Not just for men: Female collectors with a passion for sneakers, watches, whisky
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Not only for men: Female collectors with a passion for sneakers, watches, whisky
Think only guys obsess over these? CNA Lifestyle met up with 3 female person collectors in Singapore who share how they got into their hobbies.
From left: Sneaker enthusiast Hanya Seah, whisky connoisseur Joanne Ho and watch lover Hosanna Swee. (Photos: Hanya Seah, Kelvin Chia, Hosanna Swee)
07 Jun 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 11 Aug 2022 12:23PM)
When it comes to the world of collecting and collectors, there are certain areas traditionally seen every bit the reserve of men.
Accept, for instance, sneakers, watches and whisky. If yous regularly follow these scenes or check out the online churr, you'd be nether the impression only guys were obsessed with these.
Just that'southward certainly not the case. CNA Lifestyle had a chat with iii female collectors – Hanya Seah, Hosanna Swee and Joanne Ho – who testify just how passionate they can exist.
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THE SNEAKERHEAD: HANYA SEAH
If yous beloved your sneakers, you might already exist following Hanya Seah'south Instagram business relationship. The avid collector parades her colourful collection of kicks for her 16,000-potent following and yous can't deny the girl has style.
With 70 pairs on rotation, Seah, who's in her late 20s, enjoys playing apparel upwards and creating a variety of silhouettes matched to the different colourways of her sneaks.
"I run across the pairs that I own as pieces of fine art through appreciating its sports history, compelling storytelling, technicality, design and exclusivity. It's more than than just a pair of shoes – information technology is a medium of self-expression," said Seah, whose get-go job mail-graduation was at defunct sneaker retailer Seek.
Now a marketing executive by mean solar day and jeweller by night, Seah's sneaker obsession began in 2022 when she caused her showtime collectible pair: The Nike ten Riccardo Tisci Air Strength 1 Depression Beige.
"They were comfortable and versatile yet unique at the aforementioned time. Tisci applied a fresh take to the Air Force 1s in the depression-, mid-, loftier- and boot-cutting versions and I realised there could be and so much inventiveness in amalgam a pair of sneakers," she recalled.
Similar most sneaker aficionados, Seah has spent hours "camping at the computer" to cop some of the hyped sneaker drops. And while not a sworn devotee to a specific brand, you will notice an incontrovertible inclination towards Nike in her collection.
Among her favourites, there's the atmos x Air Max 1 'Animal Pack 2.0' Safari 2022 featuring pony-pilus infused creature prints, which holds sentimental value as Seah had the opportunity to meet atmos' head designer Koji on his trip to Singapore that same yr.
Embodying the grail of collaborator, colourway, design and symbolism is the Aleali May x Air Jordan ane Retro High 'Satin Shadow' 2017, another of Seah's prized picks in her collection.
"I am a fan of streetwear stylist Aleali May and this was a symbolic pair every bit it was the showtime time the Hashemite kingdom of jordan make collaborated with a female on their best-selling Air Jordan 1 silhouette," she said.
"She recreated my favourite Air Jordan i colourway 'Shadow' with a play of contrasting textiles – satin, corduroy and chenille – on the swoosh. The upshot is a fresh, premium take that represents what borderline-feminine females really want in our sneakers – not the bright or pink colours that is often forced upon female line-ups."
Adjacent on Seah's lust list? A dream pair of StrangeLove x Nike SB Dunk Lows.
"The velvet and tonal pink execution on this pair is out of this globe. The tiny, embroidered eye-skull logo adds to the playful grunge character of the sneaker. And the shoebox itself is a piece of art, worthy of display. Nike has never done a pair like this earlier; information technology's one for the history books," she gushed.
And there is only one pair in Seah'south entire collection that she has yet to intermission in: The Air Jordan 2 x Just Don "Arctic Orange".
"I've not institute the right occasion to vesture it. Saving it for a momentous occasion, like my wedding, perhaps!"
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THE WRIST-TAKER: HOSANNA SWEE
Whether information technology's a scientist debating its linearity, a poet or musician romanticising its irreversibility in allegory, or a philosopher meditating upon its place in the universe, the notion of time is deeply personal to each of us.
For photographer Hosanna Swee, it's a beautiful relationship articulated in storytelling and sentimentality, expressed in the art of watchmaking.
"Growing up, I was taught the significance of time past my male parent and timepieces served equally a symbol to commemorate special milestones within our family," the 30-yr-old shared.
Swee's interest in horology was likewise kindled in the company of her older brother, who would disassemble watches in his spare fourth dimension. And it was on the occasion of her 25th altogether that she acquired the iconic Royal Oak past Audemars Piguet, which would become on to spark the course of her sentinel-collecting journey.
Information technology was thus almost kismet that she would end up meeting her fiance, Tom Chng, founder of the Singapore Watch Gild, who would further stoke her passion for precious mechanical watches.
Over the years, Swee has cultivated her own personal taste and frequently finds herself drawn towards timepieces in which aesthetics, practiced pattern, history and provenance see.
"I am particularly fond of classic timepieces with a unique flair, exuding quiet confidence and modern elegance; vintage pieces which, more than often than not, have an interesting story to tell. I believe part of the joy of owning vintage timepieces is pursuing the story behind these artefacts," she said.
Some of the more cherished pieces in Swee'southward collection include the Cartier Baignoire Allongee "Maxi Oval", Audemars Piguet Ultra-Sparse Perpetual Calendar "Tuscan Punch", Rolex 24-hour interval-Date 18238 "Bloodstone Dial" and Roger Dubuis Sympathie Chronograph.
Female sentry collectors are still considered a rarity but Swee believes the landscape is shifting, with more women stepping up and owning their voices in the industry.
"The stereotype of women only going for gem-set quartz watches is too changing, having met many discerning and knowledgeable ladies in the customs on my journey," she observed.
Passion, however, remains central to Swee'south purchasing and investment decisions, as she says she finds information technology hard to appreciate the true dazzler of a timepiece "if approached from a purely numerical or monetary angle".
One timepiece she would love to add to her collection is the Vagabondage 3 by FP Journe, featuring a "tortue" shape that departs from the watchmaker's usual round case designs.
"Every bit someone who has always gravitated toward archetype designs with a dash of unconventionality, I've always been a fan of Francois-Paul's unique pattern sensibilities, equally they strike a residuum between traditional methods of craft and a contemporary edge.
"His designs are synonymous with asymmetry and proprietary typography and with the Vagabondage Iii, the motility's complexities are mostly exposed; evoking a visually absorbing, mechanically satisfying moment," she said.
Ultimately, Swee believes that taste is subjective and when information technology comes to collecting mechanical timepieces, one would exercise well to close out the noise from the world, peers and even mentors.
"It all comes down to your private preference, which is something that can be refined over time. Most importantly, be patient and bask the process."
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THE DRAM-SEL: JOANNE HO
Even though her 300-canteen whisky drove includes a 20-year album of the vaunted Glenfarclas Family Cask from 1985 to 2004, don't call Joanne Ho a collector.
"Information technology'due south more than for enjoyment and sharing with friends and family and so the whisky I savour most is the 1 that is currently on my tabular array, not locked up in a storeroom," said the 48-year-onetime founder and managing director of public relations firm Brand Cellar.
Just a tad ironic, every bit the Family Cask collection she'south pictured with had to exist retrieved from the storage vault for our shoot, representing i of three sets of each almanac edition Ho acquired over a 2-decade catamenia – "two to potable, and one to go along" presumably goes the connoisseur's philosophy.
It's a passion she shares with her married man and Ho reckons the pair have invested up to S$130,000 since their interest in whisky was awakened 10 years ago.
"Investment is secondary", she insisted. "I drink up all my whisky, exist information technology a $1,000 or $ii,000 bottle."
In improver to the Glenfarclas Family Cask ii-decade drove, Ho's treasured selection includes a "total range" of Yamazaki and Hibiki whiskies from the house of Suntory, with a 25 Year Yamazaki prized higher up all.
She loves both Japanese and Scottish whiskies equally, and enjoys them sherry-anile and peaty, depending on mood and proclivity for exploration.
"Whisky is depression in calories that'due south why I like it. In that location are many flavours and it'due south very smooth and beautiful on the nose, and equally a nightcap," Ho explained.
Despite the lower calories, the loftier booze content of 40% ABV (or college) is i reason she thinks more women aren't into the spirit.
"I think women find wine easier because the alcohol content is lower. And wine pairs improve with nutrient than whisky," she observed.
For everyday drinking, Ho recommended Auchentoshan from the Scottish Lowlands, every bit it'southward "adept and affordable", and has a tinge of regret near drinking up many of her Hibikis, given how astronomically prices accept risen in recent times.
Nonetheless, it's nearly enjoyment. "The real dazzler of whisky is that in that location are so many houses and each have their beauty. There are so many stories behind each canteen of whisky; the knowledge is deep and it's very fun to share with friends," she said.
As someone who appreciates the stories behind the labels and liquid, distillery visits are one of the things Ho misses about virtually not beingness able to travel.
"You lot go to sympathise more about the whisky and I'll get visit and drink in betwixt my skiing trips and so it's actually fun," she said, recalling her excursions to the Yamazaki and Nikka distilleries in Nihon.
A visit to the "motherland', though, was on the cards until COVID-19 struck.
"I call back Scotland will be beautiful and I would really beloved to go one day. We have friends who are large collectors who collect whole casks and we wanted to get to the distilleries in Scotland together… later on COVID we'll go," she said optimistically.
Well, the Scottish highlands and lowlands aren't going anywhere and the scotch volition only improve with age, at least.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/women-collectors-singapore-sneakers-watches-whisky-248566
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