MOST of
us put off opening envelopes with windows in them because they can only be
bills, bills, bills, rarely a Robert or a Thomas, little joke there lah.
And
that's why you're no Mindee Ong - once a calefare, then a papaya, and now
actress and designer.
As one
half of the Papaya Sisters in Royston Tan's 881, Mindee's career took a very
fruitful turn.
Most
recently she turned her deft fingers to handbags. 'Envelopes,' she said, were
the inspiration.
Sembonia,
the second line of Bonia bags, had sounded Mindee out on the idea of drawing up
their summer 2009 collection.
Yes, it
is called the Envelope Collection. With Mindee Ong's stamp.
'I was
kind of like, but I draw trees, not handbags,' she said.
She was
persuaded - possibly by what you usually have in your bag - and you can have a
slice of Mindee's creativity, in leather, at Sembonia outlets in the malls.
Homegrown
The
homegrown brand, born in 1994, retails from $199 to $399. Go do your bit and
support Singapore, especially during this GSS of discounts.
In
support of the launch of the line, a cocktail reception was officiated at
VivoCity outside Tang's emporium which carries the label.
A clutch
of Fly Entertainment artistes skittered in, there were hugs and kisses, that's
what friends are all about.
They'll
show up at your event as brand ambassadors, you present each with a handbag,
and then with not much persuasion, you make them do a quickie catwalk.
Of
course your friends will have to look like Jaime Teo and Tracy Tan (currently
in Red Thread) and Rebecca Tan, each popular and pretty in their individual
way.
And then
for added bagroom, you also call up lyricist Xiao Han and stylist Dollei Seah.
Everyone
went home with a heavy arm, weight welcome in the envelope-shape of a prized
new bag.
'It was
interesting,' Mindee said, 'because I draw in black and white, and then to see
the actual pieces when they've materialised, it's quite something. I worked
with their marketing department. For me the key word is 'fun'.'
Quite
the busy bee, Mindee also has a 'concept store' in Amoy Street.
No, she doesn't sell concepts, but one-of-a-type material
stuff.