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I graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts with a Communication Design degree in 2010. As a student, I envisioned myself entering the creative or media industry.  I found myself in marketing instead, and after some years landed a senior role in an international company. Despite the attractive compensation, nothing quite satisfied the itch to create.   Along the way, I began investing in startups. In 2016, I invested in a now defunct automotive company called Fox Motorworks.  That was where I first encountered vinyl wrapping, and the process intrigued me. I began playing around with scrap vinyl material, but not very seriously because it was a lot harder than it looked. Amid the pandemic in 2020, I left my job to set up a digital marketing firm. The founders of my current workplace, Vos Automotive, approached me then to join them as a marketer. It was a bold move for me, but the opportunity was a breath of fresh air. Shortly after, I closed my venture and joined Vos as a founding member. Like many businesses, we found it hard to hire skilled labour. This was my chance to start learning vinyl wrapping more seriously. At the end of 2020, I spoke to Vos’ owners about becoming a vinyl wrap installer. They gave me their blessing. I began by watching online videos and referencing those techniques against what other seasoned installers were teaching me.   I also joined online communities where professional installers share tips with one another. That same year, I started recording videos myself at work for my own review. A friend suggested uploading them onto TikTok. I didn’t think too much of it but did it anyway. Before long, they grew in popularity, garnering millions of views. This gave me the assurance to push myself further.  There were also many negative comments, which would affect my mental state adversely, but I tried to take them constructively as much as possible.  I enjoy seeing every car as a creative canvas. Initially, being able to even complete a job gave me an unparalleled sense of achievement.  After wrapping professionally for three years — and completing over a hundred projects — a finished design is still extremely satisfying to me.   Some of my more memorable designs include a graphic anime-styled wrap, a BMW 4 series wrapped in marble print and a Mercedes G-Wagon wrapped in faux leather vinyl.  A typical day involves planning and measuring the materials used, cleaning, designing and installing. The schedule can be demanding, especially during peak seasons.   Fortunately, I have a team to assist me. Many of my teammates are my teachers too.  New methods are always being discovered. Making progress means being willing to learn — never become the old dog that can’t learn new tricks.   Unfortunately, chauvinism is very real in the male-dominated automotive industry.   I have encountered many people who assume that women know little about cars.  I’ve found that I need to prove my worth in this industry, as some clients do not trust a woman to work on their vehicles.  Creative work is challenging work. While we strive for perfection, anything handmade is hardly perfect. Sadly, not everyone appreciates this and can be overly demanding.  Additionally, prejudice against blue-collared work exists in Singapore. I have experienced many white-collared professionals talking down to my team and I. In fact, some who acted like my close friends despised me for going into blue-collared work. There was much chatter about me when I entered this trade. This does not stop me from pursuing my passion. To me, every wrap is a work of art. Seeing a satisfied owner further assures me that my decision was worth it.  I’m thankful for my friends and family who truly supported me. Today, these are the same people who are telling their friends now they know me personally.  To those wanting to enter the trade, be prepared to work on your posture or end up getting endless backaches.   Be warned, too, that it is not a financially rewarding trade — the business is hardly scalable and anyone looking to make a quick buck should turn away. Passion is the only thing that will keep your fire going.   ABOUT THE WRITER:  Tsuri Xie, 34, is a Lasalle College of the Arts graduate who is now a vinyl installer,  automotive decorator and designer at Vos Automotive Styling. Her TikTok channel, @smolmammol, documents her journey where she crafts and creates.