On 30 November 2025, a short Instagram video by @/batik_sayangsg prompted a familiar question: do Singaporeans really support local businesses?
Instead of simply answering, the founder candidly shared her lived experience. And what followed was a gentle and powerful reminder of support coming in small, deeply human moments.
“This bag I carry everywhere was gifted by a Singaporean”
In the video, Batik Sayang’s founder Serena speaks candidly while showing items around her pop-up space.
The bag she carries daily? A gift from a Singaporean customer. The food stacked behind her booth? Left behind by visitors who worried she might go hungry.
“These were left by Singaporeans because they were afraid I would be hungry,” she says.
These moments were neither sponsored, nor staged. They depicted kind Singaporeans looking out for someone running a small stall.
When Support Shows Up Quietly — but Meaningfully
Her first bulk order did not come from a big brand or influencer campaign, but through a local grassroots event.
Later, someone casually reached out to ask if she could prepare small gifts for participants at a youth programme in Jurong.
She agreed without much thought — until she realised the event was organised by M³. For a small handmade brand, it was one of those moments that quietly stayed with her.
From Participants to Believers
Participants in the event picked up batik brooches and hair clips. They asked questions, tried the pieces on, and showed genuine excitement. Genuine connection fostered through such gestures, and it was hard to miss.
“So what do you think?” she asks at the end of the video.
“Do Singaporeans support local businesses?”
Her own caption answers it simply: “I think Singaporeans definitely do support local businesses.”
A Long Road to Batik Sayang
What many viewers may not know is how long that road was.
In a video shared on 21 December, Serena opened up about her background. She did so not as a brand owner, but as someone who has been working since she was 13.
She helped out at her aunt’s accessory shop, worked through school holidays, and took on low-paying hourly jobs. Later, she joined the airline industry as a SIA stewardess, saved up for her degree, and eventually left a stable income to study full-time.
At one point, her savings ran out. She drove Uber just to afford a semester abroad. After graduating, she worked multiple teaching jobs, including seven years teaching music at an international school, while saving again for her master’s degree.
Only after all that did she take the leap to start Batik Sayang.
“You don’t need rich parents to start”
Serena clarified not sharing her story for praise. She says she simply wanted to use the moment — and the microphone — to say this: starting a business doesn’t require wealthy parents or perfect timing. It requires persistence, sacrifice, and the willingness to begin.
“I didn’t make this video to say I’m super hardworking,” she said. “If you want to start your business, you start lah.”
Turning Heritage Into Everyday Art
Founded in April 2024, Batik Sayang is a handmade accessories brand rooted in slow, sustainable fashion.
Each piece, from earrings and necklaces to phone straps and brooches, is handcrafted, making no two exactly the same. The designs blend traditional batik with modern, wearable forms meant for daily life.
What began as a personal leap of faith has since become something shaped collectively by customers, event organisers, and strangers who chose to show up in small but meaningful ways.
And maybe that’s the quiet truth behind the question.
Not all support looks loud. Sometimes, it looks like a leftover meal, a gifted bag, or a brooch worn proudly, on the spot.
Find Batik Sayang’s pieces here.
Watch the videos here:
@batik_sayangsg I think Singaporeans definitely do support local businesses. 💕 Very grateful to see each one of you so excited to choose your own batik brooches or hairclips. 🌸 Thank you for having Batik Sayang at the event 🌷 #batik #supportlocal #brooches #hairclips #singaporean
♬ original sound – Batik Sayang Singapore – Batik Sayang Singapore
@batik_sayangsg Just my 2 cents 🤷🏻♀️ #batik #hairclips #journey #lifestory #entrepreneur
♬ original sound – Batik Sayang Singapore – Batik Sayang Singapore
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
The Plate is Empty: The Heartbreak and Aspirations of an F&B Entrepreneur
Bread, Tradition, and Roots: How a Singaporean Baker Found Belonging in France
If you have a story or a tip-off, email admin@wakeup.sg or get in touch via Whatsapp at 8882 5913.
Interested in advertising on our media channels? Reach out to us at admin@wakeup.sg!
Since you have made it to the end of the article, follow Wake Up Singapore on Telegram and X!
Wake Up Singapore is a volunteer-run site that covers alternative views in Singapore. If you want to volunteer with us, sign up here!
