The New Faces In The Local Fashion Design Scene To Know
Meet the newest stars of the local fashion design scene. Keng Yang Shuen scours the class of 2017 across Singapore’s art schools for 10 names to watch.
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
#1: Courtney Lee, 21
Cotton and polyester jacket, lycra sports bra and matching bottom, Courtney Lee. Slides and socks, Lee’s own. Headband, stylist’s own
Inspired by the tragic “last girl standing”-type characters in classic ’70s and ’80s horror flicks, Lee has scattered this symbolism throughout her collection. That red hand-knit detail at the back of the quilted jacket? That represents disembowelment when Freddy Krueger catches up with you.
Cotton jacket and cotton twill shirt, Shi Le Doristina
#2: Yan Qianqian, 23
Nylon bomber jacket, jersey hoodie and nylon shorts, Yan Qianqian
Yan is interested in how people have a tendency to “cover their untold story, while showing the most presentable side to others”, which is why her collection builds on utility, with reversible bomber jackets, hidden pockets and detachable panels. These multifunctional threads make it easy to transform into another persona.
#3: Benz Tan, 44
Cotton organdy, nylon and polyester-blend dress, Benz Tan. Headband, stylist’s own
Tan takes an unconventional approach to design – he drapes and drafts from inverted jackets and pants, resulting in asymmetrical, deconstructed styles. Nor does his ingenuity stop there: A dress gets added texture with the simple yet unexpected addition of an industrial material like duct tape.
#4: Lim YuRong, 21
Oxford cotton cape, and matching top and shorts, Lim Yurong
Lim is fascinated by traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, and it definitely shows in her designs. There’s a certain pared-down spareness to her neutral-toned collection that focuses on draping, elevating easy-to-wear dresses and separates with unexpected silhouettes and proportions.
Lasalle College of the Arts
#5: Devi Honami, 21
Duchess satin kimono coat with Swarovski crystals, Devi Honami
From afar, they look like batik prints, but a closer glance reveals that they are digital printed illustrations of Stormtroopers set against Peranakan shophouses. A pro at mixing references, Honami also adds traditional Japanese silhouettes to the mix – think Swarovski-studded kimonos.
#6: Jamela Law, 24
Ninja Flex 3-D filament dress with nylon, Biofila silk, polyester, elastomer and silicone, Jamela Law
Law’s designs may look otherworldly, but her inspiration is very much grounded on earth. She addresses current social problems – “conventional sweatshop practices and large-scale industrial wastage” – by using 3-D printing to create her designs. The most intricate pieces can take up to two months to complete.
#7: Joanna Lim, 23
Velvet dress with metal grommets and Swarovski crystals, Joanna Lim. Boots, stylist’s own
Lim’s aesthetic is clearly sexy with the body-conscious silhouette and thigh-high slits, but she balances it with modern touches such as grommets, laser-cut perforations and highly graphic Swarovski-studded Tron-esque prints, inspired by the facial tattoos sported by tribal women in China.
Raffles Design Institute
#8: Henry Xu, 22
Lace and cotton shirt dress, Henry Xu. Boots, stylist’s own
While Xu’s youthful collection leans towards streetwear, his approach is less mainstream, and references his favourite designers Raf Simons and Thom Browne. He pays homage to grunge’s MO of subverting norms by fusing street style with “fine” fabrics such as lace and satin, as seen in a hybrid dress that combines both.
#9: Shi Le Doristina, 24
Cotton jacket and cotton twill shirt, Shi Le Doristina
At first glance, Shi’s strappy, clinical vest calls to mind a straitjacket. Look closer and you’ll realise that the separates (oversized shirts and shrunken vests) are perfect for layering, fitting in with her theme of “multiple personalities living in one body”.
#10: Kezia Gabrielle Tandrianus, 21
Wool and leather vest, and acrylic-blend jersey and cotton poplin shirt dress, Kezia Gabrielle Tandrianus
Tandrianus’ Insta-friendly collection will appeal to those who prefer an artisanal approach. Romantic handpainted Pollock-esque prints abound, along with irregular cut-outs reminiscent of mottled leaves that look laser-cut, but are in fact done by hand. Her #inspo? Earthy processes such as oxidation and flora growth that match the collection’s colour palette.
Photography Vee Chin, assisted by Sherman See-Tho Styling Jonathan Chia Product Photography Frenchescar Lim Product Art Direction Adeline Eng Hair Edward Chong/Evolve Makeup Peter Khor, assisted by Derrick Hew/Fac3inc using Dior Model Sharon/Ave
This story first appeared in Female's August 2017 issue.
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