7 things in designer Tiffany Loy's bag

Clad comfortably in a striped dress and bright pink Nike shoes, designer Tiffany Loy, 28, exudes the same unassuming quirkiness that her own designs suggest.

Trained in industrial design, she is mainly interested in exploring new and alternative production methods.

Her technical expertise and experimental approach were certainly at play when she worked on the Everyday Objects project, an initiative by The Farm Store and Museum Label for 40 local artists to create a series of functional and inventive products.

Ms Loy's contribution was the "Everyday Tote", a canvas bag designed to gain more character after prolonged, everyday use.

The colour of the bag starts out blue, but gradually reveals striking patches of pink as the blue paint wears off, creating a personal design for every user.

"I thought it would be exciting if I could design a bag that people liked the more it wore out. I wanted people to look forward to their bags ageing and getting battered," said the designer, who is single.

The bag is available at www.thefarmstore.sg and at the National Museum and Asian Civilisations Museum.

The former National University of Singapore student was one of four artists selected for "Project X", a collaboration with multinational laminate producer, Lamitek.

This was launched at the SingaPlural festival, the headline event for the ongoing Singapore Design Week.

Ms Loy's work, titled Hundreds And Thousands, explores the use of texture in the form of a table and wall cladding. It will be shown at 99 Beach Road until Sunday.

In all her projects, she is unfailingly rooted in her background as a craftsman.

"When I tell people about my products, I convey the concept first because that is what they can relate to.

"However, when I work, what I am interested in is what kind of paints I can use, how to make the paint smooth, whether I should use silk-screen or apply the paint directly. The techniques for my work really have to be investigated and for me, that is the fun part of the process."

To her, "good design is appropriate design", a notion which similarly shapes her personal style.

Standing at a petite 1.54cm, she quips that her one and only style consideration is whether the clothes fit.

From business cards to keys and earphones, everything in her bucket bag is enclosed in its own, smaller pouch. Except for her towering water bottle, most of her items are endearingly miniature. The precision seen in her designs also shows in her lifestyle.

Set to exhibit at Milan Design Week from April 14 to 19, this home-grown designer seems ready for newer and bigger endeavours.

"I do not want to limit myself to just fashion or industrial design. It is more important to remain interested in design in general and be open to a new typology of design that I may not have tried."

rebeccat@sph.com.sg

8 THINGS IN HER BAG

1. PAUL SMITH WALLET

This was a gift from my mother. Actually, I would not have gotten this for myself but now that I have it, I really like it.

2. COMME DES GARCONS KEYPOUCH

This pouch is so iridescent. When I saw it, I just went "wow, I have to get that".

3. MUJI NOTEBOOK

I never noticed it but I do have a lot of items from Japanese brands. I think I am drawn to Japanese designs because they are simple but exciting at the same time.

4. RAY BAN SUNGLASSES

I do not know if it is my eyes or the weather, but I have found the sun getting a lot more glaring in recent months.

5. CARD CASES

I carry both of them with me all the time.

6. WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Going wireless is important because I cannot let the wires tangle with what I am sewing or putting together.

7. MUJI MEASURING TAPE

This is so strangely small, I just had to get it.

8. WATER BOTTLE

This is made of stainless steel. One of my friends is a material specialist and she told me that it is not good to drink from aluminium bottles because the lining is still coated with some plastic.

This article was first published on March 13, 2015.
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