SINGAPORE – The Singapore Fashion Week (SFW) will return this year with some new collaborations and initiatives.

Slated to run from Oct 26 to 30, the 2016 edition will now including Digital Fashion Week (DFW) and feature a new event partner in the form of National Gallery Singapore.

The SFW will also introduce Singapore Fashion Week Access (SFWA), an initiative created to support the Singapore fashion industry by providing more accessible opportunities for designers and businesses to exhibit their collections, in the form of smaller scale, flexible-format fashion presentations.

New endeavours, such as a six-month calendar of events and a Patrons Programme, will also be rolled out “to increase interaction and engagement amongst designers, media, fashion industry experts and consumers”, the organisers said in a statement.

“We are excited to welcome onboard DFW and our new event partner, National Gallery

Singapore. Going digital will allow us to reach audiences far beyond the fashion week’s physical space. With DFW serving as a digital platform, we are able to exhibit the work of designers to a wider international audience, providing these designers with global exposure,” said Tjin Lee, chairman of SFW.

She added: “National Gallery Singapore is also the ideal location to launch SFWA – an initiative showcasing the creations of designers in more contemporary and experimental manners.”

Kola Luu, director (Business & Corporate Strategic Development Group) at the National Gallery Singapore said the gallery “will lend an aura of grandeur and provide an exciting backdrop for the shows, creating an immersive experience for all”. “During SFW, we will create special experiences for attendees of the shows to enjoy our expansive collection of Southeast Asian modern art and the special exhibition. Artist And Empire.”

Charina Widjaja, founder of DFW, said they were thrilled to “join forces” with SFW to foster growth in the Asian fashion industry. “With DFW’s focus on online campaigns and experimental technology, we believe that we will be able to help take SFW content online and expose designers to new audiences both in the region and beyond.”

This year’s SFW will also see a selection of events leading up to the fashion week in October. These include various fashion and industry-related events such as the LASALLE Graduate Fashion Show 2016 on May 5 (in collaboration with leading local retailer, TANGS); the NARS Beauty Breakfast on May 8, which will feature Jaime Lee, founder and designer of homegrown paper goods company, The Paper Bunny; as well as Charmaine Seah-Ong and Aarika Lee, co-founder and marketing director of Elementary, respectively; on a panel discussion. Rachel Lim, co-founder of Love Bonito, will moderate the session.

There SFW will also launch #SGFWSocial, a collective of influencers from the SFW Ambassadors and DFW Insiders programmes. Skincare brand SK-II will collaborate with three #SGFWSocial influencers –

Yoyo Cao, international style icon and designer of local label, exhibit, Arissa Cheo, IT girl and fashion entrepreneur and Jaime Lee, founder of The Paper Bunny – to create limited edition premiums in celebration of SFW which will be available from May 2.

The Patrons Programme, which will launch in June, will allow members of the public who are passionate about fashion and keen on supporting the local fashion industry to actively engage with SFW while being involved in the community. Patrons will enjoy exclusive privileges including VIP access at SFW, designer dinners and private shopping events. There are currently three different membership tiers: Pret-a-porter (S$1,000), Prive Circle (S$2,500) and the by-invitation-only Couture Club (S$10,000).

“With new means of experiencing fashion and a digital arm to amplify these creations, we continue to establish SFW as a world-class international platform showcasing both the best of Asia and the world,” said Lee.