From rescuing 8,000kg of discarded clothes to developing an educational board game, two university alumni in Singapore are making strides to protect the planet.
SINGAPORE: Fresh graduate Cheow Sue-Jane was moved to act when she learned about 8,000kg of clothes destined for disposal in Japan.
“It came at a time when I was still exploring my direction in life,” the 23-year-old shared with CNA.
This occurred in 2021, shortly after she completed an internship at the end of her third year at university.
“With nothing significant happening in school, I thought, why not seize this opportunity to start something that aligned with my passion for sustainability and community service?”
Ms. Cheow decided to invest around S$20,000 to purchase the 40 bales of clothing and rent a warehouse for storage. She now operates The Tryft Shop with her family, alongside her full-time job at a furniture brand.
They began sorting through the 8,000kg of clothes, selling items through their Instagram account and at pop-up markets. They also collaborated with organizations like homeless shelters to provide clothing for those in need.
For garments that were unsuitable for wear or damaged, Ms. Cheow partnered with local designers or costume teams who repurposed the materials into new clothing.
“This way, we aim to minimize our waste. That’s been our operational focus,” she explained.
Her father, who works in the paper and plastics recycling industry and collaborates with recycling suppliers in Japan, informed her about the clothing, knowing Ms. Cheow and her sister shared a passion for fashion and sustainability.
Upon receiving the shipment, she was taken aback by the enormous volume, admitting, “I think I was a bit overly optimistic; the sheer amount in the container was quite overwhelming.”
ACHIEVING BREAK EVEN
Ms. Cheow has always been engaged in environmental initiatives, participating in coastal cleanups and other projects. She has been thrifting clothes with her sister since their secondary school years.
“When we began, it was during a period of numerous shipment and vessel challenges. We had to endure a long wait with an empty warehouse for two months. Initially, it was quite rocky, and many suggested that starting a business during COVID was not wise.
“However, we’ve been fortunate that there’s a growing interest in sustainability, which has kept us afloat.”
Currently, the team still has about half of the 8,000kg of clothing left to sort through. Ms. Cheow, who graduated last July with a degree in arts and social sciences majoring in psychology from the National University of Singapore, mentioned that the business is nearing its break-even point.
The brand celebrated its first anniversary in September.
“My goal is modest – I simply want to sustain this endeavor. I aim to connect with like-minded individuals interested in thrifting and collaborating to rework clothes because that’s the best way to reduce waste.”
While having a physical store would be “fantastic,” Ms. Cheow said it is currently impractical as maintaining both a storefront and a warehouse would strain the business financially.
Managing her startup alongside a full-time job is also challenging, as she primarily works all day and visits the warehouse two to three times a week to meet partners, organize events, and sort through the remaining clothing.
“My company is very supportive, but overall, it’s tough to juggle both… It’s challenging yet feasible. It’s just a bit tiring, but still manageable,” she remarked.
PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE LIVING
When discussing how she inspires those around her to adopt more sustainable lifestyles, Ms. Cheow emphasizes that small efforts can lead to significant impacts.
“I always stress that you don’t have to be a 100 percent sustainability advocate or aim for zero waste throughout your life. Even making small changes, like contributing 20 or 30 percent, is still a positive step.”
Her time with the NGO Zero Waste SG taught her about how companies sometimes mislead consumers regarding the sustainability of their products.
“For instance, a label might state that clothing is made of 90 percent recycled material, but it may refer only to a specific part of the item, making it appear more eco-friendly than it truly is,” she explained with a laugh.
“I realized that trying to force ideas onto people doesn’t yield good results.” Now, when discussing sustainability, her approach is to “spark interest” rather than make people feel inadequate.
While accompanying friends to fast-fashion stores, she seizes the opportunity to present similar secondhand items from her shop to encourage them to consume less.
“I’ll say, ‘Oh, I have something similar; would you like it instead? I can give it to you for free.’ I’d rather find new homes for the clothes than allow more waste to accumulate or have them purchase new items.”
ENHANCING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Also contributing to environmental change is Alexis Goh, who graduated last year with a Bachelor’s in Science (Environmental Earth Systems Science) specializing in ecology from Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Her passion for biodiversity and nature was ignited after her A-Levels, when she held a temporary position at the National Parks Board organizing outreach activities.
This experience proved “life-changing,” prompting her decision to study environmental science at university.
While involved with EarthLink at NTU, which encompasses sustainability and environmental projects on campus, she served as a nature guide, organizing events to introduce biodiversity and wildlife to the public.
She and her team initiated the NTU BioBlitz program, wherein 17 committee members and 21 student volunteers surveyed the campus, documenting the wildlife they encountered.
In just two weeks, they identified over 150 species within the NTU grounds, including the migratory common kingfisher, which is present in Singapore only during certain times of the year.
“When people spot this bird at the Botanic Gardens, crowds of photographers rush to capture its image. But we found it right here at NTU, in our garden,” she said.
Collecting the data was fulfilling, and witnessing the diversity of wildlife on campus was “incredible.”
After gathering data on campus wildlife, the EarthLink committee engaged with university management to improve their wildlife encounter protocols.
They also mapped traffic incidents involving animals to better focus their conservation efforts.
“People would see snakes on campus and be unsure how to respond. From our observations, we weren’t certain if the staff called in were equipped to manage the situation,” she stated, explaining how they advised the university on which organizations to contact for assistance.
“I think that’s an exciting achievement, as we were able to influence campus protocols to enhance wildlife protection.”
Following the event, they transformed their volunteer Telegram group into a public one, now boasting over 600 members.
“Members are generally eager to share their sightings on campus, which aids our monitoring efforts,” Ms. Goh noted. “If someone says, ‘I spotted this bird at Hall 3. Do you know what it is?’ and we identify it as a rare species, we rush to document it.”
SPREADING AWARENESS
Ms. Goh has also initiated projects aimed at educating the public about biodiversity and wildlife in Singapore.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she enrolled in an ecology module, where she was tasked with developing a project to illustrate how various species compete for resources.
Her team’s response was to create a game that proved “quite successful” in class, which later evolved into a board game.
They secured government grants to design, produce, and distribute 50 copies of the board game, titled Singapore Untamed.
The game focuses on local biodiversity, featuring cards showcasing species endemic to Singapore, such as the oriental hornbill and crabs found in mangrove areas around the island.
Since then, various organizations, secondary schools, and polytechnics have approached them to host the game.
The team has received requests for an additional 100 to 200 copies of the board game, Ms. Goh revealed.
“One of my teammates was on the MRT after a trial session, holding the box, when a passenger approached her, asking if they could purchase it based on its design.”
Having enjoyed playing numerous board games in her youth, Ms. Goh expressed her joy at creating her own, particularly on a topic she deeply cares about.
She began working as a scientific officer at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum last July, managing her full-time role alongside her projects.
She encourages current students passionate about the environment to seek opportunities to propose their initiatives.
“These offer relatively safe and supportive platforms to explore your ideas, and you may be able to secure funding and support to execute them,” she advised.
“For those not in school, many programs and opportunities are accessible to the public as well.”
She also encourages participation in “entry-level” public programs with NParks, where individuals can learn about nature while volunteering.
“The sustainability movement doesn’t require you to be a perfect environmentalist; I remind myself of that. You don’t have to fully adopt veganism or eliminate all plastics from your life.
“It’s essential to take small steps that you can manage because those small actions contribute to a more significant impact.”
