Your favourite Singapore brands and the women behind them

The bag that Singaporeans can’t live without

Credit: Her World

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Who: Rebecca Ting, co-founder of Beyond The Vines

Daughter of an artist, Rebecca Ting’s early exposure to the arts was the starting point for her design studio and retail brand, Beyond The Vines. “I was constantly surrounded by colours, textures, and different forms of expression. Those experiences shaped the way I see the world—it taught me to appreciate design not just as something functional, but as something that can evoke emotion and meaning,” she says. 

Launched in 2015 with the help of her husband and co-founder, Daniel Chew, Beyond The Vines sought to fill a gap in the market for affordable, yet well-made and trendy fashion and lifestyle products. “Too often, well-designed products feel exclusive or out of reach, and we wanted to challenge that by creating pieces that are thoughtfully made, functional yet playful, and accessible to a wider audience.” With practicality and style at the forefront of all of their products, the decade-old label’s inventory includes the now-ubiquitous fashion staple The Dumpling, a lightweight, water-resistant nylon bag. 

“Listening to your customers,” has always been Rebecca’s ethos for the brand. Citing the example of the evolution of the Dumpling, which is now available in a multitude of sizes and styles, the 38-year-old adds that “some of our best ideas have come from observing how people use our products and adapting them to fit their needs better.” This approach has certainly paid off. Beyond the Vines is phenomenally successful – not just locally, but internationally too. 

“We’ve grown from a Singapore-based brand into a regional presence, with market expansions into Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Japan. Seeing how different communities embrace our designs in their unique way reaffirms our belief that good design is universal—it transcends cultures, lifestyles, and borders.”

 Dumpling Bag, from $69

The practical gift with a personal touch

Credit: Her World

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Who: Winnie Chan, CEO of Bynd Artisan 

Bookbinding and leather crafting were familiar experiences for Winnie, who, as a child, spent hours in her grandfather’s Mohamed Sultan Road workshop. “The family business thrived on producing notebooks and other paper products. However, as new technology emerged and digitisation became indispensable, many products, such as diaries and account books, became increasingly irrelevant,” says the founder of Bynd Artisan, a brand that specialises in creating personalised leather and lifestyle goods.

Her reasons for starting Bynd Artisan with her husband, James Quan, in 2014 were twofold. She “wanted to revitalise the industry and preserve the artful craft of bookbinding and leather crafting,” and for the “sunset industry to be viewed in a different light.”

11 years on, the brand has amassed a loyal fanbase (boasting over 17k followers on Instagram alone) and earned accolades such as the 2020 APEC BEST Award for International Attractiveness and the President’s Design Award for Design of the Year in 2016.

“Our personalisation service is at the heart of what makes every Bynd Artisan product and the art of gifting truly special. Each product is meticulously crafted to reflect the giver’s thoughtfulness and the recipient’s individuality, carrying deep meaning,” the 53-year-old explains. What also sets Bynd Artisan apart is its ability to seamlessly marry “heritage and modernity.” One case in point is the brand’s Quilted Puffy Laptop Sleeve, which was introduced last July.

“This new design marks an aesthetic shift, combining soft, quilted, and padded materials for a modern look. Adding to its charm is the calf leather strap, which serves as a functional handle and can be personalised,” she explains.

“This product represents the next generation of Bynd Artisan. It embraces new ideas while staying rooted in our legacy of crafting with purpose, commitment to innovation, and thoughtful design, all aimed at enhancing our customers’ gifting experience.”

Quilted Puffy Laptop Sleeve with Leather Strap, $85

The eco-friendly menstrual solution

Credit: Her World

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Who: Tan Peck Ying, co-founder of Blood

Founded by Tan Peck Ying and her business partner Caleb Leow, Blood has made it its mission from day one to eradicate the stigma and taboo that can surround menstruation. “We believe people shouldn’t have to suffer in silence or feel ashamed about what they do to get through their periods,” Peck Ying tells Her World. 

As someone who has dealt with severe menstrual pain for years, what frustrated Peck Ying the most wasn’t just the physical discomfort, “but how little innovation exists beyond the usual pads and tampons.” For this reason, Blood prides itself on challenging outdated period norms and providing women with high-performing products while creating a community and brand that speaks up for unapologetic period experiences through activations and campaigns. The brand recently introduced #PeriodsArentCute, a campaign dedicated to normalise menstruation and its symptoms in an engaging and informative manner. 

For Peck Ying, coming up with products that prioritise women’s bodies – and the environment was key. The hypoallergenic top sheets on Blood’s pads are made from 100 per cent corn and are free from synthetic chemicals. What’s more, the corn pads wick away moisture faster than their cotton counterparts, which keeps things airy and breathable down there. Additionally, the pads are also biodegradable. “Too often in menstrual care, we hear things like, ‘you can’t have (a product that is both) sustainable and effective’ but innovation happens when you refuse to settle,” says the 37-year-old. “Our corn topsheet pads took countless iterations, but we didn’t stop until we had something that met all our criteria,” she adds. 

Blood Ultra-thin Corn Liners, $4.55 

The bottle for every stage of life

Credit: Her World

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Who: Yvon Bock, CEO of Hegen 

“Simple, practical, and innovative.” These are the words echoed by entrepreneur Yvon Bock as she talks about Hegen, a mother and baby products company she founded in 2015. Having been in the precision engineering industry for over two decades, product design has always been an integral part of Yvon’s life. The result is a cutting-edge Express-Store-Feed ecosystem with patented Press-To-Close, Twist-To-Open ™ (PCTO™) technology that is designed to make the breastfeeding process easier. 

“As a working mother, I understand how crucial it is to have a feeding bottle that supports feeding breastmilk while I’m at work, whether it’s by a caregiver or a family member. This personal need inspired me to create a brand that truly supports mothers in their breastfeeding journey,” says the mother-of-four. 

The road to innovation has, however, not been easy. In 2011, Hegen’s design was plagued by a leak. 

“After five years of development and over 200 failed prototypes and rounds of iterations, we were finally close to finalising the design of our bottle. However, the leak caused us to start the process all over again,” she recalls. “The leak ultimately pushed me back to the drawing board, where we created what is now the world’s first patented no-screw-thread closure — the Press-to-Close, Twist-to-Open™ innovation,” adds the 2023 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipient. Together with her husband Leon, Yvon has since actively filed trademarks in 35 jurisdictions, which has allowed them to expedite their entry into various markets. 

When Hegen released its first product the Feeding Bottle PPSU four years later in 2015, it was an instant hit. Its revolutionary “sqround” (square-round) milk bottles are thoughtfully designed to be closed with one hand and are crafted for easier cleaning. Fast forward to now, the homegrown brand and its offerings are stocked in 24 markets including its newest ventures, Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Staying true to her commitment to supporting and empowering mothers, the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) introduced a new Hegen Lifestyle Bottle 450ml/15oz PPSU “to extend my support to even more people, making Hegen more than just a feeding bottle but a lifestyle choice and a fashion statement.” 

Hegen Lifestyle Bottle, $55

The chocolates that mix art with local flavours

Credit: Her World

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Who: Janice Wong, chef-owner of 2AM:Dessertbar 

“The concept was to combine chocolates and art to craft a multi-sensory experience, creating unforgettable sweet moments,” shares dessert maven Janice Wong. If you’ve ever tasted her decadent creations, you’ll agree that these words couldn’t be more accurate.

The celebrated chocolatier, who runs 2am:dessertbar in Holland Village, is renowned for challenging convention by infusing traditional local flavors into her bars, such as chili padi (peppers), laksa leaf, lemongrass, and kaffir lime. These innovative recipes have solidified Janice’s status as a culinary legend, earning her prestigious awards, including Asia’s Best Pastry Chef in 2013 and 2014, as well as the Pastry Innovation Award from the French restaurant guide La Liste in June of last year.

Janice acknowledges that carving a path in a male-dominated industry hasn’t been without its challenges. “It’s always been about originality. Even now, when we notice many people copying what we do, we ask ourselves, ‘What’s next? What do people want? What excites them?’ Breaking through the mold of a male-dominated industry came down to differentiation. I mean, nobody was painting chocolate on walls and ceilings or doing edible art exhibitions like we were.”

It’s clear that Janice isn’t resting on her laurels, even as she savours her sweet success. Always pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation, the 42-year-old has showcased her breathtaking edible art walls—floor-to-ceiling canvases adorned with colored white chocolate and bonbon lollipops—on a global scale. From Singapore to Sydney, and from Bintan Island in Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago to Cancún, Mexico, she even created the world’s largest chocolate exhibition, featuring over 10,000 bonbons.

Looking back at how far she has come, Janice affirms, “Storytelling has always been key. Our forefathers didn’t make chocolate—there’s no long history of chocolate shops dating back to the 1800s like you see in Europe. So, launching a confectionery brand without that heritage meant we had to build our own story. Confectionery is a massive industry worldwide, but each country has its own culture, which makes it even more important for us to focus on innovation.”

Chocolate Icons Inspired by Singapore Architecture, $55