Biro, named after the ballpoint pen, defies the odds in a market where upmarket local menswear brands are few and far between. Defined by quality, timeless wardrobe essentials and Japanese craftsmanship, it has earned an ardent fan base of regulars. The creative forces driving the label are brothers Keng How and Kage Chong. The former, the elder of the two, speaks to Tatler Singapore for this story.
In 2007, the brothers launched e‑commerce store Massiveoutfit, initially selling brands imported from the US. Sometime in 2010, they began thinking about creating their own streetwear label, but changed course after a year of planning and sample development. “We grew tired of what we created and with the streetwear idea. We decided to [pivot] to something that was more sophisticated, like a good menswear brand,” Chong
