Hipsters may get a lot of flak, but you have to admire their anthem of authenticity, especially when done without self-gratification. This is why Lu Yawen co-founded The Local People in 2014, which organised pop-up flea markets for up-and‑coming creatives to sell their craft. “I’d like to change the mindset that Singaporeans aren’t creative people, and help push back the pragmatism we’ve all been brainwashed with,” she declared. Since she departed from the start-up, she has been doing freelance writing for several publications and companies, including Goodstuph and Foreign Policy Design Group, and is also a volunteer with The Social Co Singapore, assisting in multi-industry research on issues regarding senior living in Singapore.