From Vintage Bags To Toys: Cool Singaporean Youths Reveal Their Collections
Gen Z is often said to be a nostalgia-infatuated bunch. The six digital natives featured here live up to that reputation with their collection of clothes, accessories, toys, objects and more that date back to a time in which they were growing up or – in some cases – have never even lived through. We get them to open up their archives and about their love for yesteryear.
THE ALT '90S GIRLIE
Meet Macky Edmunds – model, part‐time bartender, and 1990s grunge music and fashion junkie who looks right out of an indie teen movie from the era with her thrifted wardrobe, and steadily growing collection of CDs, vinyls and related paraphernalia.
Who: Macky Edmunds, 20
Occupation: Model and part-time bartender
What’s in her collection: “Vinyls and CDs, a lot of which fall under the rock genre. Some were passed down to me by my older brother, parents and grandparents. Others I found in stores here or overseas in places such as Japan, where there’s a wider selection that’s also more affordable ... I also collect second‐hand and vintage shoes ... Some of them don’t even fit me, but I make them work ... My favourite is a pair of sneakers from this label called The Art Company from the 1990s that I got from Depop. They have velcro straps over the laces, and light up in the dark.”
How it all started: “A lot of my knowledge about these scenes comes from my family or old magazines such as Kerrang! (the British music webzine/quarterly print magazine that started in the ’80s as a monthly title, and is known for its support of the metal and alternative music scene).”
Macky Edmunds's bedroom provides both sonic and visual respite. Besides an impressive selection of vinyls and CDs – mostly of the rock and alternative genres, and pre‐dating the 2000s – she collects an eclectic range of wares and objects that feed into her obsession with alternative culture from the 1990s.
What she loves about ’90s grunge: “Compared to the other decades, style in the ’90s was to me the simplest, and music was more textured and rough around the edges, with mistakes intentionally left in during the production process. I love this sense of authenticity and fallibility, and think they add personality.”
Her icons from the scene: “Chloe Sevigny and Courtney Love for their outfits, and the photographer Nan Goldin (technically not a ’90s icon, but a major influence on the decade’s fashion photography) and her subjects (most famously, New York’s post-punk scene, queer community and other subcultures)”
Among the collectables in Macky Edmunds's cache are thrifted clothes, particularly denim, jersey tops and band tees; statement shoes, including a pair of Anna Sui plaid pumps and rave sneakers that light up; both electric and acoustic guitars; and the ticket stubs for concerts that not only she has attended, but also that her family attended the year she was born. (And, if you’re wondering, those locks of coloured hair stuck next to them belong to her and are meant to chart the different shades she has dyed her mane over the years.)
And what she loves about analog music: “Maybe I am an old soul. I love it when music has an almost three-dimensional quality so much so you can feel it. While listening to music digitally is very useful – you can find and listen to just about anything you want – I find that listening to it through analog means such as on a record player is just classic. I also find it more meaningful to listen to an album from start to end the way it was intended, which is what you get with analog music.”
READ MORE: Where To Shop Vinyl Records In Singapore (And How To Get Started)
A prized possession: “My Airbag / How Am I Driving? CD by Radiohead (the fifth EP by the British rock icons released in 1998) that I got from Japan”
Something she'd love to see revived: “Heeled clogs – not the comfiest, but I love hearing the click-clacking noise they make when I walk around in them”
THE 1970s FASHION FIEND
He may only be 19, but electronics engineering student Woody Putt has an affinity for the punk and disco styles of the 1970s that belies his age.
Who: Woody Putt, 19
Occupation: Electronics engineering student
What’s in his collection: “I’ve definitely got some authentic 1970s garments such as this one tasselled leather vest, bell‐bottoms, suits and vintage band tees, as well as jewellery ... I like exploring thrift shops for them, but online marketplaces such as eBay, Etsy, Grailed and Carousell are also great for finding items from the decade. I also get clothes with ’70s silhouettes custom-made at the tailor’s, making them my own by selecting my choice of fabric and buttons.”
READ MORE: How Nicole Chin Became Singapore’s Leading Thrift Influencer On TikTok
How it all started: “Since I was 15, I’ve been trying many different styles in an attempt to find my own, and the fashion of the ’70s became something that I’m drawn to and feel a connection with. I find the decade very dynamic, with it being the era of the hippie movement, punk as well as disco – all of which celebrated individuality and self‐expression, and have shaped fashion and culture in such bold ways. I find that I’m truly able to express myself when dressed in clothes from that time.
While many of his generation flit between aesthetics, his is one that’s squarely committed to that of the decade – he even has garments custom‐made so he can emulate the look.
His cultural recommendations: “I wasn’t born in the ’70s, but if I was, I would be a very cool grandpa! Books I’ve read to learn more about the decade’s hippie and punk movements include Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, and Hippie by Barry Miles. I also really like documentaries such as Woodstock (1970) and The Punk Singer (2013), which focuses on punk icon Kathleen Hanna. Another gateway into the ’70s and its vibe is music – everyone should listen to the debut album of The Ramones and anything from one of my all-time favourite bands, The Doors.”
His icons from the scene: “I would definitely have to say Jane Birkin and Francoise Hardy, and Alain Delon and Paul McCartney during their younger years”
On why he prefers fashion from a time past: “I think fashion before was far more attractive and distinct while trends today keep shifting… Also men back then were much sluttier and liberated in their dressing. There’s a comforting sense of nostalgia and romanticism about past decades that make them so inspiring.”
Something he'd love to see revived: “I’d bring back bell-bottom jeans. Their flared silhouette makes a bold fashion statement and embodies the free-spirited, rebellious attitude of the ’70s. And they’re so fun to wear!”
THE 1980S VISUAL KEI STAN
Every day is a rambunctious fashion parade for the 19‐year‐old Gladys Pang, whose discovery of flamboyant, 1980s visual kei bands encouraged her experimental, more‐is‐more aesthetic.
Who: Gladys Pang, 19
Occupation: Architectural technology and building services student
What’s in her collection: “My style is a mash‐up of different aesthetics that I enjoy – Japanese punk, gothic lolita, Harajuku – influenced by the style of the 1990s to early 2000s, as well as bands from the visual kei movement. This has led to a wardrobe that’s bursting – and don’t get me started on the number of accessories I own."
How it all started: “The first time I saw someone dressed like a Japanese punk, it blew my mind: How could an all‐black monochrome outfit stand out so much? Around the same time, I happened to be watching an anime called Nana, of which one of its main characters is a punk rocker. I thought her aesthetic was really cool, and started listening to goth music and dressing in a more dark and alternative way. This style gradually evolved as I started to appreciate visual kei music and now, my whole wardrobe has been infected."
READ MORE: Portraits Of What ‘Hardcore’ Style In Singapore Looks Like
How she educates herself about the scene: “I bought some issues of Kera (the 1990s‐launched Japanese magazine known for its documentation of alternative fashion) on Carousell to get some outfit inspiration and learn about visual kei bands. I also follow visual kei content on social media, so my algorithm is now all visual kei‐related, including that on food, makeup and memes.”
Her icons from the scene: “I don’t have a specific favourite icon because I’m not someone who keeps up with personalities. Instead, I prefer to simply listen to the bands’ music and gain inspiration through their work. Visual kei bands that have sparked my interest in the movement and its style include The Gazette, Dir En Grey, Penicillin and X Japan, to name a few.”
Where she shops to grow her collection: “Locally, some of the retailers I have bought from include Two Worlds, Anteiku Studios and Dirty Laundry as well as several online stores. I also like to browse the accounts of Instagram stores such as @flatncurly and @jinjiclub, and trinket brands like @saikiiez, @socksinmymouth and @wyrrdrune. I also rely on Taobao for my accessories. It’s hard to depend on Carousell, but it is possible to find gems.”
Something she'd love to see revived: “Nothing. I don’t want what I like to trend. And I feel that it’s best to keep trends from the past in the past or they risk getting watered down.”
THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE WARDROBE ENTHUSIAST
The fashion‐trained film‐maker Ashley Jane Leow’s interest in traditional Asian clothing went into overdrive after her family members passed down such pieces of their own to her.
Who: Ashley Jane Leow, 24
Occupation: Filmmaker and social media producer
What’s in her collection: “I’d say almost half of the items in my wardrobe have some sort of an Asian – or more specifically, Chinese – flair. One of my most precious pieces would be a custom‐made silk cheongsam that my grandmother had passed down to my mother, who then passed it down to my cousin, who in turn passed it down to me ... Another piece with a funny story is a hot pink cheongsam top with a cow print that I got during my first week in Paris (where she studied at the Paris College of Art). It was the very first piece of clothing I ever thrifted. It’s not very Parisian, but it’s very me!”
How it all started: “I’ve always liked old things since I was young. My mother said I dressed like an old woman even as a child. Perhaps I’m drawn to the intricate details of clothes from a time past – or their elegance and opulence."
Ashley Jane Leow's wardrobe is packed with traditional Asian clothing, some of which are vintage or thrifted, while others are new and often one of a kind.
How she educates herself about the subject: “Growing up, I had a penchant for Asian films. From Raise the Red Lantern to In the Mood for Love, I was always blown away by the costumes and set design of these Chinese movies. I also grew up watching period dramas such as Dong Yi and Jewel in the Palace (both South Korean historical television series) and more recently The Rise of Phoenixes (a Chinese drama). Thanks to my background in theatre, I’ve studied Noh theatre (a form of classical Japanese dance-slash-drama) and Beijing Opera. Seeing performances and their costumes made me further fall in love with traditional Asian outfits. Lastly, I've studied film since I was 16 and this has led me to movies of which wardrobes marry many different cultures: east and west, traditional and modern.”
Her icons of the scene: "I feel that it’d be a sin to not mention Maggie Cheung or Zhang Ziyi, but at the moment, who I really love are the drag queens Nymphia Wind (the first East Asian winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race) and Plastique Tiara (a Vietnamese‐American drag performer). It’s amazing to see them appreciate Asian culture and interpret traditional dressing in Asia so beautifully."
How she grows her collection: “I’m very fortunate to have a lot of hand‐me‐downs from my grandmother, mother and aunt, all of whom also have an affinity for clothes with an Asian flair ... And as I’ve been thrifting since young – even with my mother when I was a child – the shop owners know my style and would send me pictures of pieces they think I’d like. I also sometimes get clothes custom‐made in Vietnam or Indonesia."
To accompany her wardrobe, Leow has amassed an eclectic collection of hairpins – popularly used as far back as ancient times and one of her favourite ways to accessorise.
Her style hack : “I used to face the problem of having to figure out how to wear these traditional Asian garments without looking like I’m cosplaying. Rosemary Rodriguez, my professor in university in Paris, gave me some good advice: that there needs to be a balance between costume, which is meant for performance and can in turn risk looking cheap, and fashion. Now I apply the same ‘collage’ approach to getting dressed, making sure my outfits are a balance of the traditional and modern, and even feminine and masculine.”
Something she would love to see revived: “High mandarin collars though I’m afraid I don’t have the long and slender neck of Maggie Cheung, and the long, flowy sleeves of ancient East Asian clothing”
THE EARLY 2000S POP CULTURE FAN
The cartoons and TV shows interior design student Rowan D watched growing up in the 2000s continue to be a source of inspiration and interest for him. His bedroom now is a shrine to them, with the walls covered in posters, and his desk and shelves filled with related trinkets, figurines and other merch. “I feel that shows these days have lost a lot of character, be it in terms of plot line, characters or set design. Perhaps it’s because I’ve grown up? They just don’t carry the same charm as before,” he says.
Who: Rowan D, 18
Occupation: Interior design student
What’s in his collection: "It has taken me more than 10 years to collect everything that I have in my room now and that comprises more than a thousand knick‐knacks – from keychains to badges and figurines ... A lot of these collectibles reference or are inspired by the media I watched growing up in the early 2000s – shows such as Crayon Shin‐chan (the comedic Japanese manga series about the cheeky and imaginative young boy the show is named after) and Chobitto Zukan (an animated series adapted from a Japanese picture book series about anthropomorphic creatures that resemble miniature plants and insects).”
How it all started: "I’ve always been into cartoons, games and merchandise, and have been collecting related items since young ... I love that people can connect to their childhood through collecting these items. The feeling of nostalgia that I get when I acquire an item that younger me had enjoyed is unmatched, and I think that resonates with a lot of people."
How he educates himself about the scene: “I was born in 2006 and grew up alongside games such as Club Penguin (a massively multiplayer online game featuring a virtual world with various activities), and played my dad’s old Gameboys. I even watched reruns of The Snoopy Show on our old analog television. Most of my knowledge about the media programmes I’m into have come from watching and experiencing them myself.”
His icons from the scene: “This is going to sound funny, but the bedroom sets of the shows on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon will always be iconic to me. I think one of my favourite of these rooms growing up was Drake and Josh’s from the (Nickelodeon teen sitcom) Drake & Josh. It wasn’t super over the top, but it had great balance and reflected their interests perfectly. I lived vicariously through those characters.”
How he grows his collection: “Thrift stores are always a go-to for me. From a sustainability standpoint, I just don’t believe in buying brand new trinkets. I also believe that the things you collect should come to you organically: You don’t find the item – it finds you. The thrift stores I frequent are the Salvation Army, Jalan Jalan Japan in Malaysia as well as other random stores.”
On his affinity for the past: “I feel that shows these days have lost a lot of character, be it in terms of plot line, characters or set design. Perhaps it’s because I’ve grown up? They just don’t carry the same charm as before. Nostalgia is definitely a big influence on my collection of trinkets and merch. I don’t seek out these items because of trends or to appeal to others. I do so simply because I’m being myself."
Something he'd love to see revived: “Without a doubt, thematic Hannspree television sets (LCD TVs by the Taiwan-based technology company Hannstar Display Corporation that came in the form of different characters or motifs released in the 2000s). If I’m not wrong, they still exist, but are not as widely known anymore. My favourite was the apple-shaped television. There are people reselling it, but they’re quite pricey.”
THE 2000S IT BAG BUFF
Our 26‐year‐old social media producer Pang Jia Wei boasts an enviable collection of pre‐owned archival designer bags, many of which are from the 2010s – a period he grew up in and in which he found fashion to be bolder.
Who: Pang Jia Wei, 26
Occupation: Social media producer at FEMALE
What’s in his collection: "I mainly collect designer handbags from the 2010s and I’ve accumulated a total of about 20 pieces over the last three to four years."
How it all started: “I think I’m obsessed with fashion from the 2010s because that was when I was beginning to better understand things around me, and developing my own style and opinions. I found the period to be a time when people were not trying too hard and it was OK for them to be whoever or whatever they wanted to be, and this confidence was reflected in the fashion – and bags – designed then too ... And now that I’ve started to have an income, I can finally own the pieces I lusted after then – better now than never.”
His icons from that period: “I read a lot of fashion blogs. Kids nowadays probably don’t even know what a fashion blog is. I loved Susie Lau and still do – she ran the (now inactive) blog Style Bubble, which I read religiously – as well as Bryan Gambao aka Bryanboy (Lau today contributes to several top fashion publications including System Magazine, the Business of Fashion and Perfect Magazine while Gambao is the editor-in-chief of Perfect). Their blogs were one of my first gateways into the rabbit hole that is fashion. Of course there are pop culture icons too – Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj for their out-of-this-world, caricature-like personas and the era’s It girls such as Alexa Chung.”
Go-to sources for growing his collection: “It’s honestly all about finding the right seller. Once you’ve identified good ones, just keep going back and they will provide you with treasures. However, I’m gatekeeping them – sorry!”
Pang Jia Wei's bag cache include (clockwise from top right corner) a Louis Vuitton X Takashi Murakami Speedy, which was first released in 2003; a satchel from Louis Vuitton’s ombre denim‐suffused Spring Summer 2010 collection; a top‐handle bag from Prada Spring Summer 2010; a Balenciaga City – the exact year it dates back to is unknown; a briefcase‐style bag from Miu Miu’s work‐but‐make‐it‐fun Spring Summer 2013 collection; and an Air Hobo from Balenciaga Spring Summer 2017.
His favourite piece from his collection: "Anything by Miuccia Prada or Marc Jacobs when he was
at Louis Vuitton. I have a few of them."
The most he’s spent on an archival bag: “I spent almost a thousand dollars for a runway bag from Balenciaga Spring Summer 2017. It’s more than what I would normally be willing to pay, but the collection was monumental, being one of Demna’s earliest for the brand. I simply had to.”
What he’s eyeing: “It’s a bit of a stretch and I don’t think it’ll happen any time soon: I’d really like a Shadow Birkin by Jean Paul Gaultier for Hermes – any size would do. It’s classic with a twist and so iconic.”
A bag he can’t seem to find: “Anyone one from Chanel’s graffiti-covered Spring Summer 2015 collection – an iconic collection from the maison when it was under Karl Lagerfeld”
A tip for other archival hunters: “Understand why you want to start your collection in the first place. Also know the value and history of each bag to avoid getting scammed by sellers.”
Something he'd love to see revived: “How about we bring back the whole era?”
ALL INTERVIEWS HAVE BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY.
PHOTOGRAPHY ANGELA GUO ART DIRECTION PANG JIA WEI HAIR & MAKEUP SARAH TAN
This article first appeared in the September 2024 Nostalgia Edition of FEMALE