Singapore, Ipoh-born actress Juin Teh has moved here recently. When the 34-year-old Mediacorp actress posted an Instagram video of herself moving out of her apartment and bidding goodbye to living in the island republic early this month, many netizens wondered if she was leaving the broadcaster for good. But the actress whose bulk of work is based in Singapore is still very much a full-time Mediacorp artiste. However, in a follow-up video she uploaded on April 7 on social media, Teh said she had merely moved to Johor to spend more time with her family and to save on rising rental costs across the Causeway. Teh can be seen playing a servant in the popular series 'Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story.' She was recently quoted in the Chinese news outlet Lianhe Zaobao that she has been commuting to Singapore for work from her Johor Baru home on public transport. She moved back on April 1 after the rental lease on her apartment in Singapore expired. "Rent went up, so I thought it might be good to move back home to Johor Baru. My mother's getting older too, so I want to spend more time with her," she said. Moving back home saves her about S$1,000 (RM3,305) a month, although she spends more time commuting. It now takes her two hours to get from her home in Johor Baru to Mediacorp. The trip can take up to three hours on weekends. She said: "When a job ends late but I have other work to attend to early the next morning, I'll stay over with a friend or a relative here (in Singapore)."
The Sun
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Actress moves back to JB, commutes 2 hours daily to S'pore
AMIDST rising rental costs, Mediacorp actress Juin Teh makes a major life change — moving back to her family home in Johor Bahru after her Singapore apartment lease expired on April 1. The 34-year-old star shocked fans in early April when she posted a video of herself moving out of her Singapore apartment, leading many to think she might be leaving Mediacorp. But Juin quickly set the record straight — she's still a full-time artiste with the broadcaster. ALSO READ: Actor relocates family from SG to JB, says life in Malaysia is 30 percent cheaper 'Rent went up, so I thought it might be good to move back home to Johor Bahru. My mother's getting older too, so I want to spend more time with her,' she mentioned. According to The Straits Times, by moving back home, Juin is saving about $1,000 a month. But it comes with a major sacrifice — she now commutes up to two hours each way across the Causeway for work, with the journey sometimes stretching to three hours on weekends. 'When a job ends late but I have other work to attend to early the next morning, I'll stay over with a friend or a relative here,' she shared. With no car — since permanent residents aren't allowed to drive Malaysia-registered vehicles in Singapore and buying a local car is too expensive — she depends fully on public transport. 'Sometimes, I do get recognised. People will yell 'Juin!', and some netizens leave comments on social media saying they hope to bump into me at Customs,' she said. Despite the tough commute, she says it's all worth it when she returns home to a warm, home-cooked meal from her mother. She first captured public attention during Star Search 2019 and is currently acting in Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story on Channel 8. She also hosts the online show #JustSwipeLah, where she gave fans a tour of her Johor Bahru home — a home she personally renovated over 10 months to make it more elderly-friendly for her parents.
