What to Expect
What’s in a name? For baby name consultant Sam Fu — or Sam Laoshi — a name is far more than just a way to address someone. It is a carefully considered gift from parent to child, filled with meaning, identity, and hope for the future. With over 20 years of experience and having helped name more than 1,000 babies each year, Sam brings deep insight into the art and cultural significance of Chinese baby naming.
In the first part of the session, participants will be introduced to Sam’s process and philosophy. He will share how he works closely with parents to choose names that carry a nice meaning, are easy to write and recognise, and sound pleasing. The timing of the baby’s birth — down to the exact date and time — plays a vital role in the name selection, as does the family’s genealogy. Sam also considers whether the name aligns with the blessings that parents wish to bestow upon their child. While some families make quick decisions, others may take up to two years to settle on the right name. Sam emphasises that a name should support a child’s identity and how they introduce themselves to the world, but he also reminds us that it is not a guarantee of future success — rather, it lays a meaningful foundation for life.
Sam will also touch on common questions, such as how to name girls versus boys, and how he supports non-Chinese parents who wish to give their child a Chinese name. Importantly, he advises against changing the names given by parents, as those names often carry deep personal and cultural significance. Parents typically consult Sam right after thit child is born till about 14 days after birth when they have to apply for their child's birth certificate, making this a critical moment in the child’s early journey.
The second half of the session features a live demonstration of the making of a Tai Mao Bi, or baby hair brush — a traditional keepsake made using a baby’s first haircut. Participants will learn how the hair, typically cut during the baby’s first or second month, is cleaned, sorted, and dried. Longer hairs are placed in the centre of the brush, while shorter ones are arranged around the edges. The completed brush is then engraved with the child’s name, birthday, and other personal details. The process takes about a month and results in a treasured item that reflects a parent’s love and a wish for the child’s bright future.
Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or simply interested in cultural craftsmanship, this session offers a rare opportunity to witness the intersection of tradition, artistry, and identity at the very start of life.
About Meet My Craftsman
From the soothing touch of a traditional Javanese masseuse helping a new mother regain her strength, to the gentle folds of a child’s first saree, or the lovingly hand-stitched chouchou, our constant companion from childhood—our first journeys through life are often accompanied by the care and craftsmanship of those who make these moments tangible.
Meet My Craftsman is a celebration of the crafts, rites, and rituals that mark the beginning of life. On the theme of My First Journeys, this programme explores the many ways communities across Singapore commemorate milestones such as the birth of a child, the first month, first year, or first rite of passage. These early steps are steeped in meaning—often marked with traditional foods, handmade tokens, and symbolic objects that express hope, protection, and joy.
From practical postpartum traditions like Javanese massage and herbal care, to edible celebrations like Ang Ku Kueh (red tortoise cake given during a baby’s first month) and Yi Bua (a steamed coconut glutinous rice dumpling from the Hainanese community), each object or treat carries with it a deeper cultural resonance. Clothing, too, becomes a marker of growth and identity—like the physical and symbolic meaning of sarees in the Indian community, handmade and passed down through generations.
Many of these traditional ways of welcoming and celebrating new life are fading in today’s fast-paced world. Through demonstrations, conversations, and hands-on experiences, Meet My Craftsman shines a spotlight on the artisans and practitioners who keep these customs alive. Join us as we meet the craftspeople who have helped generations begin their life journeys with care, meaning, and beauty. Slow down be reminded of the objects, gestures, and traditions that make our earliest memories so deeply treasured.
About the Organisation
Established in 2003 by Mr. Sam Fu, Huaxia Taimaobi Centre is Singapore’s only dedicated manufacturer of baby hair calligraphy brushes, also known as taimaobi. Over the past two decades, the centre has crafted more than 120,000 brushes for over 100,000 newborns, serving both local and expatriate families.
Each brush is handcrafted by experienced artisans using the baby’s first haircut, with great care and attention to detail. The company’s workshop and headquarters are located at Braddell Tech where new parents may select and order taimaobi or umbilical cord keepsakes.
Huaxia Taimaobi Centre also offers home services for local customers and has a full online ordering system for overseas families. Beyond its craftsmanship, the taimaobi represents a meaningful keepsake — a lasting symbol of a parent’s love and blessings at the beginning of a child’s journey through life.
Meet your Host
Hailing from Anhui, China, Sam Fu moved to Singapore in 1997, bringing with him a strong work ethic and a desire to build a meaningful life. He first worked in the construction industry, contributing to major national projects , and specialising in landed house design and build turn key projects for clients.Even as he played a part in shaping the city’s skyline, Sam felt a deeper calling — one that aligned with his values of care, protection, and creating something that could directly benefit people.
In 2003, Sam founded Huaxia Taimaobi Centre, the only dedicated baby hair brush (taimaobi) maker in Singapore then. What began as a personal journey transformed into a lifelong mission: to offer families a meaningful way to commemorate a child’s first milestones. For Sam, this work isn’t just about craftsmanship — it’s about helping parents mark the beginning of their child’s life with intention, identity, and love.
Guided by his belief in giving parents more choices and honouring tradition in a modern context, Sam has since helped over 100,000 families preserve their child’s first hair as a lifelong keepsake. With every name consultation and handcrafted brush, he continues to do what he set out to do — protect, support, and honour the early journeys of life.
Who should come?
- Everyone is welcome to participate! Participants 12 years and under must be accompanied and supervised by a parent/guardian at all times.
Programme Details
- Approximate Duration: 2 hours (Please arrive 15 minutes before the tour for registration)
- Language: English
- Meeting Point: Meet at Lobby of Block 13 Braddell Tech (13 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319261)
- Ending Point: The event will start and end at the same point.
- The events will proceed rain or shine.
What to bring?
- Participants should dress comfortably and come in covered shoes.
- Participants should bring along an umbrella and a bottle of water.
- Please ensure that you bring along any personal medication. Asthmatic individuals are reminded to bring their inhaler.
Other important information
- Parking is available at Braddell Tech.
- The venue is not wheelchair friendly.
- Photography is allowed during the event.
Disclaimer
- All ticket sales are final. There will be no refund if you wish to cancel your tickets.
- Each ticket admits only one participant.
- By agreeing to participate in the tour, every participant will be responsible for any injury, loss of damage due to careIessness of other actions on his/her part or that of children under his/her charge.
- Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host. Facilitators will brief participants at the start of the programme.
- Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.
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