This National Day, Let’s Own Our Identity – Loud and Proud
Every year when Singapore’s National Day comes around, I find myself reflecting more deeply on what it means to belong – to a place, to a people, to a version of self that’s been shaped by culture, community and often, contrast.
My time living abroad – in the US during my student exchange at the University of North Carolina (Go Tarheels!), and later in Japan for work – was ironically what brought me closer to my Singaporean identity. It’s funny how distance makes the heart grow fonder - and sharpens clarity. I still vividly remember the March 2011 triple disaster in Japan. It was one of the most terrifying, disorienting moments of my life. But it was also the moment I felt most proud of where I came from.
The Embassy of Singapore in Japan sprang into action almost immediately. Within hours, they were checking on every Singaporean in the earthquake zone - making sure we were safe, arranging evacuation plans and working around the clock to get us out. I was personally contacted by an embassy representative who stayed in touch throughout, right up until I boarded the first (Singapore Airlines) flight home. Seeing the crew greet me at the entrance of the plane, and finally hearing the words on the PA system when we landed: "And to all Singaporeans, welcome home" made me feel, truly, at home.
I felt seen. I felt protected. I felt cared for - by my own country. That feeling of national kinship and solidarity has never left me.
Growing up different in a society that couldn't tolerate difference
Yet, growing up in Singapore was far from smooth for someone like me. The very system that raised me often felt like it didn’t know what to do with someone like me – someone queer, creative, and unapologetically expressive. I didn’t fit in. Not in school, not in society, not in the expectations of what a "boy" or a "man" should be. I was flamboyant, I loved colour, I danced, I dressed up, I voiced out. I was “too much”, “too loud", “too opinionated”, “too gaudy”, “too different.” And society made sure I knew it.
But instead of shrinking, I chose to rebel – with purpose.
And that’s how Finix was born.
Rejecting the structure that bound me
Finix is my rebellion turned into art. It’s my response to the rigid structures I grew up in. It’s for people like me who were told we didn’t belong, that we were taking up too much space in society, that we were too different, too bold, too loud, too much of anything that didn’t fit what it meant to be Singaporean.
Menswear in Singapore felt like a sea of monotony - oversized t-shirts, faded army tank tops, worn-out shorts, stuffy suits, rigid trousers, and stiff button-down shirts. There was barely any space for experimentation, flair or softness. But when I looked at women’s fashion, there was variety – texture, shapes, layers, accessories, playfulness. So, I gravitated there. I browsed the women’s sections, I explored colours and silhouettes, I played with make up, and when I went clubbing in my 20s – that was my runway. In the dark pulse of R&B and house beats, everyone let go of society’s rules for a moment. That was freedom. That was fashion.
Designing from the soul
Identity has always been central to the way I design. Not just mine, but yours. Finix was never just about gender-fluid clothing – it’s about soul-fluidity. It’s about giving form to the self that lives in-between, around and beyond societal definitions. It’s about crafting pieces that move with your spirit – clothes that honour your rhythm, your flow, your everyday transitions. Whether you’re at yoga, on a flight, in the office or dancing barefoot at a beach party, you deserve to feel free in your skin.
That’s why our palette often leans monochromatic – calm, grounded and versatile. What truly stands out is our silhouette. It’s intentionally designed as a canvas – a blank space for you to colour in, layer on and make entirely your own.
A new Singapore
In that sense, I see Finix, our brand, as a reflection of a newer Singapore – one that’s more expressive, more open and more self-aware. We’re not a brand rooted in tradition but one that dares to question it. We break away from the expected, reimagining silhouettes and styles to spark conversation and celebrate individuality. Our designs nod to Japanese forms and Southeast Asian influences, but they’re filtered through lived experiences of queerness, creativity, and resistance – always pushing boundaries, always inviting people to see things differently.
A message to the next generation
To the next generation of Singaporeans – especially the youth – I hope you see in Finix more than just clothes. I hope you see a mirror. A permission slip. A portal. A reminder that fashion is more than dressing up; it’s a language for the self. It’s your armour, your playground, your protest, your peace.
Because when we allow our youth to explore who they are from a young age – to express their truth, to honour their complexity – we build a society that’s more loving, more curious, more compassionate. We raise individuals who aren’t afraid to take up space. Who aren’t afraid to lead with heart. And in a world that still too often fears what it doesn’t understand, this kind of self-acceptance is radical.
Celebrate you, this National Day
So this National Day, I invite you to own your identity – fully and unapologetically. Because whether you realise it or not, you – like me – are part of what shapes the Singapore story. In all its complexity, colour, brilliance and truth.
Wear it proud. Wear it loud. And if you ever need a little help doing that – Finix has your back.
Whether you're dressing for comfort, expression, or celebration, we’ve put together a special National Day bundle set to help you feel your best – top and bottom pairings designed to flow with your every move. Thoughtfully crafted, unapologetically you.
Happy 60th Birthday, Singapore.
From one proudly queer, Singaporean soul – to you.