Singapore Stories 2023: 5 Winning Designers Reimagine The Kebaya With Flair
The winning designs are set to be on display at Design Orchard from November 1 to December 31 2023.
Society swans, the sartorial set and industry leaders descended upon the Pan Pacific Hotel on 12 October to witness the unveiling of Singapore Fashion Council’s sixth edition of Singapore Stories with the theme, “Kebaya Re-Imagined”.
Commemorating the re-opening of the Peranakan Museum and National Heritage Board’s multinational nomination to inscribe “Kebaya: Knowledge, Skills, Traditions and Practices” on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity, the night of glitz and glamour saw over 30 innovative renditions of the iconic garment of the region. Showcased to Wilson Teo, President of Singapore Fashion Council; Semun Ho, CEO of the Singapore Fashion Council; Guest-of-Honour Sim Ann, Singapore Fashion Council Patron, Senior Minister of State; and distinguished guests, five different interpretations of Singapore’s rich and diverse multicultural heritage came out on top.
Related article: A To Z Of Singapore Fashion Designers
From left: Kassandra Lim with a model in her design, Kavita Thulasidas with a model in her design, Madhushah Samy with a model in her design, SMS Sim Ann, Mr Wilson Teo, Anseina Eliza with a model in her design, Adele Chung with a model in her design. Photo: Singapore Fashion Council
Kassandra Lim, Kavita Thulasidas, Madhushah Samy, Anseina Eliza, Adele Chung, SMS Sim Ann, Mr Wilson Teo
Here are the winning takes on this year’s theme—set to be on display at Design Orchard from November 1 to December 31 2023—and the designers behind them.
Adele Chung
Coming from a menswear tailoring background, Chung’s natural inclination was to create a suit to frame a woman's silhouette while adding a twist to the traditional bridal kebaya. Her look, crafted mainly from cotton, comprises a high colour bolero jacket worn over a ruched bodice jumpsuit. Laces and appliqué embroidery add a touch of glamour and modern femininity.
Anseina Eliza
Carefully crafted out of leftover fabric scraps and upcycled denim jeans and overalls that would have otherwise ended up in landfills, Eliza assembled modular pieces to form intricate patterns with a contemporary twist. A tea-length circle skirt complements the kebaya's distinctive features such as the traditional high collar and triangular front panel, cleverly melding Eastern and Western styles.
Related article: TaFF Goes Digital For Its ‘Singapore Stories’ Competition Finale
Kassandra Lim
Lim wanted to echo the spirit of adapting a ‘modernist heritage’ in a ‘City in a Garden’ through abstracting the architectural features of Golden Mile Complex and People’s Park Complex into geometric patterns. These patterns are juxtaposed against an organic backdrop of folds, layers and puffs, creating a harmonious blend of urban architecture and natural elements.
Madhushah Samy
"Threads of Time" is a vibrant celebration of traditional culture in the context of modern fashion, seamlessly merging contemporary Western silhouettes with the exquisite kebaya fabric. Drawing inspiration from the colourful flower motifs seen on kebayas from the 1960s and 1970s, Samy's design preserves the timeless elegance of the kebaya while infusing it with a fresh and youthful aesthetic. Bustiers, bodysuits and cut-outs add a fashion-forward spin.
Related article: Meet The 7 Designers Telling Singapore’s Story With Fashion
Sabrina Goh
Goh’s design combines the elegance of the traditional kebaya with elements of contemporary fashion. Deconstructing the batik sarong, the designer pairs an intricately pleated skirt that encapsulates the essence of the parang motif with an oversized modern cropped shirt.