“BUY LESS, CHOOSE WELL, MAKE IT LAST” said the late fashion designer and visionary Dame Vivienne Westwood. While this quality-over-quantity ethos runs contrary to the hyper-consumerist zeitgeist of today, there are encouraging signs that more shoppers are beginning to embrace this maxim. In particular, an increasing number of consumers are seeking to restore rather than replace their sartorial possessions, evinced by the rise of leather goods restoration services in Singapore to meet this burgeoning demand. One of the new kids on the block is Margo & Smith, founded by husband-and-wife duo John Chung and Salina Chai.
“Despite the abundance of luxury bag repair stores and bag spas in Asia, I found none that emphasised meticulous craftsmanship over quick sales and unnecessary services,” says Chai. So she decided to start her own. Margo & Smith combines her fashion industry and digital content creator experience with her husband’s decade-long expertise in repairing and restoring leather shoes. “We wanted to modernise the image of traditional handbag restoration kiosks and street cobblers, and promote sustainability and the craftsmanship behind each repair,” she emphasises.
This story is from the August 2024 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2024 edition of ELLE Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Saffron Sharpe, 28
Style muse, storyteller, and self-love champion.
A Slice of Haven
WITH ITS BLEND OF INDUSTRIAL COOL AND TROPICAL WARMTH, Public House OFFERS A COSY RESPITE IN THE HEART OF SUKHUMVIT.
Cand bold & unfiltered
With a growing global presence and a loyal following, ATIQA DAR is carving out a space for herself-and for others-where authenticity and representation lead the way.
Vibe Check: office edition
SET THE STAGE FOR YOUR BEST YEAR YETDISCOVER HOW feng shui CAN TRANSFORM YOUR OFFICE MOJO.
CLASSICALLY Kenya
From Nairobi to the Masai Mara, a three-stop itinerary highlights the East African nation's past, present and future.
A nose for reinventing classics
CHANEL's in-house perfumer, Olivier Polge, shares how he marries heritage with modernity in every bottle.
Pop Culture
Supplements for hair, skin, and general health have never been bigger business. But do the results match the promise? JENNIFER GEORGE swallows the truth.
A Storyteller's Craft
Head of Research and Development for Watchmaking at Van Cleef & Arpels, Rainer Bernard, takes CHARMAINE HO behind the velvet curtains for a peek at the French luxury brand's award-winning creations, and the techniques that go into their making.
KESHA frees Herself
With a new album, her own record label, and a 10-year plan to upend the music industry, the LIBERATED POP STAR says anyone with \"deep, dark secrets better run.\"
Joy, Luck & Sisterhood
Mortal enemies on-screen, best friends off-screen, TASHA LOW and CHANTALLE NG are proving that the future of Singapore's entertainment industry is as radiant as their chemistry.
