Inspiring Female local makers to know this International Women’s Day!

International Women's Day is around the corner. We would like to take the opportunity to celebrate the successes of Singaporean women makers who are working with us by sharing their stories here!

Aerilynn Tan, Founder of Papercranes Design

#1 Tell us about yourself.

Hi I'm Aeri, designer and founder behind Papercranes Design, a stationery and lifestyle brand that specialises in designing nature-inspired illustrations on papergoods and other keepsakes, to celebrate every occasion in life. My background is in architecture, and I'm currently a part-time graphic designer at a local beauty brand, whilst running Papercranes Design simultaneously.

#2  How did you end up starting your own stationery brand?

Sketching and painting have always been my favourite creative outlets when the going gets tough, and my works are the result of the many quiet, therapeutic sessions I spend with my pen and paper. I've also always been enthralled by stationery, but the mass-market designs overtime begun to lose their appeal to me. I was often left uninspired by the options available out there.

 

  Notebook - Terra A6 Set of 2, $20

As a stationery enthusiast, Papercranes is my aspiration to fill the market gap by introducing joyful, inspiring stationery and artisanal lifestyle designs for nature and stationery-lovers like myself.

#3  What do you love most about your work?

Knowing that I might be able to inspire or bring someone joy through my works is what motivates and keeps me going, and it makes my day to see my products being carried by strangers on the streets.

#4  What is the most challenging thing that you have faced when starting out and how did you overcome it?  

Being a solopreneur, having to oversee all aspects of my business while juggling various commitments through the years - from university, to internships and jobs - can be quite taxing. There're a thousand and one things on my mental to-do list that are constantly running through my mind, and some days it feels like I'm getting pulled in all directions at once. That's where setting priorities comes in useful to stay laser focused, as well as asking for help when I truly need it.

#5  What you did you dream of becoming as a kid?

I’ve always had a soft spot for animals, and my childhood ambition was to be a veterinarian. That aside, I've also been interested in entrepreneurship and I knew I wanted my dream job to be art-related, but it took a few twists and turns that eventually brought me to where I am today.

#6 What or who inspires you?

Nature is a great source of inspiration for me, and natural scenery, creatures and botanical illustrations naturally form significant themes in my works.

#7 What piece of advice would you say to your younger self as an encouragement?

I would like my younger self to know that there is no need to be anxious or worried about the future, but instead to live more in the present, and trust my own intuition - the right opportunities and paths will reveal themselves in due time!

#8 This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #ChoosetoChallenge, what would choose to challenge in 2021?

I choose to let go of my fears, insecurities and self-limiting beliefs that are holding me back, and instead choose to dream bigger and be bolder in my pursuits.

Denise Lim , Co-Creator of Byebye Virus Card Game

#1 Tell us about yourself.

  Hi! I'm one of the co-founders of Bye Bye Virus, a hilarious card game around hygiene education and staying safe and sane against viruses. This is a fun side project that I'm running alongside my full-time role as an entrepreneur-in-residence working with Global 1000 companies to accelerate innovation for internally launched venture startups.

 #2 How did you end up developing a card game and to share with the rest of the world.

Bye Bye Virus is a passion project that my housemate Yasmine and I developed during lockdown. With the countless hours spent at home, we wanted to put our creative minds together to create a fun way for people to learn and talk about viruses. In 10 weeks, we went from ideation to launching a Kickstarter campaign that was funded in 1 day, with the help of a ton of our friends and supporters along the way!        

Card Game - Bye Bye Virus, $29.90

#3  What do you love about designing card games? Any further plans or new game coming up?

The creation of Bye Bye Virus was a blast. Yasmine and I had so much fun coming up with crazy ideas, testing them, and eventually consolidating everything that worked into the game. There was so much thought involved, from developing the game dynamics and visuals, to dealing with printing and shipping. It was a great learning experience for both of us, one that we will definitely repeat with a new game in 2022 - Stay tuned for it!

 #4 What did you dream of becoming as a kid?

As a kid, I wanted to become a lawyer and fight for justice and equity.

 #5  What or who inspires you?

I'm inspired by people who forge their own paths in life and are unfazed by social pressures to bend.

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

― Maya Angelou

#6 What piece of advice would you say to your younger self as an encouragement?

"It's your life. Follow your gut"

#7 This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #ChoosetoChallenge, what would choose to challenge in 2021?

Break the chains! For 2021, I am choosing to challenge anything that is holding us back from what we desire to achieve, be it at home, work or play.

 Ruby, Founder of In-Heal

#1 Tell us about yourself.

I am Ruby, the founder of In-Heal,- a brand passionately committed to creating scents and spreading the correct and most effective use of essential oil.  It aims to encourage the use of natural and organic elements instead of relying on chemicals, commonly found today.

In-Heal Roll-On Bends, $23.90 each

Introduction to In-Heal

In-Heal as born from the word "Inhale" to suggest that the body heals from within. Instead of having to inhale an open bottle of specially crafted potion by a certified aromatherapist, we invented the perfect solution. You roll it onto your pulse points and the smell and desired effect lingers on for hours. Our range of 11 Aromatherapy Blends of roll-ons and 4 Aromatherapy Powders ensure there's a solution for your needs, from an “Energy Boost" to “Fighting Jetlag", and their Powders from “Spice Up” to “Unwind”.  Wholly created with passionate positive energy to keep you centred again. 

 #2 How did you end up starting your own brand, In-Heal?

I am a trainer in aromatherapy and I have been conducting training for a few International brands. Over the years, I have witnessed how certain brands failed and yet some brands remain as strong as they are if not better.

In the workshops, I teach participants to mix, blend and create their own personal care products like soaps, facial oil, face mist, cleanser and roll-ons. Each time, I have participants asking if I could customise products for them.

One day, my artistic daughter designed a label especially for me and got me started. How could I just ignore all the hours of hard work and details that she has put into designing the label?

 #3 What do you enjoy doing the most as a brand owner?

Seeing the look of satisfaction on customers’ faces when they are happy with our blends from all over the world.

#4 What is the most challenging thing you have faced when starting out and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing is coming out with short and clear names to tell the use of a particular roll-on blend. E.g Sleep brain!

Fortunately, I have my 2 teenage daughters - Sasha and Talya, hubby and team to brain storm with me.

#5 What or who inspires you?

My family – 2 lovely daughter and 1 fabulous hubby is my inspiration. I feel good when they are involved in the business.

I let my faith in my religion to guide me to the right path. If it’s not right for us, let it fail. If it’s the right path, let it flourish. In this way, I won’t be so disappointed if things don’t turn out the way I would like it to be.

#6 What piece of advice would you say to your younger self as an encouragement?

Don’t create a product or service without knowing who your customers are. It saves you time and resources. 

#7 This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #ChoosetoChallenge, what would choose to challenge in 2021?

I choose TO BE POSITIVE!

Thoughts = Words = Actions

Thoughts and Words will lead us to decisions and actions we make every day.

It is truly incredibly challenging especially in this Pandemic!