My Perfect Weekend with fashion designer Hayden Ng

Who: Hayden Ng, 59, is a Singapore-based fashion designer and the founder of fashion label Hayden, which has a boutique at Soho2 @ Central in Eu Tong Sen Street.

He is also the president of the Asean Fashion Designers Showcase (AFDS), a non-profit platform which promotes regional fashion talent. It runs Asean International Fashion Week, currently in its second year.

From July 23 to 28, designers from South-east Asia, who are AFDS members, will be taking part in the JF3 Fashion Festival, an annual event in Jakarta. The festival serves as a platform for regional and international fashion collaborations, presenting 50 local and international streetwear brands.

“A perfect weekend for me is one filled with great food, charming cafes and quality time with good friends, like the one I had recently in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. I was there in November 2024 to attend Silk Road International Fashion Week. In a city like Chengdu, where tradition meets modernity so seamlessly, it is easy to craft an experience that feels both exciting and relaxing.

My ideal Saturday in Chengdu starts with me heading out to a tea house, where the scent of jasmine and pu’er fills the air. 

There’s something calming about watching the tea leaves unfurl in a delicate glass cup while the city hums awake. The locals play mahjong at nearby tables, their laughter mixing with the rhythmic clatter of tiles. I think of it as a true Chengdu moment. 

Of course, no weekend in Chengdu is complete without indulging in its incredible food. Lunch would be a feast of classic Sichuan flavours – a bowl of dandan noodles or the legendary mapo tofu. I love how the flavours in Chengdu are bold yet comforting, always leaving you craving more. 

The afternoon calls for a stroll through Kuan Zhai Alley – a historic area dating back to the Qing Dynasty – or maybe a visit to the hidden corners of the city, where traditional courtyards meet contemporary art spaces. Chengdu blends history with modern creativity, making even a simple walk feel like a cultural immersion. 

By evening, I would gather with friends at a cosy, atmospheric restaurant. We might order a spread of local delicacies – some crispy, spicy Sichuan-style grilled fish or hotpot.

If we are not quite ready to call it a night, there’s only one place to go – Wen Liang, one of the most famous dessert shops in Chengdu.

Whether it’s a refreshing bowl of bing fen – a Sichuan-style jelly dessert, topped with osmanthus syrup – or a coconut flower dessert, every spoonful feels like the perfect ending to the night. 

Sitting by the roadside, enjoying a beautifully plated dessert while chatting with friends, is the kind of simple pleasure that makes a weekend truly special. 

Sundays would be all about slow moments. Another leisurely breakfast, a quiet afternoon at a riverside tea house and maybe a short escape to nature, like the bamboo forests on the outskirts of the city. 

No rush, no schedules, just the pleasure of being present in the moment. That, to me, is a perfect weekend in Chengdu.”