Celebrate local design with these stylish Singapore fashion labels

Helmed by designers Sven Tan and Kane Tan, the brand’s next collection will feature “a series of feather-lightweight voiles inspired by men’s formal pinstripe shirting” for pieces that exude a modern, understated feel. “Considering how small the local design scene is, we’re excelling in its diversity,” the pair says. “It’s great that young creatives are being braver and biting the bullet – finding their niche and creating unique business models.”

Contemporary womenswear designer Gin Lee’s minimalist leanings carry over to her democratic designs, where small details such as puckered cuffs and pleats remain her calling card. This season, her hero piece is the Aviv dress, where pleats have been strategically positioned to “respond around body curves”.

Designer Bessie Ye translates her love for a pared-down aesthetic into timeless silhouettes that “balance the design concept and functionality”. This season, look to Rye’s oatmeal-toned ribbed knit skirt and pinafore jumpsuit, which can be worn over and over again. “For me, it is about slowing down and looking inwards, rethinking the process on how to make the fashion cycle more sustainable,” Ye says on the local fashion scene.

Dysfunctional tailoring, mismatched seams and a focus on the details – that’s how designer Max Tan describes his avant garde clothing that’s distinguished by deconstructed cuts and unexpected shapes. From his upcoming collection, the asymmetrical Tshalvar pleated dress takes cultural cues from the traditional sari and how it gracefully drapes over one’s shoulders – a deliberate nod by Tan to include “hints of cultural references” in the collection.

Not one to turn out pretty frocks, Elohim by Sabrina Goh takes a more conceptual and architectural approach to fashion: think garments with voluminous sleeves and asymmetrical shapes. Look out for her next collection, which gets its inspiration from the texture of bark and comes in materials such as Japanese cotton, eco-friendly Tencel and natural fibres with lots of texture. Goh pegs Jon Max Goh as an up-and-coming Singaporean designer to keep an eye out for, highlighting the “clean lines of his designs” as something she is particularly drawn to.

Known for their interpretative, arty prints – from crayon sketches to poppy flowers and paint strokes – Our Second Nature’s garments exude a quiet elegance and sophistication. According to lead creative Lauren Tan, the label’s upcoming collection will see them working with prints on cotton for the first time. “Moving forward, we hope to use more cottons and natural fibres in a bid to become more environmentally conscious,” she reveals.

Helmed by Nelson Yap, this homegrown menswear label has earned a loyal following by offering more than just your standard cookie-cutter suits. Instead, its dress shirts – which are made using Japanese cutting techniques and are tailored for the Asian fit – feature dapper design touches like indigo washes, sleek stripes, camouflage Hawaiian prints and more. Jazz up your outfit with the brand’s range of accessories, which include bowties, pocket squares and suspenders.

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This article was originally published in the August 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine.