Made with love

Nothing spells the death of romance like dull expressions of love on Valentine’s Day. Luckily, Sherlyn Goh and Kimberly Parkes discover you don’t necessarily have to whip out coloured papers or spend extravagantly to express your thoughtfulness. Oh, and you’d be supporting a fellow schoolmate too.

SERVES YOU RIGHT

PHOTO: ORBIGOODS

The punny Orbigoods Instagram shop sells quirky pouches made from snack wrappers like Mamee and Fish Muruku. Charissa Kow, a final-year student at Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWS- CI), has a soft spot for childhood snacks commonly found at provision shops. Each wrapper is cleaned with anti-bacterial solution, laminated with plastic adhesive, and sewed. Each pouch lasts for more than a year. If your significant other loves all things unconventional, these pouches are bound to win you some brownie points. $8 to $12.

Instagram: @orbigoods

SHINE BRIGHT

PHOTO: VOLARALPARAISO

From pastel watercolours to metallic lettering, Volaralparaiso truly has it all. Founder Dorcas Hei, a first-year student at School of Biological Sciences, turned her long-time hobby into an online enterprise to help fund her upcoming exchange programme. Sales have been brisk. Dorcas first discovered modern calligraphy when her friend showed her a page on Instagram which inspired her to pick up the art. Each A6 card takes about 15 minutes to complete. Wow your sweetheart with a bespoke piece or choose from her many pre-made intricate creations. $3 to $18.

Instagram: @volaralparaiso
Carousell: @volaralparaiso

CHECK YES JULIET

PHOTO: PETALSXPROSE

PetalsxProse adds a rustic twist to typical Valentine’s Day bouquets by incorporating wildflowers into their handmade bouquets. Sisters and co-founders Lynn Ruth Chew, who recently graduated from School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Chew Jia Qi, a second-year student at School of Art, Design and Media (ADM) were influenced by their parents’ love for botany. Each bouquet is named after Shakespearean characters or characters in classic literature. It also comes with a small card with a matching literary quote — reflecting Lynn’s passion for literature. Impress your date with PetalsxProse’s creative bouquets. $70 and up.

Website: http://petalsxprose.com/
Instagram: @petalsxprose

OLD SCHOOL

PHOTO: PAPER.TH

Revive the lost art of putting pen to paper with Paper.th’s range of personally designed stationery.

From bookmarks, notebooks, postcards to stickers, it would not be an exaggeration to describe Yeo Tze Hern’s products as works of art. Each piece of stationery features photographs taken by Yeo and comes with an inspirational quote.

The striking combination of monochrome colours and sleek lines is sure to stir more than a minimal reaction. The second-year WKWSCI student also accepts cus- tomised requests. $2 to $6.

Website: http://www.paperth.co/
Instagram: @paper.th

ANYTHING GOES

PHOTO: CHAPALANG_SG

Hall 10 roommates Cheryl Teng, a final-year student at WKWSCI and Lum Xinyi, a second-year student at ADM, came up with the idea for Chapalang Totes almost on a whim while bonding over a shared interest in digital art and local crafts. But don’t be fooled by the name. Each handsewn tote takes 45 minutes to sew by hand before being printed with a design inspired by Singaporean culture. The design is then printed manually using a silkscreen process which takes an hour from start to finish. The duo is also looking to stock their old school tote bags at Co-op, located at The Hive. If practical gifts are the key to your beloved’s heart, these one-of-a-kind tote bags that combine form and function are a steal for $16.

Instagram: @chapalang_sg

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Nanyang Chronicle on February 10, 2016, with the headline ‘Made with love’. Print Edition