Author: Vera Leng

For many sneakerheads and hypebeasts out there, shoes are a way of life. And for the five individuals at Ox Street who quit their full-time jobs to dedicate their focus to the brand, it’s no different. Today, I met with Gijs, the founder of Ox Street who showed me around their cosy Singapore-based sneaker space tucked away in a storage area-turned-office—an innovative take on the minimalistic aesthetic. Part of what makes the sneaker and apparel industries so tricky is that it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate an authentic piece from a knock-off. So while you may be salivating over…

Having trained the likes of Taiwainese singers Van Ness Wu and Huang Yee-Ling and local artists Narelle Kheng and Miss Lou, Daniel Singh is a veteran in the realm of vocal coaching. I met Daniel at the launch party of Ruark Audio’s foray into Singapore, for which Daniel is the ambassador. With music being such an important part of his life, it is interesting to watch Daniel gush about his musical heroes, occasionally peppering our conversation with funny little anecdotes about his past experiences. Daniel’s singing journey began some years ago when he took the leap of faith, flew to…

The world of essential oils might be foreign to most of us, especially since it has the propensity to be dangerously associated with the atrocity that are ‘anti-vaxxers’. Contrary to popular belief, essential oils make for great companions due to the huge array of benefits they behold. Young Living is a brand that’s dedicated to bringing the wonders of essential oils to users through their aromatic and nifty products. Backed with 3 power-packed scents—Lemon, Peppermint, and Lavender, Young Living hopes that users will uncover the joys and functionalities of using essential oils with each one. What I personally love about…

Here at Hype & Stuff, we believe that one’s music taste says a lot about them, and we’re more than curious to find out the top 5 soundtracks that make up one’s life. This week, we speak to Seth Lui, founder of SETHLUI.com and Hypeandstuff.com, for his top Spotify picks. If it wasn’t clear before, Seth is my boss. And those who know him, will know that he’s a man of very few words. Seth often spends his day hard at work behind his laptop, ever so focused as he juggles the weight of the company in his hands. Getting…

One could argue that businesses are just as guilty as the individual where waste, pollution, and sustainability are concerned—if not, even more so. And while we might feel like we’re not always in control of the wasteful outcomes, there still exists little and meaningful ways in which we as consumers can do our part for the environment. This includes shopping sustainably by being intentional about where you shop at. For starters, you can curate a list of retailers which you patronise, and here’s a mini list to help you out. Ranging from tech to fashion, these 6 brands in Singapore…

Attention all bubble tea fans—which I may dare assume is nearly everyone—we have officially peaked. Two of Malaysia’s powerhouses—dUCK Cosmetics, the beauty line from The Duck Group, an extremely popular scarf and bag brand, and Tealive, Malaysia’s household bubble tea brand—have joined forces to bring us a refreshing line of dUCK Boba Lipsticks. Featuring 5 gorgeous shades of nudes, the dUCK Boba Lipstick collection is the collaboration that we never thought we needed, but one that we all deserve. In true inclusive fashion, the 5 nudes—70% Sugar, Pudding Please, Brown Sugar, Warm Boba, and Extra Pearls—are shades that will surely…

Being the minority is never easy, let alone when your community only makes up 1% of the world’s population. As a transgendered individual in Singapore, Chris Hong has had his fair share of ups and downs—through which he emerged stronger. Being a straight, cisgendered Chinese female, privilege has followed me almost all my life. I’m able to walk into a room full of strangers and not worry about being side-eyed. I’m able to settle into a group of friends and understand all the jokes they spew in Mandarin from the get go. I can go about my day without being…

It comes as a surprise to many when I introduce myself as a horror junkie—after all, what’s a tiny, feminine, girl-next-door like myself doing inside the realm of the occult and supernatural? No doubt, we make an unlikely pair, but the genre of horror and I have long shared a love affair that goes way back—for as long as I can remember, I’ve indulged in horror-based content of all types and all mediums. So, as someone who’s dabbled in the classics like The Shining to modern-day must-sees like The Conjuring, believe me when I say I’ve trawled through almost every…

Earth Hour returns to Singapore this year in its first-ever fully digital iteration of the well-known sustainability-centric event hosted by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore. Earth Hour 2020 – Live & Unplugged is a digital livestream performance on Youtube that features a diverse range of local voices aimed at preserving the environment. Taking place on 28 March from 5.30pm SGT, Earth Hour 2020 – Live & Unplugged spans three hours, comprising of live music by local artistes and conversations with leading environmental change-makers on the state of our current planetary emergency. Expect star-studded performances from well-loved personalities such…

Local singer-songwriters Gareth Fernandez and Gentle Bones have joined forces to bring us a brand new, groovy crossover single, ‘Be Cool’. ‘Be Cool’ was produced for the aforementioned duo by Marc Lian, or better known as Fulses from R&B trio, brb. The trio was inspired to write the track based on how today’s generations of youth face self-image issues due to the constant exposure to images that paint unrealistic perceptions of perfection on social media. Uplifting and encouraging in nature, ‘Be Cool’ aims to remind its listeners to remain true to oneself, and that being oneself is all he or…

Every love letter is unique—each telling a story that is oh-so special, personal, and distinctive. I asked 5 pairs of people about the love letters and the stories behind them—from family, to best friends, and even exes. Here are their stories of the past and present. The Exes – Leo & Edwin “We were both awful at communicating with each other, and found it easier to gather our thoughts over written letters.” Edwin’s story: “I only wrote the card because Leona liked cards, LMAO, I don’t usually do this but she loved them so. Letters have sandwiched our relationship for…

More than we think, child grooming has been a widespread issue in Singapore—a concerning yet distressing phenomenon that often goes unreported or swept under the rug. Child grooming is defined as befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child with the objective of sexual abuse and manipulation. In an effort to stand against these disturbing occurrences, Flag, You’re It was birthed—Singapore’s first youth movement against online child grooming (OCG). In January 2020, Flag, You’re It officially launched online with the support of Minister Shanmugam and Minister Grace Fu. With its name a play on words, Flag, You’re It was…

I have long dreamed of the day when McDonald’s sold merchandise. In an alternate universe, I’d be donning a Hamburglar backpack and be busy balloting for the most hyped pair of McDonald’s sneakers. But, reality often requires us to settle for second best. So, you can only imagine my excitement when I came to know about the McDonald’s Loungewear Collection that was all the rage last year. But trust me when I say that you’re not ready for this year’s collection—I present to you, McDonald’s Quarter Pounder Scented Candle Pack. Yes, you read that right. And yes, allow me to…

Dress codes are so overrated, I know. Nowadays, you can pretty much get away wearing anything nearly anywhere—though it’s going to be near impossible getting into Marquee with those flip flops. Yes, Karen, I’m looking at you. But fret not, here are my two cents’ worth on fashion that’s appropriate for (almost) every occasion, and when’s a good time to pull out the bralettes, knee-high socks, and all that jazz. 1. Something Cute For all the girls-next-door, I got you. Chances are your wardrobe is built on florals, bright colours, and dresses of all lengths. And I’m only able to…

For those who love fresh kicks and limited edition sneakers, steel your inner sneakerhead for one of the greatest footwear event to buy, sell, and trade your shoe collections at. With over 100 events in over 40 cities worldwide under their belt, the OG Sneaker Con team is bringing The Greatest Sneaker Show On Earth to Singapore come 20 and 21 June 2020. Whether you collect sneakers for a living or can’t tell an Air Max from an Air Force to save your life, shoe lovers from near and far are more than welcome to join in on the fun at…