Local landmarks on sarees

SINGAPORE — Women swathed in yards of fabric are a common sight, especially on Deepavali. But first-time fashion designer Subashini Balakrishnan wanted to give the six yards of fabric that are a standard for sarees more mileage.

Using them as canvases, the 31-year-old pays tribute to Singapore landmarks, such as the ubiquitous HDB block, the iconic Marina Bay waterfront skyline and the MRT network, in her 10-piece collection of digitally-printed sarees, aptly called The Singapore Saree — Heritage Collection.

Balakrishnan herself owns more than 200 sarees and has been wearing them since she was 16, but decided to change the perception that the garments are more than just ethnic wear.

A newcomer to the fashion scene, she studied computer science in university and tried her hand at several marketing and communications jobs before deciding to take the plunge and give her dream a shot.

One year and multiple prototypes later, her sarees are now being sold at S$300 apiece at Mythology at Club Street. As only 10 pieces of each design are printed, almost half of this limited-edition collection was sold via a recent initiative by Keepers: Singapore Designer Collective.

Using softer textiles that drape around the body easily, such as Italian crepe, satin and georgette, the sarees are modern, chic and, clearly, conversation starters.

For example, the saree called Home has an orange, black and white checkerboard pattern inspired by HDB flats. Look closer and you will spot tiny silhouettes of people in windows — couples, children and even a birdcage or two.

With no saree designer predecessors in Singapore, Balakrishnan “felt the clear way to stand out would be to pay tribute to my country. That’s why my first collection is about Singapore”.

Unlike most off-the-rack garments available in Little India, she never intended for her collection to be festive.

Instead, taking cues from the likes of designers at the New York and Paris fashion weeks, she went for “seasonal colours”.

Her sarees remain versatile. “My collection is not festive at all, but even if you wear it to a cocktail night or Deepavali get-together, you’ll still fit right in,” she said.

Ultimately, it was important for her to be sure that there was a connection between the wearer and garment. She added: “If you want a saree and the design to make sense to you, and something that you can talk about, and (which) stands out from all the other sarees, then this is the saree for you.”