Merrell Trail Glove 2
The original Merrell Trail Glove was a great a minimalist trail shoe—it features a lightweight, breathable upper, 0mm heel drop, and a Vibram outsole—but it didn’t look very exciting. So Merrell gave number two a dramatic aesthetic facelift fusing a subtle neon colorway to make it cooler than ever. It’s available at Royal Sporting House.
$149 from Royal Sporting House

New Balance 1400v2
If speed is what you need, New Balance’s update of the cult-favorite 1400 should do the job—after all, Olympians like Jenny Simpson have worn them. The new model retains its predecessor’s responsive REVlite midsole for a fast, efficient stride, but improves on the weight as well as the upper with less seams and a breathable mesh.
$165 from New Balance

Nike Free Flyknit
Pull them on like socks, and you’re ready to hit the pavement. These ultra lightweight kicks feature one-piece uppers that conform to your feet like second skin (as with the Nike Flyknit Lunar 1+) and the super-flexible sole of Nike Free+ 5.0 to provide support and cushioning.
$259 from Nike store

Puma Mobium Elite Glow
An upgrade of the award-winning Mobium Elite, designed to adapt to your natural movement by expanding and contracting according to the way you run. Its new glow-in-the-dark reflective features also ensure visibility at night (and that you look pretty darn cool).
$189 from Puma
 

Night & Day started as a fun project. I was really very sad and quite stressed about its closure.

I didn’t have a lot of money for renovation, the graffiti “living” wall idea became integral to build character for the bar at minimal cost. It was amazing to see it grow—there was happiness, sadness, madness, boredom—every kind of emotion etched on it.

I got into architecture by chance. During my time, there were no publishing, media, design or degrees offered at local universities, so it’s either you do a diploma course or go abroad. The closest “artistic” course I could find here was architecture, and that was it.

Architecture gave me a really good foundation in design and I picked up the know-how for Adobe applications on my own in the school’s well equipped computer lab.

I exaggerated a bit for a laugh in the introduction text of myself when I started The Press Room. But I really did quit smoking to the disbelief of many after years of being a horrible chain smoker.

In 2001, I fell very sick and had a major operation, I was in a lot of pain and I took quite long to fully recover from post-operation. I have a 40-stitch scar on my body to remind me of the extreme pain that I have lived through and that had made me quite fearless of anything after that.

I am a self-confessed compulsive hoarder. I keep everything.  

I can never resist buying books, CDs and DVDs. I know—nobody collects CDs and DVDs anymore when everything is digitized, but I’m old-fashioned that way.

One of my biggest indulgences is collecting affordable art, especially the works of young artists, probably because I’m a failed artist and I hope to be able to support them.

Besides Andy Warhol, whose work is responsible for making me a pop culture junkie, there are so many people I admire and are influenced by, like John Hedjuk’s Mask of Medusa, Daniel Libeskind, book designers Chip Kidd and Irma Boom, and filmmakers Wong Kar Wai, Quentin Tarantrino and Pedro Almodovar. I am inspired by so many different things and the list is endless.

As a kid, I was quite lonely because I often got bullied by my siblings. Growing up, close friends eventually became the siblings I never had.

My dad pampers me and spoils me. He gives me everything I want and I never had to worry about anything growing up. He supported my life decisions in quiet ways, even though going down the creative line was considered a vocation, not a profession back in the day.

The best part about being a boss is I can come to work late. I always have problems waking up in the morning. It’s also nice to go see a movie on one random weekday afternoon and I can have the whole cinema to myself!

My ultimate dream is to be able to help the less fortunate through what I’m good at: design. I haven’t figured out a way to contribute to a society in a bigger way yet, but until then, I offer pro-bono services to non-profit and charity organizations.

Lately, I see a lot of men wearing tight red pants or jeans. I find that quite hard to stomach.

Hello? Kitty?! Why??!!

Aqua Spin

What: One of Europe’s hottest fitness crazes takes traditional spinning underwater for a low-impact, high-resistance workout that burns up to 800 calories an hour.It also promises to boost blood circulation, improve cardio fitness and build muscle strength.
The benefits: “Your weight is supported by the buoyancy so there is zero strain on the joints,” says Aqua Spin instructor Yannick Dedigama. “Spinning underwater also generates a massaging effect that reduces cellulite, water retention and muscle ache.”
Where to do it: Aqua Spin offers group classes ($40 per class) at various sports and country clubs including The Tanglin Club (5 Stevens Rd., 6622-0555, www.tanglinclub.org.sg). Email [email protected] to book a class.

Caveman Workout

What: It’s a functional training exercise that uses everyday body movements such as pushing, pulling and climbing to build strength and resilience, resulting in better performance when taking on daily tasks.
The benefits: “It makes you stronger and more flexible,” says Margarida Ferrao, operations director of Vivafit. “What’s good about the caveman workout is that you can do it anywhere. If equipment is not available, your own body weight is enough.”
Where to do it: Vivafit’s (#03-00 Malacca Centre, 20 Malacca St., 6536-3360, www.vivafit.com.sg) Power Moves class is based on the same principles. First-timers can purchase a pass for three classes at $29 via the website.

CoreAlign

What: This machine works the body in an upright position to improve posture, balance and functional movement. CoreAlign workouts combine deep stretches, core training and strength work all in one—perfect if you want a heart-pumping yet flexibility-boosting routine.
The benefits: “You might think that CoreAlign is related to Pilates—it’s not: the majority of exercises are done standing,” explains instructor Audrey D’Cotta. “The machine
helps train the core muscles to work in unity with the whole body, and it’s great for performance enhancement or simply as a regular exercise regimen.”
Where to do it: Available at The Moving Body Group’s Robertson Walk studio (#01-23/24 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6235-1051, www.themovingbody.com.sg).

Piloxing

What: A core-centric, high-intensity workout that fuses boxing and Pilates, this hybrid routine reportedly burns up to 900 calories in a session and incorporates the use of weighted gloves to further tone arms and maximize cardiovascular health.
The benefits: “Piloxing provides an efficient workout in a limited time frame,” says Lucretia Cheng, a certified Piloxing instructor.  It helps build lean muscle mass and core stength, leading to an increase in metabolism and better body balance.”
Where to do it: Fitness Fun (6875-6115, www.fitnessfun.com.sg) offers a class ($18 for a drop-in class) every Friday, from 7-8pm, at ARCA Dance (#01-464 Crawfort Court, 464 Crawford Lane, 6295-5555, www.arcadance.com.sg).

Want to put YouTube to good use? Check out these online workout channels to exercise from the comforts of your home.

The Nine-to-Fiver
Sleek and minimalist, the Classic St Andrews timepiece ($348 from Kapok Tools) by Swedish brand Daniel Wellington goes with everything, whether you’re suited up for a board meeting or dressing to impress a dinner date.

The Statement Piece
If you’re headed for a black-tie event and want something with a little swagger, Chaumet’s Dandy Slim (price upon request from Chaumet) should do the trick with its elegant, unadorned look.

The Weekend Watch
Locally designed label HyperGrand takes the classic NATO strap—originating with the British navy—to new heights by incorporating cool, high-resolution prints on its 01 NATO Watch ($160 from Club 21b).

The Classic
Part of Nixon’s Luxe Heritage Collection, the strap of this fine timepiece (which retails for $219) is crafted from premium leather with hand-sewn whip stitched detailing. Its casual interface also makes it highly versatile, and one that you’d wear over and over again.

Check out the future of watches in our review of the top three smart watches in town.

How did Robe Raiders come about?
One of my partners, Resham Melwani (center; pictured), wanted to clear her wardrobe without having to give her designer clothing and bags away when they were still in good condition. She came to me with an idea of a luxury resale pop-up event—which I’ve done several before. Our third partner, Claudia Sondakh (who’s behind multi-label online store Retail Therapy, far left; pictured) was on the same page, so we all joined forces.

How did Robe Raiders become so successful?
What appeals to our customers is being able to own a Hermes top, Prada skirt, Bottega Veneta bag or Givenchy dress for a fraction of what it costs, though the bulk of our stock are past season. It also helps that most of our consignors are well-traveled and fashion savvy so we have managed to carry apparel from it labels like Azzedine Alaia, The Row, Alessandra Rich and Opening Ceremony, in addition to the more well-known designer brands. We also do stringent checks on brand, condition and desirability.

How often do you hold a physical pop-up sale?
We always aim for around three to four a year. During our pop-up sales we work with other vendors who we feel complement Robe Raiders—like Curated Editions, an accessories retailer and F&B sponsors such as like Swirls Bakeshop and La Tarte Tartin. Now that we have a permanent showroom, customers can also check out our goods in between pop-up events.

Any nasty experiences?
We almost sold a fake designer item! A new shipment came in from a consignor and before we could check it thoroughly, a customer, who was present at that time, wanted to buy it immediately. Thankfully, we hadn’t priced it yet, so we couldn’t release the product. Thereafter we scrutinized it, realized it was a replica, and returned it to the consignor who told her she wasn’t aware as it was a gift.