Edwin Goh Not Worried That Starting A Crochet Line With Girlfriend Rachel Wan Would Create Tension In Their Relationship; Says: "It’s Always Us Against The Problem"

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Now that was fast. Back in March, 8days.sg spoke to Mediacorp actor Edwin Goh about his passion for crocheting and how it was sparked after he made a scarf for a friend late last year.

By then, he was already going to teach introductory crochet classes and he also told us his plans to start an online store to sell his hand-made hats. 

Big dreams for a fast learner.

Yesterday (May 7), the 28-year-old actor took to his Instagram to announce the launch of Unravel&, a crochet line he co-founded with his actress-girlfriend Rachel Wan, 26.

"We noticed that crocheted items in the market are often mass-produced & priced too low, which is a cause for concern. It’s a clear sign that someone along the production line is being underpaid because crochet is a labour-intensive craft and can only be made by hand," said Edwin when 8days.sg reached out to him.

"On the flip side, luxury brands are pricing simple crochet designs way too high. We believe that there's a middle ground between these two extremes, and that's where we come in."

Edwin and Rachel hope that Unravel& will become "a platform to connect other talented crocheters who have the skills but lack the reach" by placing "their designs on [the] platform to reach a wider audience."

How did the idea of starting a business together come about?

According to Edwin, "it came from an idea of just making hats and doing it [himself]."

"Teaming up with Rachel just makes me stronger and we felt that we could do more together," said the actor, adding that they set up the website all by themselves. Rachel also put her photography skills to good use while they were at it. 

"All the photos you see are taken by her!" he effused.

At this point you might be thinking, isn't it risky to start a business with your girlfriend? What if there are conflicts?

Well, Edwin doesn't seem to have any worries about that.

"I believe that because of how well we know each other, we are able to resolve matters with each other’s best interest in mind. Whenever we encounter a problem or obstacle, it’s always us against the problem. Ultimately, it always seems like our thoughts are aligned," he said.

When looking at Edwin's creations, it's hard to believe he only started learning how to crochet last year.

So does Edwin feel any pressure about his lack of experience?

"It is true I’ve only been crocheting for half a year, but I'm self taught, and I've always been curious to learn. I also pick up crafts generally quickly."

Edwin, however, said he had "strong imposter syndrome" when he was first approached with the idea of teaching.

"That can be overwhelming especially when I have a full class looking to learn from me. But after seeing the progress of the students, it really assured me that I am able to teach and share the knowledge I collected," he said, adding that Rachel offering to help with his first class really grounded him as well.

Unravel& also received lots of support from Edwin's showbiz pals and a lot of the products are almost all sold out by now.

In fact, their first customer was Edwin's My Star Bride pal Chantalle Ng.

"The moment we launched, Chantalle made a purchase in less than a minute. I immediately told her how thankful I was. She really the best (sic)," recalled Edwin.

Apart from Chantalle, the couple's Strike Gold co-star He Yingying and Edwin's When Duty Calls 2 "bro" Benjamin Tan also made their purchases from Unravel&.

"I am awfully touched by their support! I was at a lost for words because I did not tell them when we are going to launch Unravel&," he enthused. 

Photos: Edwin Goh/Instagram, Rachel Wan/Instagram, Unravel&/Instagram

Catch Edwin and Rachel in Strike Gold on meWATCH below