As Ahmad Habshee continues to navigate Urban Salvation to the next level, nurture his team of talents and educate the importance of sustainability, one constant in his life has remained steadfast — his father being his greatest hero. As Men’s Folio celebrates the theme of Heroes in August, Ahmad pays a glowing tribute to his father as Father’s Day was around the corner at the time of the interview. Here, he also shares what it means to be a hero today, the self-starting days of Urban Salvation and his favourite material to work with.
HOW DID THE NAME URBAN SALVATION COME ABOUT?
It’s two parts — “Urban” stems from the urban culture of Singapore and “Salvation” is about educating people on sustainability and make beautiful furniture out of wood waste. I was from the entertainment industry where things like set designs were discarded after a single use; I salvaged those items when I first started.
DO YOU RECALL THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED WHEN URBAN SALVATION FIRST STARTED?
It was 2015, I only had myself and started with nothing more than an idea — not many investments and neither did I inherit the business. I started with a Carousell account and took it upon myself to make it a full-time job. I was lucky they [Carousell] wanted to promote me because at that time they were new and not many people were using the platform. From there I came up with more new designs; I was sure of what I wanted to do.
HAVE THESE CHALLENGES IN YOUR BUSINESS CHANGED TODAY?
Esta historia es de la edición August 2021 de MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición August 2021 de MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
For Your Ears Only
Colde (the stage name of Kim Hee-soo) made his long-awaited English debut earlier this year with YIN.
High Standing
What does it mean to be a five-star hotel? We find out during our stay at the Shangri-La Singapore.
A Class Of Its Own
The rumours are true. Emirates' new premium economy class feels more like business than it does economy.
Take A Closer Look
Cathay Pacific's new Aria Suite, the Hong Kong-based airline's first business class equipped with sliding doors, is a minimalist seat that boasts very subtle touch points.
A Salute to the East
Royal Salute unveils the Asia-exclusive 24 Year Old Cognac Cask Finish, which is all the richer from finishing in first-fill French cognac casks.
Unapologetic Touch
After its debut foray into jewellery earlier this year, Loro Piana returns with more pieces that engage in textural play for its Fall/Winter 2024 costume jewellery collection.
The Pearl Provocateur
Mikimoto christens a first-of-its-kind collaboration that reframes its 131-year history of cultured pearls with Chrome Heart's iconic gothic gildings and irreverent cool.
Quatre Out For It
Boucheron celebrates 20 years of its iconic Quatre collection - an allegory for harmony, resilience and the unfettered embrace of innovation.
A Take on Destro
The Panerai Luminor Destro Otto Giorni PAM01655 is deeply set in military precision, with its eyes resting on modern sophistication.
A Second Look
After an initial reportage on the Patek Philippe Cubitus in the previous issue, we take another look at the manufacture's first model in 25 years.
