A Singaporean tourist has caused a stir in Australia after a TikTok video about his obsession with high-visibility work uniforms emerged.
In fact, the man, Yap Heng Soon, was so enamoured with the neon-orange and black top he bought in Australia that he wore it everywhere - on the trip itself, on the flight back, and on dates in Singapore as well.
The video, which was posted by his fiancée, Renae Cheng to TikTok on June 30, has been viewed more than one million times on the platform and garnered 123,100 likes as of Jul 11.
Talk about a fashion statement.
So why are they called tradie uniforms?
The work uniforms adored by Yap are typically worn by tradesmen in Australia (known colloquially as 'tradies') to keep them safe on the job.
As such, these neon yellow or orange-hued work uniforms have become an iconic work attire for many plumbers, construction workers, carpenters or electricians Down Under.
Love at first sight
However, when Yap first laid his eyes on the tradie uniform at a K-Mart store during a maiden trip to Australia in 2022, something about the aesthetic just clicked with him.
It was love at first sight.
He also had no qualms about flaunting wearing it everywhere.
Yap started wearing it during the trip itself, despite the short-sleeved shirt not offering much protection against the winter weather.
Here's a picture of him braving the cold in the tradie uniform.
On the flight back, Yap's fashion choice was noticed by an actual tradie staff at the airport, who gave him a compliment.
Cheng said that Yap giggled shyly in response, but was secretly elated to hear it.
Yap didn't stop there.
He would wear the tradie uniform when going to Cheng's office to pick her up after work.
And when they went out for a dim sum meal together, the orange shirt would once again make its appearance.
Bought a second shirt
When the pair returned to Australia in 2023, you could almost guess what was on Yap's mind.
"He was surrounded by his faves," Cheng wrote, captioning a picture of Yap in a dedicated tradie uniform store.
He also bought another fluorescent yellow top to add to his collection.
Beige flag?
Cheng jokingly wrote that her fiancé's love for the tradie uniform was his "beige flag".
These refer to weird habits you might notice in a potential romantic partner, which may not be serious enough for concern, but are just strange enough to make you pause for a moment.
But while his fashion choice could certainly raise some eyebrows, Cheng seemed to find it funny yet endearing.
"Get [yourself] a man who will love you the way my fiancé loves tradie uniforms," she concluded.
'Protect that man at all costs'
Cheng's video has attracted numerous comments from TikTok users, many of whom are Australians surprised by Yap's love for their country's unofficial workmen attire.
Other users suggested ways for Yap to complete the tradie look.
One particular user pointed out that Yap looked like a hard worker who should be given a pack of "durrys" (slang for cigarettes) and a blue V (a local energy drink).
And while some users agreed that Yap's love of the uniform was a "beige flag", they certainly found it endearing too.
All images from renaecjc on Instagram.