Kohepets: Your One-Stop Shop for All Your Pet Needs

Hello everyone!

Choobiwoobiboobi

It is an open secret that I have a soft spot for animals, especially dogs and I mean every breed of dogs out there regardless of their perceived popularity (I think Pugs and Bulldogs are absolute darlings – who’s with me?!). Personally, I have an adorable furkid that I co-own with my boyfriend – a brown fluffy Pomeranian whom we named Chubs (pronounced ‘choobs’ and yes I know my phonetics, thank you very much) or also known as Choobi (which coincidentally sounds the same as ‘趣味’ (chu bee), or ‘cute’ in Teochew), Choobi-boobi, Greedy Choobi, Lazy Choobi or Hum Ji Kia (Hokkien for ‘coward’) because he is agoraphobic (i.e. having intense anxiety and fear of unfamiliar environments) and is extremely terrified of long, upright objects such as brooms and spray canisters. Majority of his nicknames were derived from a particular manner he behaves and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why he is called as such… because he practically shows it anywhere, even towards the new feeding equipment we have gotten for him from Kohepets!

You see, we have kept Chubs for more than five years (this lovely boy is turning six come June) and we thought it was about time he received some new accessories as those he currently had were pretty much worn out and not functioning as well anymore. Normally, in order to get food and accessories for Chubs, we would have to head outside to the nearest pet shop to find what we need among the sea of merchandise in the store. We have no issues commuting for at least 20 minutes to get there (as we don’t drive) but the problem arises when there is a mammoth bag of purchases to lug home. In cases like this, we would would have to hire a cab home or opt for the home delivery service provided by the pet shop to get the products sent to me (often because we plan to go elsewhere after that). Either way, that costs additional money on top of what we have already paid for our purchases. Sometimes we may even have to leave the shop empty-handed because the items we want are out of stock! Can you imagine our frustration when that happens? 😡

But we’re relieved to know that there are now more convenient alternatives of meeting our pet needs, with one being Kohepets Singapore – online pet shop that has a range of over 6,000 pet products from many popular brands such as Wellness, Addiction, etc. In all honesty, despite the business having established in 2011, we were not aware of their existence until very recently. We would have probably saved ourselves all the hassle (and the cab fare) if we had known about them earlier because they provide free delivery for purchases over $60 within TWO working days – one of the lowest on the net (second lowest, in fact, if you’re wondering) as told by Google. A surcharge of $8 is applicable for orders below $60 but still, you can’t find anything lower than that. Just do a search if you don’t believe me 😉

Also, while other online pet shops work around a specific schedule to deliver to different locations in Singapore, customer convenience is of paramount importance to Kohepets as they make best efforts to schedule the delivery to your preferred date and time. I received a message from the deliveryman twice on the day of delivery – once hours prior to his arrival to confirm the time of delivery and again minutes before to inform that he was reaching my unit. I appreciate these updates as mostly no one is around in the living room to receive the parcel so I would need to inform my parents beforehand to stand by (and y’know, home is where the bra isn’t, so… 😳 ).

Kohepets boasts an extensive collection of products so understandably we had a painful shopping experience. They have SO MANY interesting and innovative products that we had never seen in local pet shops. We wanted to get them all but could not. After much deliberation and squabbles over what to add to cart with our limited budget, we settled on the following four items for Chubs:

#1 Ferplast Gro 5955 Medium Slicker Brush with Button (S$23.60)

Ferplast Gro 5955 Medium Slicker Brush with Button

Ferplast Gro 5955 Medium Slicker Brush with Button

This is a dream come true not just for Chubs who wails at the slightest pain, but also for me as his daily groomer. It makes brushing Chubs’ fur extremely easy and fuss-free. Usually I would need a comb to remove the fur from the brush (I learnt this method during my days as a groomer assistant) but this just does the job with a press of the button at the back of the handle. This brush comprises two layers. The bottom layer pushes the upper one to dislodge the fur from the bristles. If you don’t want to remove them with your fingers, just push the button quickly a couple of times and the accumulated layer of fur should fall off neatly on its own.

Side view

Side view

When button is pushed

When button is pushed

Brush upward

Brush upward

Do note, however, that the bristles are quite sharp so be really gentle when brushing your furkid, especially on the delicate skin of the underbelly. Not used to the slightly pricklier sensation initially, Chubs winced a little at the first attempt but he has gotten accustomed to it now. Kudos to my brave boy!

Chub’s verdict:
chubs-full-bonechubs-full-bonechubs-full-bonechubs-full-bonechubs-no-bone

 


#2 All For Paws Chill Out Garden Fountain (S$38)

Connect this to any garden hose and your dog shall have access to fresh water around the clock at the push of the paw! It comes with rubber on the lever so paw doesn’t slide off when your dog is drinking the water.

All For Paws Chill Out Garden Fountain

All For Paws Chill Out Garden Fountain

All For Paws Chill Out Garden Fountain

All For Paws Chill Out Garden Fountain

But I must have gotten too carried away while shopping for Chubs that I had forgotten about his fear for anything that spurts water (or basically anything that requires him to work because he’s such a lazy fella). I would think this would make a great addition to your garden or balcony (anywhere away from areas you don’t want to get wet) especially if you allow your large dogs to roam freely around the compound of your house. Even though the description of the product says that it is suitable for all dog sizes, I doubt small dogs would be able to drink from the fountain with ease due to their shorter height and much inferior strength.

Chubs’ Verdict:
chubs-no-bonechubs-no-bonechubs-no-bonechubs-no-bonechubs-no-bone (because he is a hum ji kia)

#3 Petmate Pet Cafe Waterer 5.6L (S$33)

Since his puppy days, Chubs has been drinking water from hanging water dispenser but I had come across articles mentioning that such drinking bottles “require considerable effort from the animals, and are inadequate in quenching their thirst”. In the words of animal activists, this is animal cruelty :\  I’ve always wanted to get a drinking bowl for Chubs but not being at home most of the time means I wouldn’t be able to replenish his water until I come home past 11 p.m. Plus, Chubs drinks like his water supply would be terminated within the next second.

Petmate Pet Cafe Waterer 5.6L

Petmate Pet Cafe Waterer 5.6L

Petmate Pet Cafe Waterer 5.6L

Petmate Pet Cafe Waterer 5.6L

Noticing that Chubs’ bottle dispenser tended to get stuck on several occasions (thus, preventing water from flowing out), we decided to pick this item up in hopes of giving Chubs a more comfortable life (and also because this would give me a peace of mind when I go abroad next week). You thought it would be a simple process to get him to drink water directly from the bowl, right? WRONG! True to his apprehensive nature, this brown hum ji kia was so threatened by the size of the water container that he did not dare to go near it (he’s not a rescue or abused dog so I don’t know why he’s like that?!). He had to be slowly coaxed by us and although he was visibly VERY thirsty (as he kept going to where his bottle dispenser used to be and it went on like this for days), he just refused to drink from the bowl! We had to lured him to the bowl by smearing some water around the edge but it took some trial and error to get there (with the help of some treats thereafter as well). Slowly but surely, Chubs began to drink the water, albeit in a very uncomfortable position.. like this:

Notice how he stretches his head to drink the water while his body is situated as far away as possible :roll:

Notice how he stretches his head to drink the water while his body is situated as far away as possible 🙄

But after that day, he reverted to his normal cowardly self again which I later realised was because of the “blop” sound the dispenser makes whenever it replenishes the water in the bowl. OH MY GOD he is afraid of the sound *roll eyes*

Another concern for having a drinking bowl is that it increases the exposure of the water to dust, fur and possibly creepy crawlies and hence contaminates it a lot quicker than when it’s kept in a bottle. I had to keep ensuring that the water was clean because I didn’t want Chubs to be drinking dirty water. So yeah, a food for thought if you’re intending to get this!

Chubs’ verdict:
chubs-full-bonechubs-full-bonechubs-no-bonechubs-no-bonechubs-no-bone (ONCE AGAIN, because he is a hum ji kia)

#4 AiKiou Junior Interactive Dog Feeder (S$23.90)

While we certainly feel blessed to have a dog that is not picky with the food he eats, he tends to gobble his food too quickly to the extent of not chewing before swallowing them (we don’t know what caused that sense of competition in him, though) and we are afraid this bad habit may cause some digestive issues in the future. So this dog feeder is a must-have for us. We actually bought another slow feed bowl with those complicated ridges in it before but the plan failed because Chubs’ tiny snout was able to reach the small openings without difficulty!

AiKiou Junior Interactive Dog Feeder

AiKiou Junior Interactive Dog Feeder

This feeding bowl, however, has a unique rotating lid that conceals the 6 sections of the bowl where the food can be found. The dog is expected to turn it by sticking its nose into one of the gaps to retrieve the food and it is supposed to slow down the speed at which your dog eats while it tries to unveil the next section. HAH, let’s see how you’re going to escape this time, Chubs!

Filled with fooooood

Filled with fooooood

The food distributes evenly to every section when poured in the middle

The food distributes evenly to every section when poured in the middle

According to the manufacturer, dogs love searching and they enjoy finding their own food. But not Chubs. He sniffs around the bowl but is too lazy to rotate the lid on his own. He would stare at us with his greedy eyes until we relented and turned it for him *sigh* -_- So much for an interactive dog feeder… Chubs must be mocking us in his mind. “LOL JOKE’S ON YOU SILLY HOOMAN MAKING YOUR LIVES MORE MISERABLE”

Lazy boy... lazy lazy boy..

Lazy boy… lazy lazy boy..

Nevertheless, it did slow down Chubs’ eating pace although he wouldn’t be able to get to the other five sections easily without our help. We removed the lid in the end and turned it into a regular feeding bowl because Chubs is uniquely lazy. We do recommend this dog feeder if your dog loves to sniff and dig around the house. This will leave your dog thoroughly amused, we’re sure.

Comes in blue, green and pink 😉

Chubs’ verdict:
chubs-full-bonechubs-half-bonechubs-no-bonechubs-no-bonechubs-no-bone(BECAUSE HE IS LAZY)

Even though Chubs doesn’t appreciate the stuff we’ve picked out for him (we really think they’re awesome), we feel that any other dog owners would benefit a great deal from them (that is, if you dog isn’t as chicken-hearted as mine).

For more time-saving pet products, do check out Kohepets! If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for, simply feedback to the team behind Kohepets via their Contact Us page and they will try to source them for you. They have also started a series of four giveaways (see picture below) on their Instagram & Facebook so be sure to participate if you wanna give your furkid a yummilicious Christmas treat! 😎

Open to Singapore residents only

Open to Singapore residents only

Thanks for reading! ❤

Products mention are available on Kohepets website. Free local delivery applies for orders over S$60.
This post is brought to you by Kohepets and co-written with alphonsus.

Yellow Teeth? Don’t Worry! Get Brighter Beam with Pop Smile’s Ultimate Teeth Whitening Kit

Hello everyone!

I hardly share pictures of myself smiling broadly for the camera but when I do, I get compliments about my pearly white teeth. This is awkward but.. I have a confession to make. Those perfect set of choppers you see are simply another work of Photoshop. In fact, those who have questioned about my dazzling teeth in pictures won’t be surprised by this revelation because I’ve always been candid about it. Why conceal your flaws when you’re going to be upfront about it, you may ask. Well, that’s because I want your attention to be diverted from my dingy yellow teeth to the products (usually lipsticks) I’m reviewing :\ While this approach seems to be working, the quest for a permanent solution for my tooth discolouration still goes on because I want to smile with confidence and not worry about showing my teeth ever again!

Drinking tea is my daily ritual – I need a cup of tea to restore my normality everyday. But this habit has sadly cost me my Hollywood smile as the tannic acids found in tea has caused deep stains in the enamel of my teeth. I consider myself rather courageous when it comes to dental visits. I’m not afraid of any pain whatsoever (I even looked forward to having my milk teeth extracted when I was in primary school – okay I’m weird) but due to time and financial constraints, the number of times I’ve visited a dentist in my entire life can be counted on the fingers of one hand. I just don’t think it’s ever necessary to spend $1000 on average to whiten my teeth each time which probably wouldn’t last over a year for me since I’m a pretty heavy tea drinker.

I LOVE TEA AND I CANNOT LIE

I LOVE TEA AND I CANNOT LIE

Moreover, being a blogger means I would occasionally be invited to events. Hence, I’m constantly looking for an affordable temporary fix for my dental woes just in case I inadvertently expose my teeth to the camera lens. If you foresee yourself in such predicament, be it in an upcoming college graduation or wedding photo shoot, then great news my fellow comrades! There is now a cost-effective way to remove those stubborn stains whenever you feel like it without having to break the bank!

Let nothing take away your smile!

Let nothing take away your smile!

Have you heard of Pop Smile? It is a new teeth whitening brand based in Australia offering a quick DIY smile makeover that is absolutely pain-free and safe on sensitive teeth – all at the comfort of your couch! It even claims to give comparable results to that of dentist-administered teeth whitening treatments so much so that you can simply skip dentist visits altogether! Well, this sounded too good to be true but you won’t know until you’ve tried it!

There are three types of teeth whitening kits listed on their website but the Ultimate Teeth Whitening Kit is the most value-for-money everything you need to achieve a dazzling white smile. Of course, there are also student-friendly options like the starter kit and besties value set which you can share the cost with your friend.

Now, let’s take a closer look at what the ultimate kit has in store for us! I’ve also added my own honest review along the way for those of you who’re interested 🙂

Reject if seal is broken!

Reject if seal is broken!

Unlike some whitening toothpastes in the market that use harmful chemicals (most notably peroxide) that can damage your enamel, burn your gums and sensitise your teeth, Pop Smile relies on a deep cleansing process using a 99% natural formula made in the U.S. which includes naturally active ingredients like Organic Peppermint Oil, Cranberry Seed Oil, Aloe Vera and Chamomile Flower Extract. FDA approved, it is perfectly safe to use even on the most sensitive teeth!

Included in the Ultimate Teeth Whitening Kit

Included in the Ultimate Teeth Whitening Kit – 1x smile goals card, 1x LED device, 2x customisable mouth guards, 3x 3ml syringes, 5x 0.2ml pre treatment swabs, 1x mouth guard case, 1x teeth whitening pen & 1x Pop Smile travel pouch

Neatly packed!

Neatly packed!

3 replacement plungers for the syringe!

3 replacement plungers for the syringe!

Pre-treatment swabs and teeth whitening pen

Pre-treatment swabs and teeth whitening pen

Mouth guards/whitening trays wrapped up in plastic

Mouth guards/whitening trays wrapped up in plastic

Smile goals card with a white-o-meter at the top LOL

Smile goals card with a white-o-meter at the top LOL

According to the Pop Smile website, their clinical study revealed teeth are up to 8 shades whiter after 9 daily uses, and 2 shades whiter from the first use. So, in other words, if my teeth are a 12 on the scale (which I feel is the case), they should become at least a 10 by the end of the programme. Wow, I can’t wait to find out for sure! 🙂

Each kit contains 9 applications (across 9 days). The whitening effect lasts up to 3 months but it can be maintained as long as you repeat the programme one after another. It is, however, not advisable to use the kit for more than 14 consecutive days without dentist supervision.

Step 0: Unbox the kit

Do brush your teeth prior to the teeth whitening session because you certainly wouldn’t want any remnants of your lunch to impede your whitening progress!

Step 1:
Mould whitening trays to your teeth

All of us have differently shaped teeth so it is imperative to have customisable whitening trays to fit your teeth with precision for the best results. This kit comes with a pair of whitening trays (or mouth guards) which needs to be softened in order for them to mould to the teeth quickly. To do that, hold them by the handles and dip them in freshly boiled water for 5-7 seconds to melt the silicone slightly. When the shape starts to deform, that’s your cue to remove them from the water. Don’t panic if they stick to each other – they can be easily separated while still in semi-molten state. Allow them to cool for 2-3 seconds before placing them in your mouth because you don’t want to risk burning your gum!

If you make any mistakes in the process of moulding, just repeat the steps above. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Step 1a: Form each whitening tray on both top and bottom teeth

The silicone sets and hardens rather fast so you would only need to keep it in the mouth for a few minutes. I bit down the mouth guard and push it from the front with my fingers (or just suck on the guard to create a vacuum) to ensure a more accurate mould of my teeth.

This is what my moulded mouth guard looks like

This is what my moulded mouth guard looks like

As you can see, my mold (especially the one on the right) is shaped rather irregularly. That’s because I have an extra tooth behind my canine tooth (it’s a well-concealed secret 😆 ) so non-customisable mouth guards will definitely not work as well for me.

Once you are satisfied with the mould, you may skip this step for future sessions as the mouth guard stays in shape of your teeth. Now that you have found a perfect fit for your teeth, you are ready to move on to the next step!

Step 2:
Prep your teeth with Pre-Treatment Swab

Step 2: Prep teeth with pre-treatment swab

These patented Pre-Treatment Swabs are one of the many things that make Pop Smile so different from other whitening kits. They deeply cleanse the teeth and maximize the absorption of our Pop Smile Teeth Whitening Gel and are clinically proven to help halve your treatment time. Thus, you get whitening results 50% faster! It doesn’t leave an awful retched medicinal taste like mouthwashes do. Rather, they taste pretty much like regular toothpaste, minus the minty sensation. You know what? I kinda like the taste of these.

To utilise the swab, hold the dispenser at the collar in the middle, keeping the cotton swab upright and on top. With the other hand, grasp the mid-point of the lower hollow shaft and slide it up slowly and smoothly until the cotton swab becomes moistened with liquid. Then. lightly scrub the front surfaces of the teeth with the swab tip in circular motion to apply the liquid. Repeat this step for each tooth for 3-5 seconds.

Use one swab for every application during the first 5 days but refills are available for purchase here if you are addicted to their cleaning and refreshing action.

Step 3:
Apply peroxide-free whitening gel

Many teeth bleaching products use peroxide (carbide, hydrogen, etc.) as the main whitening agent (as well as some teeth whitening laser treatments performed by dentists) to enhance whitening effects but do you know that it causes mouth irritation and increased tooth sensitivity to temperature changes, albeit only temporarily? You won’t know the gravity of this issue until you sink your teeth into a scoop of ice cream. I will never forget the excruciating sharp pain… and how my friends had to wait for me to be done licking my ice cream when they had already finished theirs eons ago. How embarrassing!

You may even already be sensitive to peroxide, just that you haven’t realised it yet! So, does that mean you have to shun away from every teeth whitening product? Thankfully not! You can be rest assured with the peroxide-free whitening gel formulated by Pop Smile because they have added Sodium Bicarbonate to maintain a high PH level. Therefore, the gel is not acidic so there’s no risk of tooth sensitivity or damage to your enamel, making it safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well. In fact, if you’re still sceptical about it, the Pre-Treatment Swabs also help to minimise sensitivity. Now, does that sound like music to your ears? 🙂

Step 3: Apply peroxide-free whitening gel with the given syringe

Evil nurse in the making *ohohohoho*

The whitening gel is stored in syringes premarked with dosage units ranging from 0 ml to 3 ml for you to expel the correct amounts onto the whitening trays. You would only need 0.5 ml of the gel on each whitening tray, so each syringe should last for 3 applications (there are 3 syringes in each kit). Be mindful of your strength, though, because the syringe has very little plunger friction and you may accidentally expel too much if you’re not careful!

Don't be like me and wonder why nothing is coming out from the syringe and then realise that I haven't removed the cap. Don't laugh. It WILL happen to you lol

Don’t be like me and wonder why nothing is coming out from the syringe and then realise that I haven’t removed the cap. Don’t laugh. It WILL happen to you lol

Gently fill the area that will be touching the front surfaces of your teeth

Gently fill the area that will be touching the front surfaces of your teeth

Move the whitening trays around your teeth using the handle to distribute the gel evenly. Press down the trays and remove excess from the gums.

Move the whitening trays around your teeth using the handle to distribute the gel evenly. Press down the trays and remove excess from the gums.

Cut off the handles and put the mouth guard back on!

Cut off the handles and put the mouth guard back on!

The handles are there to actually help you grab your mouth guards while they mould to your teeth. You can already snip them off at this point to allow your LED device to sit comfortably in your mouth (as seen in the next step).

I’d have to, however, apologise to all you beauties and hunks with braces because results may be inconsistent on yours since Pop Smile products only whiten real teeth. Don’t worry, it won’t be too late to get Pop Smile when the day comes for you to remove your braces! Good things come to those who wait 😉

Likewise, refills are also available if you run out of your whitening gel!

Step 4:
Use LED light to accelerate whitening process

Step 4: Use the LED device to speed up your whitening process

The LED light activates the Pop Smile formula for faster whitening and even brighter results. It does not whiten your teeth when used alone. Powered by two lithium batteries, it also has the most bulbs in the market, making results 5 times faster. While other brands require you to leave their LED device in your mouth for 20 to 40 minutes , this does its job in just 10 minutes!

If your LED device isn't working, don't panic! Chances are, you haven't removed the plastic sheet between the batteries

If your LED device isn’t working, don’t panic! Chances are, you haven’t removed the plastic sheet at the bottom of the batteries

Press the white button to activate the light

Press the white button to activate the light

Ba dum tss!

Ba dum tss!

With the mouth guard still in your mouth, set your timer for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can jut sit back and wait for the LED light to turn off on its own after the 10-minute mark

With the mouth guard still in your mouth, set your timer for 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can jut sit back and wait for the LED light to turn off on its own after the 10-minute mark

Sit back, relax and get ready for your bright, new Pop Smile! 10 minutes never passed so quickly before!

Sit back, relax and get ready for your bright, new Pop Smile! 10 minutes never passed so quickly before!

You will be ready for the camera with just a few more attempts!

You will be ready for the camera with just a few more attempts!

Once you have completed the final step, rinse your mouth and clean your LED device with a cloth. Do not wash your device as it is not waterproof! You would need to get a new kit if it’s damaged because it is not sold individually. You have been warned!

And now… the results:

No photoshop (apart from the text), no filter!

No photoshop (apart from the text), no filter!

At a quick glance, the results may not be as noticeable and significant as some claimed. But upon closer scrutiny, you would be able to see that the yellow stains – especially that nasty one between my two front teeth (which dentists I had consulted simply dismissed as a natural discolouration *pffffft*) – have become lighter and less obvious. When I checked my smile in the mirror, I noticed that my teeth have also more or less regained its radiance. Considering that I’m only into my second day of this 9-day programme (at point of writing), this is a fairly good progress I must say! Also, do note that I made no efforts to halt my tea drinking habits for this programme because, yeah, I really mean it when I say I love my tea. Can’t stop, won’t stop drinking tea 😆 *sips* Pop Smile, however, recommends users to stop taking in coffee, tea and wine for the duration of the treatment to maximise their results!

And you think that’s all there is to the kit? You can’t be more wrong! Your Ultimate Teeth Whitening Kit also comes with three additional items (including a mouth guard case) which you won’t be able to get anywhere else. Read on!

Bonus #1:
Teeth Whitening Pen

We are all busy people with appointments to keep and schedules to meet. That’s why we need a good and reliable teeth whitening pen for last-minute touch-ups and on-the-go whitening in our lives. Pop Smile’s Teeth Whitening Pen is for use between treatments or during emergencies such as when you had unwittingly chomped down a piece of chocolate chip cookie to appease your growling stomach before a date night. Go ahead and work that million-dollar smile!

Twist pen to dispense gel

Twist pen to dispense gel

Brush a thin layer of gel onto teeth, avoiding the gum line. Then, wait 60 seconds before rinsing your mouth with lukewarm water

Brush a thin layer of gel onto teeth, avoiding the gum line. Then, wait 60 seconds before rinsing your mouth with lukewarm water

Bonus #2:
Travel Pouch

There is absolutely no excuse for having yellow teeth in this day and age.. even if you’re always away from home. If you’re a frequent traveller, this complimentary zipper pouch is just about what you need to store all your Pop Smile teeth whitening tools.

A fashionable pouch that is able to fit EVERYTHING perfectly! A W E S O M E.

A fashionable pouch that is able to fit EVERYTHING perfectly! A W E S O M E.

All packed and ready to go!

All packed and ready to go!

Earlier today, McDonald’s offered me a complimentary cup of Oreo McFlurry as service recovery for their unusually delayed delivery so I took the opportunity to do a quick sensitivity test and voila, NO PAIN AT ALL. I was relieved yet ecstatic at the same time! 😀

I’ve seen plenty of teeth whitening/stain removal kits for sale at our local drugstores and had personally bought one to try but was of little to no avail (only caused added sensitivity). I thought this product was gonna be another gimmick but clearly it has proven otherwise. You’ve got to try it! 🙂

Meet my new smile!

Meet my new smile!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

The Pop Smile Ultimate Teeth Whitening Kit is available on their website with free worldwide delivery. For more information on shipping as well as the countries they deliver to, please refer to this page.
This post is brought to you by Pop Smile.

[BOOK REVIEW] My School Uniform, a Photo Book for the Ages

Hello everyone!

During the good ol’ days back when I was in still studying at St. Gabriel’s Secondary, I was always intrigued or amused by the uniforms of other schools as I found some to be quite funny for various reasons.

A little backstory – I had the chance to take Music as an ‘O’ level subject at CHIJ St. Nicholas’ as my school did not offer it. It was such a memorable experience because I had the chance of meeting new friends from different schools. Now now, I know what you are thinking now. It definitely wasn’t memorable because I was a guy who suddenly had the chance to meet girls. On the contrary, I was extremely shy and nervous because I studied in an all-boys environment since primary school. On my first day at St. Nicks, my legs somehow managed to forget how to walk down stairs when I saw a group of girls walking past me that I slipped and fell. The giggles that I elicited from them will forever ring in my ears.

Jokes aside, my best memories were some of the classmates I met from Maris Stella, Catholic High and Holy Innocents. I remembered how I enjoyed teasing the guy from Catholic High because of his hairy legs which were visible because they had no long pants even in upper secondary.

Catholic High School

Catholic High School

It was recently announced in the news that another 22 secondary schools would be merged into 11 over the next 2 years due to declining cohort sizes. Singaporeans just aren’t producing enough babies to maintain a healthy number of students in all our schools! 😦

msu-2016-4

I always find the announcement of such news extremely disheartening. Once the merger is completed, regardless whether the name of the newly merged school will be changed or not, it is rather certain that the uniforms of both merged schools will be lost in the process as there will be changes made to the existing uniform to reflect the new identify and direction of the newly formed schools.

msu-2016-9

For those who are extremely nostalgic and worry that a part of your memories might be lost when these schools merged, fret not because of the recent launch of ‘My School Uniform’, the first-ever photography project in Singapore that has managed to cover more than 140 secondary schools, which is about approximately 85% of all the secondary schools in Singapore. A project supported by the National Heritage Board and spearheaded by Yix Quek, a creative and arts educator, its objective is to document the past and present – the way we were through what we wore – for future generations. Secondary schools were chosen as experiences of adolescence last a lifetime. They are our important formative years where we grapple with our innocence and struggle to define ourselves.

My School Uniform photography book (designed by Yong Kam Ling)

My School Uniform photography book (designed by Yong Kam Ling)

My School Uniform

My School Uniform

For most schools, the book showcases 3 different kinds of uniforms that students might have a chance to wear during their time in school.

  1. Councillor attire with the school ties and blazers that students might wear for official school events
  2. The day to day formal attire that students should be wearing if they have no Physical Education (PE) / CCA classes on that day
  3. Of course, the PE kit they wear for any sporting activities in school

This book strikes a chord in my heart because how the loss of uniforms is directly related to the closure of schools in Singapore, which Fiona had compiled on this blog. Apart from being able to admire the diverse and interesting uniforms from the different schools, I really liked the interesting trivia and information provided at the back of the book about the history of school badges. In particular, I loved the section on ‘Crests of Change’ which shed some information of how some school badges have evolved and changed over time due to various reasons. For instance, I did not really know that the St. Gabriel’s badge I used to wear while schooling has made way for a brand new crest which reflects the common historical heritage of Assumption English School, Montfort Secondary and St. Gabriel’s Secondary.

School badges, past and present

School badges, past and present

I strongly recommend everyone to get a copy of your book while it is still available on the shelves at Kinokuniya, Popular bookstore and Basheer Graphic Books as this is a book that surely can be passed down onto future generations. Besides, the fascinating nuggets of the schools’ history and strengths that accompany the well-taken shots (photographed by Nicky Loh, Louis Kwok, Soh Qiuling and Benny Loh) enable this book to be a comprehensive guide for primary school leavers who are still deciding on what secondary school to go to after the PSLE.

Here are some more previews of the Secondary schools you can find in the book:

Bedok North Secondary School

Bedok North Secondary School

Fuchun Secondary School

Fuchun Secondary School

Manjusri Secondary School

Manjusri Secondary School

Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary)

Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary)

If ever the day comes when students in Singapore no longer have to wear uniforms but are able to choose what they wear to schools such as the kids in the U.S., this book will really be a treasure trove of memories for you to think back about your time when you were in school. Hopefully future editions of this book will be able to include the other schools which were not covered in this book so no schools will be left out.

Thanks for reading!

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Basheer Graphic Books
Bras Basah Complex, 231 Bain St, Singapore 180231
Tel: 6336 1917
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Hitting shelves at all major bookstores including Kinokuniya and Popular soon

The author is a bookworm who has co-written food reviews and shared his expertise on matters concerning technology on fionaseah.com.
DISCLAIMER: PRODUCT FEATURED IS A PRESS SAMPLE BUT OPINIONS, AS ALWAYS, ARE AUTHOR’S OWN.