August Society

EXPAT DIARIES: WIETEKE FROM NETHERLANDS IN SINGAPORE

June 30, 2016 by Little Miss Honey 667 Comments

(Wikipedia) ‘An Expatriate (often shortened to Expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship. The word comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“country, fatherland”).

This blog aims to discover people who are adventurers like me, venturing out in a new place to call home and creating memories. I have previously lived with my parents and siblings in the Saudi Arabia when I was in high school. I have enjoyed and cherished my memories in the beautiful Sandbox I once called my home. Now, I am in a new adventure with my husband and sons here in Singapore.

I am featuring Expats in different countries every two weeks to share their experiences and adventures with you and me.

I met this featured charming and friendly expat at a #BlogMeetSg event. Wieteke is the Marketing and PR manager of August Society, a swim wear line. She will be sharing with us about her expat life in Singapore and more about August Society.

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1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are originally from?

Photo Credit: Natasha Shuttleworth

I am Wieteke van Zanten, I am a freelance Marketing & PR Manager originally from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I’ve worked over 10 year in fashion marketing roles in Europe after the move I decided to start my own business and share my knowledge in Singapore. I love to travel, cook, read and visit all different kind of museums. I am married to Mark, also a Dutchie.

2. What made you move to Singapore? How long have you been here?

I have been here for almost 3 years now, time flies. I still love the city and all the amazing countries in the area. So, there is no reason to head back to Europe soon. We moved here because we wanted to live and work in another part of theworld. I applied for a role at a Design Academy and I got hired. I enjoyed teaching and creating new programs for them but after 1.5 years I also missed the corporate world and decided to take on more commercial projects. That’s how I met Toni, the founder and creative director of August Society.

Photo Credit: Natasha Shuttleworth

3. What do you miss about your home country?

Of course I miss my family and friends but also the Dutch cheese and the chocolate sprinkles on my bread. They are the best!

4.What are the wonderful discoveries and things you like about in Singapore?

That’s easy: food! I really love the variety of Asian and Western dishes. Even late at night you can enjoy a great and affordable meal in one of the hawkers.

5. What are the 3 tips you can give to fellow expats in Singapore or those you planning to move here?

Visit all the beautiful museums, and see or learn something new every day. – Travel and discover new places. Besides Singapore there are plenty of options in the region: from the beautiful beaches in Thailand till the stunning cities like Ho Chi Min City. – Just smile and enjoy yourself as much as possible, Singapore is a great place to live for a few years. Make the best of it. It’s so easy to make new friends; the city is full of newbies.

6. The LITTLE MISS HONEY community gets inspired through travel, food and books. Can you tell us your current FAVORITE TRAVEL SPOT, current FAVORITE FOOD/RESTAURANT DISCOVERIES & current FAVORITE BOOK?

My all time favorite city is NYC, my current travel hot spot is HCMC. I just love that city, the energy, sweet people and the best food. My favorite restaurant depends on my mood. It can be my local hawker on Zion road, or one of the tucked away restaurants in China town or just a fancy Italian.

I am more a magazine kind of girl. Magazines are so easy, you can read and bring them everywhere. I really like to read short stories, get inspired by the latest trends and to try recipes.

7. Where do you get your inspirations? Who or what inspires you?

There is a lot that inspires me – but I need to go out. For example I can walk on Haji Lane, where our office is located, and get inspired by all the hipsters who hang out there. Same with magazines, TV series, movies, you tube, bloggers they all inspire.

8. Can tell us about your swimwear line, August Society?

What makes it special from all the other swimwear brands out there? Toni, the founder and designer of the brand, created all mix and match tops and bottoms. That’s a big plus if you like to choose your own cut that suit your mood. We use top quality Italian-made fabric, which contains XtraLife Lycra to help retain its shape, it is ultra chlorine resistant, sun creams & oil resistant and has excellent UV protection. And the good part is that it is made from recycled plastic – this means waste plastic (that would have been dumped in a landfill, or worse, the ocean) is repurposed into fibres and made into the polyester or nylon for our swimsuits.

9. Can you share with us three of your favorite August Society swimwear in your collection?

I love that you can choose the cut based on your mood. Take for example the bottoms: the Ipanema Brazilian bottom is not for shy girls, it shows a lot of your bum, the Tahiti String Bottom has a more medium rise and back coverage but the right amount to still look sexy and than the Boracay Hipster will give you full confident in the water. Perfect for an active day on the beach.

10. Give us tips in how to pick the perfect and flattering bathing suit.

You need to feel confident in what you wear. Find a suit that fit’s you well, gives you the right support and has a flattering color. If you can check all the boxes you have found the right bathing suit!

11. Lastly, can you share with what is your inspirational mantra in life?

Love Life. That’s it, just love life.

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Thank you Wieteke for sharing with us your story and August Society! We will definitely check out your website/showroom if we are heading off to the beach or resort very soon.

To get hold of the timeless pieces in August Society, check out their website at www.augustsociety.com or you can visit their showroom:

16A Haji Lane, Singapore, 189209
Tel: +65 6816 9980

Open for drop-ins: Tuesdays – Fridays 1pm – 6pm

If you are an expat or know any expats who are interested to be featured, drop me a line at littlemisshoneyblog@gmail.com.”

EXPAT DIARIES: TONI CHAN – FOUNDER OF AUGUST SOCIETY SWIM WEAR IN SINGAPORE

June 15, 2016 by Little Miss Honey 445 Comments

(Wikipedia) ‘An Expatriate (often shortened to Expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship. The word comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“country, fatherland”).

This blog aims to discover people who are adventurers like me, venturing out in a new place to call home and creating memories. I have previously lived with my parents and siblings in the Saudi Arabia when I was in high school. I have enjoyed and cherished my memories in the beautiful Sandbox I once called my home. Now, I am in a new adventure with my husband and sons here in Singapore.

I am featuring Expats in different countries every two weeks to share their experiences and adventures with you and me.

I met our featured expat at a #BlogMeetSg event. Toni Chan is a successful owner/founder of August Society, a swim wear line. She is gorgeously pregnant when I met her in the event. I am happy that we get to be up-close and personal with Toni about her expat life and more about August Society.

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Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are originally from?

Photo Credit: Natasha Shuttleworth

I was born in Hong Kong but moved to Canada when I was three years old, so would say I’m originally from both. I’m the founder and creative director / designer of August Society.

2. What made you move to Singapore? How long have you been here?

I came here to complete my MBA and ended up staying to work. Eight years later I’m still here!

3. What do you miss about your home country?

Aside from family and friends, I miss seasons. I don’t miss the snow and -20 degree winters, but I miss the changes in seasons and the fashion that goes with it (boots and leather jackets most of all.)

4. What are the wonderful discoveries and things you like about in Singapore?

The food is great, as there are so many options for local and international cuisine. It’s also a great base for discovering other cool places in SE Asia. I also love how fast and efficient everything is here.

5. What are the 3 tips you can give to fellow expats in Singapore or those you planning to move here?

a. There will be things like rent, cars and wine that are ridiculously expensive in Singapore compared to back home. But then there are things like massages, hawker chicken rice, and flights to Bali that are so cheap you’ll be splurging on them all the time. Just accept that this is the way it is.

b. It’s so easy just to stay in the bubble of the expat community, especially if there are tons of people here from your home country. Make an effort to make Singaporean friends too, they can show you aspects of the island you would never see otherwise.

c. You will never get used to the heat. Pack appropriately, it really is 30 degrees every single day, and you will sweat. A lot.

Travel spot – aside from my husband, travel is my one great love so it’s impossible for me to pick just one favourite spot. There are different places for different things – for example food (Japan), art & architecture (Paris), shopping (Hong Kong), beach (French Polynesia) or adventure (Machu Picchu, Peru).

Restaurants – this one’s an oldie, but a friend only recently introduced me to New Ubin Seafood. Can you believe a seafood place can also serve up an amazing angus ribeye steak?

Book – I just finished Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. I was hesitant to read it when it first came out as I thought she was trying to turn corporate women into hard-core, aggressive feminists, but it’s actually very well written and entertaining. She has a lot of very practical advice for both men and women at all stages of their careers and it’s a fascinating glimpse into the life of a very influential person.

7. Where do you get your inspirations? Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired a lot by travel. The places I have been really do influence a lot of my swimwear designs and prints, though I like to take what I see and recreate them in a different way.

8. Can tell us about your swimwear line, August Society? What makes it special from all the other swimwears other there?

All of our tops and bottoms are mix and match, which allows for endless possibilities – whether you’re feeling flirty, active or modest, we have the cut to suit your mood. I create all of our bold, whimsical and classic prints to ensure a timelessly stylish yet one-of- a-kind look (you will not see our prints anywhere else). We’ve started using top quality Italian-made fabric, which contains XtraLife Lycra to help retain its shape, it is ultra chlorine resistant, sun creams & oil resistant and has excellent UV protection. It’s also made from recycled materials reinforcing our commitment to sustainability – this means waste plastic (that would have been dumped in a landfill, or worse, the ocean) is repurposed into fibres and made into the polyester or nylon for our swimsuits.

Here are some photos from the August Society photo shoot:

9. Can you share with us three of your favorite August Society swimwear in your collection?

I love the Maldives Wrap One-Piece because it is glamourous yet sexy at the same time. I also love our new Tropicana print pieces, as the tropical floral design is just fun. Our Santorini Monokini is a great alternative to a bikini but more daring than a traditional one-piece with its sexy cut-outs.

(Editor note: We are also in love with the Tropicana Print Swim Suits)

10. Give us tips in how to pick the perfect and flattering bathing suit.

It’s all about confidence. Comfort is key – find a suit that fits well, you feel covered and you’re not constantly pulling and adjusting. It’s important to find the right cut that gives you enough support on the top and bottom. Picking a quality swimsuit made of long-lasting materials, such as Xtra Life Lycra, is helpful as it offers enough support and makes sure that your swimsuit doesn’t stretch out after a few wears and washes.

10.Lastly, can you share with what is your inspirational mantra in life?

Life’s short – stop trying to meet other people’s expectations and live it for yourself!

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Thank you Toni for bringing August Society to Singapore! We will definitely check out your website/showroom if we are heading off to the beach or resort very soon.

To get hold of the timeless pieces in August Society, check out their website at www.augustsociety.com or you can visit their showroom:

16A Haji Lane, Singapore, 189209
Tel: +65 6816 9980

Open for drop-ins: Tuesdays – Fridays 1pm – 6pm

If you are an expat or know any expats who are interested to be featured, drop me a line at littlemisshoneyblog@gmail.com.”

#BLOGMEETSG: TRAVEL EDITION

May 6, 2016 by Little Miss Honey 4,054 Comments

I am always excited when there is another #BlogMeetSg. Every #BlogMeetSg is always different. I may meet some familiar faces which I am delighted to see again but there will always be new acquaintances in every #blogmeetsg I go to. Let me tell you more about #BlogMeetSg.

BlogMeetSg was started by Lucy of Lulabelle Lifestyle to give opportunities for bloggers in Singapore and local brands to network and create a harmonious relationship in and out of the blogosphere. This latest #BlogMeetSg channels my wanderlust and my innate desire for travel. I am excited to be invited to the #BlogMeetSg: Travel Edition. The venue was at the hip Haji Lane in the showroom of August Society, one of the brand sponsors for gathering.

We were greeted by colorful healthy juices of Daily Juice to quench our thirst. The juice shots were refreshing and it was great that it is preservative free.

We were also served with a beautiful and yummy canapes from Fine Palate. Fine Palate is a leading gourmet catering company in Singapore. They have been impressing their clients with their high standard and one-of-a-kind menu list. I am stopping myself from grabbing a few more of their tidbits so others can try them also. I love every canapes that I tasted. I was happy to chat with the owner of Fine Palate who told me that she makes sure that their food are perfectly-made with high quality ingredients. They do catering for big and small parties. I love that they come in brown pretty boxes. It is a good gift to take to a party and the host would be so grateful for such a wonderful treat. No need for catering plates, the box is perfect for serving the canapés already.

I entered the main hallway of August Society’s showroom. On my left, I saw colorful bathing suits hanging. August Society offers swimwear for every women using high-end fabrics and functional designs with great attention to details. Singapore has been having quite a hot weather lately that I am imagining myself in one of these pretty maillots near the pool, maybe with a Daily Juice drink on left hand and a Fine Palate canape on right hand. There are bikinis, maillots, one pieces and tankinis. There is a bathing suits for everyones’ own preference. August Society was founded by Toni Chan who is also the creative director of the brand. She is also gorgeously pregnant. I wish I could look like her when I am pregnant. Sigh! Since I just gave birth two months ago, I was searching for a swimwear that will hide my ‘still-protruding” belly and my vertical caesarean scar. I am happy that Toni showed me some pretty maillots and one pieces for me. The great thing about August Society is that $5 SGD from every swimsuit sold are donated to help clean waters in communities in need.

On a table near the door, there are the display of lovely stuff from one of my favorite brands, Typo. I am not surprised that Typo has joined the travel edition of BlogMeetSg because they have great stuff for travel. As a matter of fact, my travel wallet where I placed our family’s passports, tickets and travelling documents is from Typo. They got eye masks for airplane rides, luggage tags, travel journals and different travel pouches. I love that their stuff are unique, fun and quirky. And I enjoyed meeting the people behind Typo who are equally fun and quirky too. Typo is my go-to place when I want to buy greeting cards (FYI: their cards are so funny!) and gifts.

On the ride side of the room, I found a pile of Lost Guides Bali books that was nicely arranged in a shell tray. I love the cover of the book. I love green color! Lost Guides is a different type of travel guide because it offers you options of places you don’t often see in other travel guides. It is written by the delightful Anna Chittenden. I can’t wait to check out Lost Guides Bali in my next trip there and I would happily recommend it to my sister who will be spending her birthday this September in Bali.

Photo Credit: Lulabelle Lifestyle

On the same table, I saw a display of espadrilles from Cote & Badt. Code & Badt was started by two Spanish bellas, Sandra and Samira. The shoes are handmade with high quality materials all the way from Spain. I love espadrilles particularly the high wedges. It is easy to dress up or dress down your outfit with a pair of espadrilles. The sparkly flats were just as lovely. They are light and comfy, great for travels.

On the far end of the room was set up for bloggers to do a flat-lay contests with all the products on sponsors plus some props, a lights and a small bench. I am not sure if my flat lay skills are at par with the other bloggers but I think mine needs A LOT of improvement still. However, we all had a lovely time honing our flat-lay techniques.

One of the sponsors is the L Hotels & Resorts. L stands for Live Life which provides their guest a wonderful luxurious personal experience in their hotels & resorts. I haven’t been to one of their hotels but I am hoping that I can get to review the hotel one of these days.

Another sponsor for that night was House of Sheens, a luxury lifetsyle brand for stylish women. They can be found in Amoy Street. I have seen their colorful elegant collection of bags, clutches and accessories in their website and I am in love! Their stuff are just perfect for a working mom like me. I cant wait to check out their showroom next week.

We went home with a goody bag from products and vouchers from the sponsors. Check out what is in our goody bags below. It was another successful BlogMeetSg. Thank you Lucy for this amazing get-together with brands and fellow bloggers. It fueled my love for travel even more and I am looking forward for my next get-away with my family.