4 Singaporean Brands To Keep Your Eye On For SGFW 2017

It’s barely 10 on a Friday morning, and already Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw is serving sultry looks in front of the camera. The model and erstwhile contestant from Season Three of Asia’s Next Top Model is working her angles while clad in various creations from GINLEE Studio, Whole9Yards, Ling Wu and Nida Shay — four names associated with this year’s Fashion Futures programme.

Launched in 2015, Fashion Futures is a business-driven initiative that aims to prepare Singapore’s top fashion talents for the international stage. As with previous years, Fashion Futures is partnering the Council of Fashion Designers of America to organise invaluable immersion trips to New York where the selected designers can learn from the industry’s best. And in line with the rise of e-commerce and social media’s impact on the fashion landscape, 2017’s edition has been refreshed with the goal to enhance the digital savviness, knowledge and skills of the chosen Singaporean designers.

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Fashion Futures also accompanied the reboot of Singapore Fashion Week two years ago (it was previously known as Audi Fashion Festival), and the latter is, without a doubt, the most anticipated event on Singapore’s fashion calendar. Scheduled to happen from 26 to 28 October this year, Singapore Fashion Week (SGFW) will return to the National Gallery Singapore, where the grand interiors of the 690,000sqft museum will once again add a symbolic effect to the shows.

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In a first for SGFW, Lai Chan, one of Singapore’s esteemed designers famous for his cheongsams, will kick-start the extravaganza as the opening show. Two runway shows featuring works from modest wear brands such as Adrianna Yariqa and Kaifiyyah have also been added to the schedule. Closing the proceedings is Jason Wu, with a spring/summer 2018 showing. The Canadian-Taiwanese designer’s appearance isn’t just limited to the catwalk: Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Goh will be chatting with him at ZIPCODE, a two-day fashion tech summit where venture capitalist firms, retail technology CEOs and lifestyle speakers such as lifestyle blogger Shini Park will discuss the future of fashion in the digital age. It’s shaping up to be a thrilling ride.

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NIDA SHAY

Exquisite embellishments and intricate embroidery have become an integral part of Nida Tahir Shaheryar’s visual language. In just two years, she has amassed a following who is captivated by how she’s translated the wonders of nature into sophisticated clothes with an artisanal quality.

GINLEE STUDIO

The six-year-old brand is a hit among women who are drawn to its seamless marriage of timelessness, contemporary silhouettes and the use of fabrics that offer both comfort and function. The label made its debut in Israel, after its Singaporean founder — who is a graduate of London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins — decided to translate her vision into an eponymous clothing line.

LING WU

As a modern woman who juggles family and work commitments, founder Goh Ling Ling understands the importance of having handbags that complement her lifestyle. Which explains why, at her namesake label, Goh’s beautifully crafted bags are never designed based on what’s trendy. Instead, they are built to stand the test of time and last through all of life’s big and small occasions.

WHOLE9YARDS

Headed by Widelia Liu and Daniel Ngoo, Whole9Yards is the go-to label for feminine pieces with a spunky edge. Lace, embroidery and florals are some of the recurring motifs employed by the team to paint their image of a romantic free spirit who isn’t afraid to break sartorial rules.

Photographer: Gan; Stylist: Windy Aulia; Model: Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw/Basic Models; Hair and Makeup: Grego using Keune and Kosé; Fashion intern: Lynette Kee