Watch Out: Hot Gen Z Brand Plop Apparels Plans Big Moves
You heard it here first: Founder Jermaine Ho is unveiling new digs for Plop Apparels, set to be the launch pad for her clothing line and exciting new brands.
Jermaine Ho of Plop Apparels
Who: Jermaine Ho, 25, business administration undergraduate, content creator and founder of the hit independent multi-label boutique Plop Apparels
Her achievements: Her four-year-old fashion business Plop Apparels is a byword for It among fashion enthusiastic Gen-Zers here, and can be said to have helped ignite their fervour for parachute pants and cargo skirts (both her signature products).
After all, she is a natural It girl with a flair for marketing and on-the-pulse, Y2K-inflected styling – life as a content creator also helps (check out her TikTok account @jermtard that’s clocked 5.5 million likes). She had first launched Plop online entirely on her own while she was in polytechnic, expanding it in 2022 into a permanent shophouse space on Haji Lane that became one of the most exciting concept stores that had popped up here in years.
Now in the midst of completing a degree in Business Administration at the Singapore Institute of Management, she’s got even more daring plans up her sweeping sleeves: a new and bigger location, and a steadily burgeoning content creation career. We’re keeping close watch.
The story behind her brand: “When I started Plop, my primary interests were shopping and thrifting – the thrifting trend was starting to peak then. I’ve since become exposed to a wider variety of brands, designs, and fabrics, which has only further deepened my love for fashion, and what draws me to a brand most and makes me want to carry it in store are designs that are not commonly seen in Singapore.” (Besides an assortment of independent fashion labels from the region, Plop Apparels carries in-house designs created by Ho as well as a small selection of vintage.)
READ MORE: How Nicole Chin Became Singapore’s Leading Thrift Influencer On TikTok
On funding: “Moving into Haji Lane was a completely different experience from running the business online and I never anticipated how high the costs were. The initial expenses including rent and renovation amounted to around $50,000. Additionally, the monthly overheads exceeded $10,000. My parents were not very supportive at the start as they felt it was too risky so my savings and earnings from content creation really helped alleviate some of the financial pressure.”
Plop Apparels is preparing to move out of its Haji Lane store but will remain in the Kampong Glam enclave.
On how serious her business is: “The amount of time and resources I’ve allocated to maintain Plop alongside tasks such as paperwork, securing government licences, pursuing grants and handling essential behind-the-scenes assignments makes this a legitimate business, not a hobby. Creating my own collection was a significant milestone and we are now exploring opportunities to expand internationally by either placing our collection in overseas locations, or opening a store abroad soon.”
READ MORE: Singapore Is Shaping Up To Be A Secondhand Fashion Haven
How she manages her time: “I’m currently striving to strike the right balance as I often find myself short of personal time… Right now, I allocate about 10 per cent of my time to school (I suck as a student!), about 50 per cent of my time to content creation, and the remaining 40 per cent to Plop. However, with preparations for the reopening of Plop new location coming up (Ho prefers to keep details under wraps, but reveals that it will still be in the Kampong Glam area), I anticipate devoting more time to the store soon.”
Plop Apparels' Spring/Summer 2024 collection, aptly named Desolation, showcases the brand's cyber-tinged aesthetic with an abundance of black and sculptural silhouettes.
How many hours of sleep she gets daily on average: “Around five”
The most rewarding aspect of her life: “Seeing people wear our clothes or having a positive experience at our store – or asking me to open a store overseas. That makes me think, okay, I must have done something right.”
Important lessons learnt: “Many unforeseen things have taken place because I’ve not had much experience running a physical store. For instance, our fitting room once collapsed. There was another time when the pipe burst and our store became flooded. From these, I learnt that I have to find more experienced people to carry out a job and do it right, that everything has to be thoroughly planned, and I’ve to be more meticulous.”
READ MORE: Independent Business Owners In Singapore On Finding Success And Making It Work
Is school important? “It teaches you fundamental things you need for running a business and dealing with people, but I don’t think you need thorough academic qualifications to start a business or do things in general.”
Her definition of success: “My definition of success is personal: being happy with my work and achievements. As a perfectionist, I want to ensure my content and branding are done well.”
Plop Apparels: your go-to spot for baggy pants fix.
Advice for other Gen Z dreamers: “Just do it! Take the risk and if it fails, at least you’ve tried. I’ve even dabbled in F&B before because I believe it’s only when you try that you can figure out what works best for you.”
What’s next: “I’m excited to open Plop’s new space because I have a lot of things planned for it. I’m hoping to use it as a launch pad for my clothing line as well as feature products from other incredible brands. There’s still a lot I need to keep under wraps for now, but trust me, the new space is going to be special. It will be more than just a fashion destination and instead offer a platform for a variety of vendors and experiences.”
THIS INTERVIEW HAS BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY.
PHOTOGRAPHY LAWRENCE TEO ART DIRECTION JONATHAN CHIA COORDINATION PAIGE BOON HAIR VANESSA DREA MAKEUP SARAH TAN, USING I.T COSMETICS
A version of this article first appeared in the July 2024 Overachievers Edition of FEMALE