Second-Hand Clothing Business Orbit Apparel Is On A Mission To Make A Difference
Tricia Teong founded Orbit Apparel to reduce waste and support humanitarian causes.
Tricia Teong
Who: Tricia Teong, 21, history undergraduate, writer and founder of the second-hand clothing business Orbit Apparel
Her achievements: This romantic thrift queen has parlayed her love for second-hand fashion into a buzz-worthy online retail business known for its curated collections (fans of coquette-core and fairy-core would love it) as well as social responsibility. What started out as a casual hobby during the pandemic has evolved into a one-woman, mission-driven venture not only because of how it helps to reduce fashion waste, but also because Teong makes it a point to donate part of her profits to humanitarian causes such as Doctors Without Borders and the Singapore Red Cross (the amount varies and can go up to as much as 80 per cent of her earnings or much lesser, she says). It’s not the only “extra-curricular” activity she gets up to though. Still a full-time undergraduate at the National University of Singapore (NUS) studying history, she also pens for The Ridge, her school’s largest student-run publication. Her area of focus as a writer? Fashion and thrift, of course.
Almost 90 per cent of Tricia Teong's wardrobe consists of second-hand pieces scored from various thrift shops, including this pink handbag from Guess.
The story behind her brand: “I’ve always loved fashion and my introduction to second-hand clothing happened in 2018 when I stumbled upon a branch of the social enterprise thrift store Something Old, Something New. That experience changed my life and almost 90 per cent of my wardrobe is second-hand now. I started reselling pieces online to pay for thrift trips overseas, but the pandemic inspired me to turn this hobby into a business to help generate donations for good causes as well as fund part of my university expenses.”
On funding: “Orbit was self-started and has always been self-funded. My intention was to generate profits and donate to causes I care about so it felt right to invest in the business myself. Sourcing clothes for my first pop-up took a larger sum than I expected out of my savings. I was fortunate enough to have the support of my friends and other small business owners though and that has helped Orbit gain traction quickly.”
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The most memorable thing she has splurged on with her earnings: “I donated almost all the profits in my first year of operations so I didn’t buy anything special. Starting this year though, I’ve been saving up to cover some of the costs of my upcoming overseas exchange programme. It feels like a full circle in that starting Orbit marked the beginning of my journey of personal growth, and now it’s helping me transition into the next step of my life.”
Another one of her favourite thrift shop finds is this camisole top.
A typical day in her life: “During summer breaks, when I have a pop-up lined up, my day would start at 8am. I’d have my breakfast and then start to prepare the price tags of my wares while listening to a podcast. After a quick lunch, I’d sort through my stock, do quality checks then tag each item. After that, I pack everything needed for my booth setup. In the evenings, I usually do my own errands such as laundry, then spend some time uploading promotional posts on Orbit’s Instagram (@orbit__apparel) and working on mood boards. I tend to wind down around midnight.”
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How she manages her time: “During school semesters, it’s 80 per cent school and 20 per cent business because school remains my number one priority. Sometimes the lines blur, such as in 2023 when I co-organised a fundraiser fair with Project Hak (an expedition programme by the Rotaract Club at NUS) that fell within the week of my mid-term exams. It was a such challenging time, and I still don’t think I’ve found the perfect formula to balancing my different commitments yet.”
Does she get to sleep or have time to herself? “I try to get at least eight hours of sleep daily and I make sure to give myself as much personal time as I need. Since Orbit is run solely by me, I can manage and adjust my own deadlines. University can be draining so personal time is essential to keep me feeling balanced. Sometimes productivity guilt gets to me, but I try to remind myself that the work we do is not the measure of who we are.”
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Btw, what’s her star sign? “Yes, I'm Aries. From what little I know of the sign, people who are Aries are fiery, impulsive, and passionate. I don’t believe in horoscopes and I’m too much of an overthinker to be a ‘true’ Aries, but passion does form the core of who I am. I was fortunate enough to have found the things I love deeply – writing and fashion – at a young age, and my personal growth is deeply intertwined with these passions as I’ve spent my entire life pursuing them.”
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The most rewarding aspect of her life: “Reading positive messages from customers and talking to those who come to my pop-ups. One customer sent me pictures of her wearing a dress that she had bought from me for her first date, which was so cute! Interacting with people is a huge source of joy for me. Orbit has evolved from a passion project to a community where other youths like me can share our interests.”
A recent Orbit Apparel pop-up was set up at Two Worlds Xclusive.
Important lessons learnt: “One challenge has been realising that a business requires more than a creative vision. Learning the ropes was difficult given my lack of experience in business. I ask my mother for advice since she has an MBA, and I reflect on my mistakes to inform my future decisions. Comparison is also a challenge. Seeing other small businesses succeed can make you lose sight of your own goals so I try to focus on creating something I can stand behind rather than getting caught up in the noise.”
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Is school important? “Definitely, but qualifications are not the only marker of your present abilities and future potential. Doing well in my schoolwork is still important to me. Ironically though, taking a step back and relieving that pressure has made work much easier.”
Advice for other Gen Z dreamers: “Try to trust in yourself and your potential. Listen to the stories you tell yourself and rewrite them if they are holding you back. Possessing a strong sense of self-belief is half the battle won.”
What’s next: “I’ve been wanting to do style bundles for over a year now, but there was never a right time. They’re quite time- and labour-intensive, so I am working out a system that is flexible enough to accommodate my schedule. I’m excited for the future of Orbit in general.”
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 IT COSMETICS
A version of this article first appeared in the July 2024 Overachievers Edition of FEMALE