BAZAAR Academy: Young Talents Take Us On A Journey Through Nostalgia With CHANEL’s SS24 Accessories
Four talented students from LASALLE College of the Arts conceptualised and executed an exclusive digital fashion spread for Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore.
Fostering and guiding the next generation of young creative talents has always been integral to the mission of Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore. Now in its ninth year, BAZAAR Academy—linking educational institutions across the country with the world’s most esteemed fashion houses—has provided local students with opportunities to experience exclusive events, exhibitions, talks, parties, and coveted internship placements. We are proud to continue working with CHANEL on nurturing the promising potential of today’s talents.
This year, our initiative provided selected students from LASALLE College of the Arts the opportunity to produce a digital fashion spread that will be showcased on Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s website and social media platforms.
“Echoes of a vanished romance linger, her slingbacks dangled, shimmering in the moonlight.”
This valuable opportunity not only allows promising students to showcase their creative prowess, but also offers them the exposure to create meaningful work with industry professionals and experts in fashion. The programme also aims to educate and inspire the young talents with greater communication, creativity, business acumen and problem-solving skills to succeed in the respective fields.
Following an evaluation on the works of the participants based on their creativity, originality, and concept, a team of four students—Sera Mei, Atiqah Nadhirah, Gladys Ng, and Star Julia—emerged as the top-performing students in this year’s BAZAAR Academy lineup.
“With the gentle embrace of the villa’s solitude, she finds solace in the enduring magic of their timeless love.”
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Featuring CHANEL’s SS24 collection, their campaign, entitled ‘Memoir’, revolves around the romanticism of the past inspired by the collection’s muses Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, and the spirit they imbued into their worldly possessions.
Below, find out more about the team members, their roles and responsibilities for this exclusive project, as well as their experience with BAZAAR Academy.
Tell us about the team’s roles in this exclusive BAZAAR Academy project.
Clockwise from top left: Sera Mei, Atiqah Nadhirah, Gladys Ng, Star Julia.
Sera Mei, Creative Director & Image Maker
Leading the team when it came to the conceptualisation and execution of the project, Sera worked closely with Atiqah to craft compelling visuals that conveyed the team’s envisioned concept. She aspires to broaden her creative repertoire by exploring diverse narratives as an image maker.
Atiqah Nadhirah, Art Director & Producer
Beyond managing the logistics of the shoot, Atiqah also played a key role in bringing the team’s visions to life through art direction. Striving to be a ‘jack of all trades’ in the creative industry, Atiqah is always challenging boundaries and seeking opportunities to expand her horizons.
Gladys Ng, Stylist & Hair and Makeup Artist
Leveraging on her keen eye for detail and aesthetics, Gladys coordinated with fellow stylist and makeup artist, Star, to capture the desired look through the art of styling. Always eager to learn, Gladys is constantly on the lookout for opportunities to grow in the fashion industry.
Star Julia, Stylist & Hair and Makeup Artist
Collaborating with fellow stylist and makeup artist, Gladys, Star curated cohesive outfits tailored to the shoot’s narrative while meticulously tending to all wardrobe necessities. Star has a fervent dedication to styling and actively seeks avenues to push creative boundaries and refine her skills.
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“A tableau of nostalgia: the camera bag sits, cradling love’s poetry and fragments of bygone films.”
What was the inspiration behind the concept of the team’s digital fashion spread?
Atiqah: We wanted to pay tribute to Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, the owners of the villa that inspired the CHANEL collection. For our concept, we took inspiration from their lives, their work as art collectors and philanthropists, and the documented records of their contributions; we felt connected to all of that.
Sera: We captured that specifically through this idea of emotional resonance with objects. We wanted to showcase in our visuals the essence that was left by the couple in their villa.
What has been the most rewarding part of the BAZAAR Academy experience for the team?
Sera: Gaining the approval of my group mates, the client and our lecturers validated my work as an image maker.
Atiqah: We had limited time to source for a location for this photoshoot. When we finally confirmed The Barracks Hotel, we breathed a sigh of relief.
Sera: It was such a perfect location for us as well!
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Tell us about the most challenging aspect of the experience.
Sera: It honestly is the same (as what we found the most rewarding). We had only five days to put everything together and this was our first time doing a photoshoot with a budget. It was important to understand the intentions of the different groups that participated. We also learnt from consultations with our lecturers on how to pitch to a client.
Atiqah: We felt the pressure as soon as we got the news and started to question our own capabilities. We thought some of the other teams’ work were more impressive and were pleasantly surprised that we got chosen.
“Amidst the plush greens of abode, she reclines into shadows, with her boots that whisper of the night.”
Tell us how social media trends have influenced the team’s vision on the world of fashion.
Sera: These days, content consumed on Instagram and TikTok is very different from traditional video campaigns often shot in landscape. We took that into consideration when it came to cropping and the editing style to cater to short attention spans. As for the grainy treatment of our video, we tapped into Gen Z’s love for nostalgia and the romance of reminiscing the past.
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“As the evening quiet descends, a yellow bag takes its end. Resting upon the couch, with casual grace, it narrates an end-day’s chase.”
What are the team’s aspirations for their future in fashion?
Atiqah: I have always wanted to work in the fashion industry and this experience was a step forward. While I experienced imposter syndrome in the beginning, I have developed my skill set in the process.
Sera: I am interested in exploring different areas, be it editorial, marketing, and so on. I am keen to try out all the roles available to me and find my footing in the industry.
Gladys: It feels unreal to work alongside the team on a photoshoot like this. It would be a dream to make this a reality.
Star: I have always wanted to pursue styling. This experience has driven me to work harder to enter the industry.