It might have been home to pig farms in the 1970s, but Hougang has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

The last of those farms were shut down to free up land for HDB flats in the mid-1990s and the estate now has three suburban malls - Hougang Mall, Heartland Mall and Hougang Festival Market.

It now has 40,000 HDB flats interspersed with pockets of private residential areas.

Said Lee Chew Khong, 49, a businessman who lives in Hougang Street 12 and who has called Hougang home for more than 30 years: 'The place used to be filled with mud and there was always a lingering stench of pig in the air. Now, everything is spick and span and I love it that there are so many supermarkets and malls within walking distance.'

Indeed, Hougang has quite a few fashion and beauty gems.

Take three-year-old Ling Fashion for example. Tucked in a corner beside a coffee shop, this shop stocks quirky streetwear with style cred.

Stocks - from Hong Kong and South Korea - are replenished every week.

Hair salons are also a dime a dozen in this estate. For instance, Block 806 Hougang Central alone has three.

One of them, Hassan Barber & Trading, has been around for two years and its $10 haircuts have drawn a good number of executives asking for a crew cut or mohawk.

'Customers trust our skill and they just keep coming back for more,' says shop owner Zainal Ariffin, 57.

Foodies are not neglected either. From tenderloin beef steaks to chocolate fondue, there is something for everyone.

Such gems are the reason 34-year-old engineer Kindred Chua chose to set up home here early this year.

'It has everything that I am looking for in a housing estate - the greenery is well-maintained, amenities are aplenty and the old HDB buildings lend it charm in spades.'

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.