Instagram can be a funny ole place. It can be exciting and inspiring but also a large hole can swallow you up! But when the stars align and you meet some kick ass women that are so into thrifting and personal kick ass style as you, that’s when instagram is a saint. I’ve had the pleasure of virtually meeting Norbyah aka ImaNorbyah. When I was visiting friends in Hong Kong she gave me loads of tips; places to eat, drinks, thrifting, shopping, etc. It was so great!
I soon realised she had style, her own personal style, which I love seeing in her daily instagram posts and IGTV videos. I’m drawn to her bold style and openness to meet and collaborate with other like-minded women. This is exactly what I’m all about too. I’m sure if we were in the same hood we’d be fashion and drinking buddies.
Norbyah took some time out to chat with me about her background, her love for fashion and thrifting and some of her style inspirations.
You can find Norbyah here: ImaNorbyah
Read on!
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
My name is Norbyah. I am a high school teacher and fashion blogger, mother of three and child of teachers as well. I grew up in Malaysia and attended an international school and attended university in America where I met my husband. My parents are Malaysian-Chinese and Australian.I have been lucky both as a child and as an adult to see many different parts of the world on my travels and those experiences have provided me with the perspective on life I have now. I know that I will always want to experience new things and share these things with my children as a way to expand their horizons, too.
HAS FASHION ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHEN DID YOUR LOVE FOR FASHION START?
I remember as a teenager loving to pour through Seventeen Magazine and YM (too shy to read Cosmo with all of their questions about sex, ha!) As an adult I started reading In Style a lot. Everytime we travelled to visit our family in Australia, I was keenly aware of the different styles people wore and loved experimenting with expressing myself through my clothes. I knew even as a self-conscious teenager that I didn’t want to look like everyone else, but I didn’t have the confidence then to really live that out. Now as an adult, I really feel free to dress how I like, free from other people’s judgments and I have lots of fun being myself.
WHAT STARTED YOUR LOVE FOR VINTAGE AND SECONDHAND CLOTHING?
To be honest, I grew up in hand-me-downs. My parents are teachers, it was a lifestyle necessity. But, I also grew up around markets where you could get knock off clothes which allowed me to dabble in styles that I never would have been able to afford. My go to store as a teen was called “The Reject Shop” because there you could find surplus clothing from big brands with the labels all cut out. I still shop in these kinds of shops today. On my trips to Australia, I would go into Op Shops (Thrift Shops) amazed by how cheap clothes were, yet how good the quality was. Then in university, I found resale shops where I could sell off things I wasn’t wearing anymore and find new-to-me items to replace them. I LOVED IT.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?
Haha, so my hubby would describe my style as ‘shopping cart lady’. You know, the woman who has a fur coat, a turban and some big sunglasses, a million bags and layers print like no one’s business. I love that vibe. I’d say eclectic, vintage-inspired, unexpected.
WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO YOU?
Sustainability is a way of life for me. Every decision I make (about what I buy at the grocery store, how I clean my house or wash my hair, and definitely what I wear) comes from a place of caring for our environment and striving to make my footprint on this planet a less damaging one. A kinder, more nurturing and greener one. We(as a family) live as sustainably as we can and are always looking for ways to be better, to teach our own children and the students we interact with greater awareness for protecting the natural world.
FOR SOMEONE THAT IS TRYING TO BECOME A MORE CONSCIOUS BUYER, WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE FOR THEM?
Start small. Don’t try to change everything at once, but just baby steps. Try to replace one product for a more sustainable one and go from there. A big part of being sustainable is cutting down on over consumption, so even just buying less and choosing better makes a huge difference. If you’re going clothes shopping, do a quick browse in your wardrobe to see what you already have before you go to refresh your memory. The easiest thing to do is always carry your own shopping bag. That itself is a huge change.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT OUTFIT
Definitely something vintage. I really think you can’t go wrong with a blazer and a tee, with either a fabulous vintage skirt or high-waisted jeans or pants. A gorgeous vintage dress looks good with a blazer and a hat. Definitely a lot of print.
WHAT CAN YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
I know it sounds cheesy to say, but it’s true...my family. I mean, things are just things, but family...they’re why I get up everyday.
WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGNERS?
Definitely Gucci. Though I don’t own any, I love the styling of Gucci. Alexander McQueen also, for the element of the unexpected in all the designs. And for a classic look, I love Isabel Marant. For sustainable brands, I love The R Collective and what they do as part of Redress HK.
WHERE DO YOU SHOP? ONLINE AND IN HONG KONG.
I browse Etsy a lot. Mostly shops of people I follow on Instagram. Small Needs/RetroRhapsody, MAHPS Vintage, Girl Gone Retro, Vic and Lily...these are some of my faves. Thrifting in Hong Kong is limited, but we do have some options. Me and Gee is a place where you can find secondhand and deadstock Japanese and Korean clothing (vintage). Green Ladies is a second hand shop, we do have some Salvation Army Family Stores (not all are equal so I don’t shop here much), and Hula which does luxury secondhand. I hit up my local Stanley Market Sun and Moon shop (very similar to a “Reject Shop”).
WHAT INSPIRES YOUR STYLE? BLOGGERS, MAGAZINES, REAL LIFE, LIVING IN HONG KONG.
Real people, real life and street style. I loved following bloggers and their style before blogging became huge and sponsored by huge brands. I loved street style when it was real people just kicking ass in their thrifted finds mixed with mainstream fashion. I am still inspired by bloggers and Instagram influencers, but I always look for genuine voice (I guess that’s the English teacher in me). I look for their values to match what they wear and support. I used to really love In Style magazine and now when I have a moment I occasionally pick up Vogue, but mostly I love watching what’s around me. People watching in new places is the best (pre-Covid 19, of course).
IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ANYONE WHO WOULD THIS BE? WHY?
I’ve been able to collaborate with so many fabulous people and brands that I feel very lucky to be able to share a creative space with them. If I did do a fun collab, though, I’d definitely say Beth Jones of @bjonesstyle. She’s such a source of inspiration for so many and has created a fabulous Always Play Dress Up community. I think it would be fun to do something more with her.
