SHE is a tree-hugger and proud of it, showing off her cause in quirky products all made from recycled materials.
Plastic bottles turn into unusual lampshades (above, left) and rice sacks morph into wallets and sling-bags (above, right) in the hands of Didier Ng, who turns them into beautiful artwork.
'I feel that it's a waste to dispose materials and I must extend their lifespan,' said Didier.
An environmental advocate since she was six, Didier would 'switch off the lights when they are not in use and keep items that can be recycled'. 'Turning materials into attractive items just came naturally after that,' she added.
Likening herself to a karang guni or rag and bone man, Didier's mainstay is as a teacher. She gives lessons in design in schools and community centres, on top of selling her wares at Didier.itgo.com.
This Temasek Polytechnic graduate in product industrial design had previously tried her hand at designing wares for furniture and electronic firms but found the jobs dull.
'I didn't get to explore my own ideas and come up with innovative designs,' she said.
Didier then began creating her own green items, selling them on the site a year ago.
With no previous experience in Web design, she looked to the Internet to bone up essentials like Web interfaces and scripts, creating the site from scratch.
Her initial idea was not so much to make sales as to flaunt her creativity. But she now looks at the venture as a serious business.
'One good thing about my business is that I don't have to spend lots of money on production costs, since I am using existing items to make new products,' she said.
Didier has not spent more than $100 to-date on her e-venture.
Although that still represents a net loss, she is happy with the trade-off - 'gaining experience and self satisfaction' .
Snapshot profile
Owner: Didier Ng
Web presence: www.Didier.itgo.com.
Day job: Gives lessons in design in schools and community centres
The site has been running for: One year
What is it: Website retailing unique products that are crafted from materials ranging from plastic bottles to rice sacks.
Show me the money: Losing money
Why you should support: Support the green movement! Not only do Didier's products look quirky and unique, you can also do your part in saving the Earth.
