Contrary to popular belief, the brand -J-A-S-O-N- is not named in particular reference to anyone. It is actually the acronym for the months of July, August, September, October, November. -J-A-S-O-N- could also be known as the idiosyncratic boy who resides in the brilliant mind mind of his designer, JR Chan. This stylish boy is possibly “romantic, poetic, sensitive, unconventional and bold, all at once”.
JR won the “Singapore Young Designer of the Singapore Fashion Festival” in 2007, and since then, she has never failed to deliver classy yet edgy apparel for men. In fact, items from her line have been donned by local celebrity, Lin Jun Jie. It is no wonder she is selected as one of the six local designers who will be rocking the runway for Digital Fashion Week 2012.
We were privileged to meet JR Chan in person at the 20byTWO fashion event held at the Red Dot Design Museum. What first struck me about her was her infectious personality and laugh. Alas, behind that smile, is someone who has the keen eye for spotting trends.
Andrej Pejic mentioned in his interview with NY Mag, that the most (over)used word in fashion is “Juxtaposition”. I would like to add, that perhaps the new buzzword is “Androgyny”. -J-A-S-O-N- is an epitome of this, as evinced by bold pieces that are well-suited for the cosmopolitan Singaporean man.
When asked about the fashion scene in Asia, she feels all eyes are on the budding fashion designers here who are like unpolished diamonds. Yes, we are all familiar with menswear labels such as Thom Browne and Paul Smith to name a few. With talents such as JR Chan, it seems that the time is right for fashionistas around the world to explore and venture into new territory to check out the exciting menswear Asia has to offer. Having contacts is especially important in the fashion industry industry since having a skilled draftsman is extremely hard to find. Without letting us in on her trade secret, JR explains that the current draftsman she utilizes, who is also employed by many local fashion houses, is no longer young and might be looking to retire soon.
JR’s design aesthetic is focused on the balance of body proportions and colour choices. With a minimalistic final in mind, JR tends to simplify as much as possible whilst at the same time “varying the placements of the details to achieve a playful yet balanced” ensemble. Her greatest inspiration, is people. Right down to the subtle hues of life, such as the weather, mood, technology – these all play a part in an individual’s every day lifestyle. In turn, this would impact how one chooses to dress. Indeed, “Fashion is about lifestyle”.
-J-A-S-O-N- is currently stocked at Threesixfive at Parco Millenia Walk Unit p2-23, Black Market No.2, EGG3 at Cathay and 2 other stores in Hong Kong. For more information on stockists and updates, you can visit www.iamjason.com or facebook.com/iamjasonmenswear
