As the global focus shifts towards the rising Asian market, so is the fashion scene following suit.
This year, Singapore Fashion Week (SGFW) is returning with an all-Asian designer line up which will bring the local fashion festival to a whole new dimension and flavour.
The highly-anticipated local fashion event of the year is set to happen from 26-30 October 2016 at the National Gallery of Singapore. Returning with Spring/Summer 2017 collections that are ready to be showcased in sync with the international fashion month, it will have high emphasis on Asian influences on fashion.
One of the highlights is the opening show by the Beijing-based Chinese haute couturier Guo Pei, the designer who received international acclamation after she dressed the pop star Rihanna in a stunning canary yellow gown for the 2015 Met Gala Ball.
International designers are also going to make their debut in Asia, including the New York-based Naeem Khan and London-based Malaysian-born Central Saint Martins graduate, Han Chong, who heads the label Self-Portrait.
Naeem Khan is known for rich embroideries and couture techniques, and most recent buzz was an iconic yellow dress worn by Michelle Obama while hosting Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, and his wife during their state visit to the White House in August 2016.
The designer Han Chong, who gained himself a strong following of social media stars and A-list celebrities with his signature use of lace, embroidery and sheer overlays, will showcase his Spring 2017 collection on his first ever runway appearance at SGFW 2016. It is anticipated to capture the hearts of the modern women who seek to look effortlessly feminine.
Gracing the grounds of the Supreme Court Terrace will include collections from label Ong Shunmugam and exhibit presented by Charles & Keith. The Singaporean socialite Arissa Cheo will also debut with her new local ready-to-wear and accessories label, ARISSA X.
What makes the festival more exciting this year is the Singapore Fashion Week Access (SGFWA), which will be held in the gallery’s Auditorium Foyer.
The participating designers include the local designers under the Fashion Futures 2.0, Danelle Woo of Aijek, Elyn Wong of Stolen and Max Tan of MAX.TAN. They will be putting up their first solo SGFW shows, hopefully bring up the momentum of Singapore as an emerging fashion city with talented home-grown designers in the spirit of “support local”.
Other brands showing at SGFWA for the first time are Singapore-based independent fashion brand Chi Chi Von Tang, new womenswear label Nude Femme, Abu Dhabi-born, Singapore-based ready-to-wear label Nida Shay, and shoe label MASHIZAN. Sheranut by Namcha Sheranut Yusananda will also excite us with the style from Bangkok.
Apart from showcases, other events taking place during the SGFWA also include The Art of Shoes Design Competition 2016, presented by the Textile and Fashion Federation Singapore, and the ALT X LASALLE Showcase, featuring the works of four LASALLE 2016 graduates.
To top it all off, the chairman of SGFW Ms Tjin Lee has also announced an interesting business procurement this year:
With our acquisition of Digital Fashion Week, we are empowered by the introduction of exciting new digital components to Singapore Fashion Week and the capacity to reach millions of viewers across Asia and the world.
Consumers can expect loads of content – from backstage and behind the scenes to front row, and even to watch the show from the perspective of their favorite celebrities or social media stars. This is the marriage of digital technology and fashion week in its genesis, and we are beyond excited to roll it out this year towards even greater Asian outreach in future editions.
With the media campaign for the fashion festival that has been lasting for months before the start of SGFW, it sure has the crowd hyped up for what the Asian and local designers could offer in the fashion industry.
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Cover Photo:Â L’officiel Singapore
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