Swimmer Toh Wei Soong makes his debut in the fashion world as he looks beyond the pool

SINGAPORE – For more than a decade, Toh Wei Soong has shone in the swimming pool, flying the Singapore flag at two Paralympics, winning gold medals at both the Asian and Asean Para Games, and breaking some records too.

Now, the 26-year-old has set his sights on excelling in a new world – the fashion industry.

On Dec 12, Toh marked his debut as a creative director at Toyota’s Start Your Impossible hero project fashion show held at the Toyota Boutique at Leng Kee Road.

The showcase featured a collection created in collaboration with Claudia Poh, founder of adaptive fashion label Werable.

In a media statement, Toyota Singapore said the collection “challenges conventional notions of adaptive design by blending functionality with elegance, while incorporating a historical theme of transformation”.

The collection featured 16 different looks, with Toh’s fellow para-athletes such as equestrienne Gemma Foo and long jumper Suhairi Suhani among the models.

As part of the project’s commitment to giving back, Toh’s debut collection will be auctioned after the show, with all proceeds going to disability charity SPD.

Toh, who said he finds “a lot of joy” in fashion, added: “I’ve had a supreme time putting this collection together, working with such good friends and capable people.

“It’s an experience that has put me out of my comfort zone at times. It has made me feel vulnerable... and I’m so grateful for having tremendous people who have patience and experience to guide me through it.

“Fashion is a recent dream for me. It is something I have cherished for only two years, and in that time, I have found something that I really enjoy.

“I feel that fashion is a field that requires so many skills, such as directing, editing, writing, curating and putting your vision out there in the physical world.”

Toh added that he is in the midst of setting up his own brand with a focus on outerwear.

A competitive swimmer since 2013, Toh’s pursuits in the pool have yielded several highs in his career.

He was first exposed to swimming at the age of six, as a form of therapy, after being diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a condition caused by inflammation of the spinal cord.

For most of his swimming career, he had juggled the rigours of training with his academic pursuits but having graduated in July from the National University of Singapore, where he studied philosophy, politics and economics, Toh is now keen to explore his passion.

After competing at two Paralympics – in Tokyo in 2021 and in Paris in September – it looks uncertain if he will be at a third edition in 2028.

The recent Games was a tough one for Toh after he finished last out of eight swimmers in the 50m S7 butterfly and freestyle finals.

He admitted then, that the campaign was “not exactly the best performances I wanted, but a great experience”.

He will return to training next week and will compete in the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore from Sept 21 to 27.

But beyond that, a philosophical Toh remains non-committal.

He said: “I have to think about what to do with my life. Life is long, but life is also very short. As I get older, the world around me changes and I begin to be more aware of my time and how I use it. So I will have to continue to think about it (whether I will compete in 2028) and tonight has given me a lot to think about.

“I’m at a time of my life where I don’t want to try and predict the future... I’m very grateful to be able to enjoy the murkiness.”