Lack of fashion sense among teens has its benefits

TEENAGERS IN Macau have long been criticised for their lack of fashion sense.

But Rainy Tin, dressed in jeans and a denim jacket with a string of white pearls around her neck, stands out from the crowd.

The 17-year-old student was on her way to an ice-cream store where she works as a part-time waitress.

'If you want to wear brand name jeans, you have to make your own money,' Rainy said.

There's a socio-economic reason why teenagers in Macau cannot afford brand name products: the average income of their parents is lower than that of parents in other cities, such as Hong Kong.

Although casinos offer well-paid jobs, statistics reveal that only about 20,000 Macau residents (out of a population of 445,000) work at these venues.