MIKE TAY, Fabric Designer

We find out more about the founder of Onlewo and his line of bespoke home and lifestyle products

- Germaine Cheah

HOW AND WHERE DID YOUR INTEREST IN DESIGN BEGIN?

It began after quitting my media career with a local TV station. I had some free time in hand and went around taking photos of things and places that I connected deeply with. Coming back, I started working on these images for fun and realised that I could potentially turn it into some kind of business. The whole process was self-taught, and I was simply following an organic path.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE?

Elegant, nostalgic yet modern.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR BRAND’S NAME, ONLEWO?

“Onlewo” means “happy nest” in Mandarin. The name came about as we are passionate in connecting people with familiar stories of places, heritage and culture through the prints we design that are inspired by Singapore, our homeland.