Founder Of Local Accessories Brand “Ugly Cried” After Spotting Halimah Yacob Wearing Her Brooch At NDP 2026

Serena had previously described the anticipation as “opening the biggest blind box of my life”, and invited her followers to join her on a live stream to watch NDP and see if they could spot one of the brooches.

Looking back, Serena said the significance of the moment went beyond seeing her product on a prominent figure.

“I think in that moment, it hit me that something I had created with my own hands, inspired by Singapore’s national flower, was being worn by someone inspiring and empowering during our National Day celebrations.”

Fresh interest after NDP

The NDP appearance has since sparked fresh interest in the Vanda Miss Joaquim collection, which includes brooches, earrings, kerongsangs and dokohs.

Serena said she spent hours replying to messages and enquiries the day after NDP.

She had initially intended not to restock the collection after the last few pieces sold out just minutes before NDP. But the influx of enquiries following Mdm Halimah’s appearance changed her mind.

Batik Sayang has since opened limited pre-orders, with Serena hoping to restock about 50 pieces across the collection. Each piece is handmade and can take between one and five hours to complete, depending on the design.

For Serena, however, seeing her creation on Mdm Halimah meant more than renewed interest in her business.

She left her job as a music teacher to start Batik Sayang in 2024, a move she described as “one of the biggest and scariest decisions” she has ever made.

“I had spent years as a music teacher, so walking away from something I knew and was comfortable with to build Batik Sayang from scratch was a huge leap of faith,” she said.

With no background in visual arts, Serena admitted she “had no idea” what she was doing when she left teaching.

“But I knew I wanted to craft and build something that serves the community,” she said.

Two years on, seeing something she had made with her own hands worn by Mdm Halimah at NDP marked a significant point in that journey.

“It means I’m moving to a new season in my life,” Serena said.

“I had to let go of the past seasons, but bring forth what I’ve learnt in order to grow even more as a person.”