Our first home studio

We started REVER with $200 and a quiet corner carved out in our room. For a while, that meant crafting through the heat, surrounded by rolls of leather, scattered tools, and the happy chaos of early ideas. No air-conditioning, no proper studio — just two young souls figuring it out as we went.

That setup lasted a good two years, until our stock (and the mess) started spilling into every corner. As the lines between work and rest began to blur, we knew it was time.

So we took a leap, pooled our savings, and rented our first dedicated space. A small step, but one that changed everything.

Making our first pieces overseas

After countless batches of small leather goods, we began dreaming of something bigger — bags that needed more than our humble tools could offer.

In our final year of university, we flew to Thailand to visit leather distributors and meet a few artisans we’d connected with online. It was our first real step into the world of bag-making — a trip filled with wide eyes, big ideas, and the thrill of possibility.

Before heading home, we swung by the leather district to pick up a few hides as keepsakes. We lugged them back by hand through Changi Airport… and got a friendly (but firm) lesson from customs about import declarations. :p

In Search of Craftsmanship

After a few successful launches with our small but mighty two-person artisan team in Thailand, our dreams naturally grew — leading us to explore new possibilities and more intricate designs further up shore.

That journey brought us to Guangzhou — the perfect base for sourcing premium European leathers without the travel costs, while also gaining access to some of the most hardworking and reliable workshops we’ve had the privilege to collaborate with. Over time, many of them became close friends.

It was here that two of our most beloved designs — the Huns Saddle and Kouva Tote — came to life, shaped by the hands of talented artisans who shared our passion for detail and quality.

RECOUNTING THE GOOD, BAD AND THE BAG

A Costly Lesson

One story we don’t often tell is about one of our earliest, and hardest, lessons.

At the start, fuelled by passion and possibility, we placed our trust — and most of our savings — in a manufacturer who seemed to promise it all. But behind the charm was a quiet switch. The luxury leather we had so carefully chosen was replaced with ordinary, run-of-the-mill material.

We only found out after returning to Singapore, when Sylvester, curious about the odd texture, cut open a bag. The truth hit hard. Months of work, gone. We were heartbroken — and for a while, quietly ashamed to have let down those who believed in us.

But something shifted in that moment. We learned to ask better questions. To design with more care. To build slower, and with greater intention. That misstep led us to the right hands — the makers we still work with today.

And for that, we’re grateful.

The Art of Resourcefulness

In the early days, we worked with photographers whose beautiful images gave our collections a polished edge — but after a major setback, we knew we had to approach things differently.

So we picked up a camera and simply… started. We had no real plan — just a lot of late nights on YouTube, a stubborn sense of curiosity, and our bags in tow as we wandered around Singapore chasing natural light.

Somehow, through all the trial and error, we stumbled onto something we loved.

What began as a workaround slowly became one of my favourite parts of the process. To this day, I still shoot all our product imagery — not just for consistency, but because it brings me a quiet kind of joy. It keeps our voice close, and our hands in every frame.

SETBACKS TURNED STAPLES

Hello there, Rubin

When COVID hit, we were riding a quiet wave — steady streams of customers, curious travellers, gentle momentum. Then the world paused. Our doors closed, and like many, we were reminded of something sobering: never place all your faith in one place.

With retail on hold, we returned to the sketchbook. What could we make that felt relevant in stillness?

That’s when the idea for our phone sling came to life. We imagined something feather-light for days when you didn’t want to carry much, yet elevated enough to complete an outfit with ease.

Our first edition was a hit. And with each refinement, Rubin found its form. Today, it remains one of our best-selling designs — a true staple born from uncertainty, and proof that thoughtful design always finds its place.

A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME

A New Chapter Begins

2025 has been a season of change. We took a little pause to settle into our new BTO as not-so-newlyweds (Singaporeans, you know the feeling 😌) — and finally, we have a little nest to call our own.

With so many transitions unfolding, and our studio lease coming to a close, the timing felt right for a reset. As we explored new spaces, we focused on refining what mattered — more light, better flow, but still within reach, so we can continue keeping our pieces thoughtfully priced.

After months of searching, we signed the lease. And next week, we move.

It’s bittersweet saying goodbye to the space that’s held us for seven years — our little pocket of chaos and craft. But change, as always, carries promise.

Here’s to quiet growth and new beginnings. ✨