Jalan Besar with Mike Tay

Mike Tay is the self-taught designer behind Onlewo, a line of whimsical patterned fabrics used in furniture, wallpaper and other soft furnishings. The designs are inspired by his own Peranakan heritage and love for old neighbourhoods - so it's no surprise that his shophouse studio is located in Jalan Besar, a bohemian enclave of like-minded creative types and traditional craftsmen, with arts schools and museums nearby.

The shophouse sits between Hindoo and Veerasamy Road and is also home to Flaneur Gallery, which he opened with artist Vincent Chow in late 2014. He launched Onlewo in April 2015.

He likes the area for its convenience - "Jalan Besar is the perfect place for makers and designers as it is famous for hardware supplies. It is easier for us to get materials we need."

But the former media professional is also very much a flaneur - a French word used to describe one who "saunters around observing society".

Apart from mingling with fellow artists in the area and getting design inspiration from the surrounding sights and architecture, Mr Tay was delighted to stumble upon old-school eats from his past. As a boy, he often ate at Hillman Restaurant when he visited his grandfather at Cantonment Road.

"I didn't know if it had moved or closed down," he says. As luck would have it, he chanced upon it just around the corner on Kitchener Road. Another favourite is Good Chance Popiah, which opened a branch on Jalan Besar, "I just love their fish maw soup," he enthuses.

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Even though he lives in the East now, Mr Tay finds a spiritual connection to Jalan Besar. "This is a slice of our past and a celebration of our heritage."