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2014 in review: Fashion parades its homegrown pride

SINGAPORE — With the advent of technology and growing affluence in the Republic, Singaporeans are becoming more familiar with the fashion and beauty products they can obtain through the Internet and their travels. 2014 was a good year for homegrown fashion and beauty labels, not only in Singapore, but globally too.

SINGAPORE — With the advent of technology and growing affluence in the Republic, Singaporeans are becoming more familiar with the fashion and beauty products they can obtain through the Internet and their travels. 2014 was a good year for homegrown fashion and beauty labels, not only in Singapore, but globally too.

Even though Parco Marina Bay at Millenia Walk, which stocks up-and-coming local fashion designers’ apparel and accessories under the Parco Next Next umbrella, closed in February, KEEPERS, a quarterly showcase of artisans and designers, sprung up in the heart of town at Orchard Green (at the junction of Cairnhill and Orchard Road).

Initiated by Carolyn Kan, the lady behind accessories label Carrie K, KEEPERS started with the goal of bringing designers’ works under one roof. “It was designed to bring together independent designers, artists and artisans, with people who value quality and unique, original designs,” she said. “This was a solution to a frequent complaint that people could not find works by independent designers and artisans in Singapore. KEEPERS gives people the opportunity to talk to designers and artisans, who are usually scattered all over Singapore in out-of-the-way locations.”

Response towards KEEPERS “has been far beyond our expectations on all accounts”, with brands such as Dzojchen (who has dressed celebrities Jared Leto and Johnny Depp), In Good Company, Whole9Yards and hansel attracting attention from a healthy mix of locals and tourists. Even Zhang Ziyi popped by when she was in town recently and picked up a piece of Carrie K jewellery.

Globally, Singaporean label koonhor made waves as designers Koon Lim and Catrine The, who are now based in Milan, showcased their Spring Ready-To-Wear 2015 collection at New York Fashion Week, attracting the likes of Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), who branded the duo as “definitely the ones to watch”.

On the beauty front, homegrown labels were well-received, with Dr Georgia Lee’s skincare line, DrGL, as a notable example. Apart from being sold at places such as TANGS Orchard, Robinsons (at Orchard, Raffles City and JEM), escentials (at Paragon) and Sephora (at ION Orchard), the label has travelled to Hong Kong, where it was picked up by Harvey Nichols and SOGO at Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

Mandy T, which offers luxurious body-care products such as scrubs and creams with 100 per cent plant-based ingredients, was another highlight. Handmade in small batches, the packaging is gorgeous and the scents delightful. The offerings are stocked at eight locations around Singapore, including Front Row at Raffles Hotel Arcade and Kapok at National Design Centre.

Alli Sim, the creator of artisanal aromatherapy goods label Mmerci Encore, started that label because of her love for beauty. Available at Monday’s Off, Kapok and TANGS, Mmerci Encore offers organic sugar scrubs, essential oils, body serums and facial mists that delight the senses, with ingredients sourced from all over Australia and Europe.

“I have been handcrafting masks and scrubs since I was a child growing up in Australia … (and) I love learning about beauty and well-being rituals of different cultures,” Sim said. “It has been so incredible. We’ve really been championed by the community and are so humbled by this support. Very often, when people learn that our artisanal aromatherapy goods are made in Singapore (and by me), they give me really surprised smiles and want to stick around to learn more. “It’s a very positive sign.”

Continued Sim: “We’re so grateful to have been embraced by Singapore and love meeting the community. The best part is the spectrum of our clients — from 10-year-old Japanese girls to chic local 20-somethings who love to share the love on Instagram and 60-year-old guys who pick up products because the scent reminds them of a spa.” Zhang Weifang

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