The biggest week in the Singapore fashion calendar is upon us and I cannot hide my excitement! Unless you’ve been living a in a bubble you probably know that two huge fashion events are happening this week. That is, the Blueprint tradeshow and emporium (i.e. shopping heaven!) and the Audi Fashion Festival.
Naturally the mainstream media are wetting themselves over the fact Thierry Mugler’s creative director (and Lady Gaga’s stylist) Nicola Formichetti will be in town and opening the fashion week. Big names like Zac Posen and Roland Mouret will be also showcasing. That’s huge news for Singapore, but what I’m really most looking forward to, are the shows and events where local and other Asian designers will be given the runway to show what they’ve got.
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| Raoul, one of the most successful Singapore - and now international label - will be among those showcasing at AFF |
Away from the big names it’s equally as important to highlight what both events are all about i.e. promoting Singapore as a fashion destination which can only achieved by showing how much local talent the country has got.
And as that’s what this blog is all about. That’s what you’ll mostly be reading here.
Blueprint is one event most local designers and retailers are looking forward to. It is a trade show at which international buyers come to check out the participating labels and decide whether they want to stock them overseas – or with whatever retailers and e-commerce sites they have. Indeed it is exciting and for the first time I will be part of this event , not just as media but also helping out one local label, Noel Caleb, at their Blueprint booth.
It is an intense but super exciting week and here’s what you should be looking out for, starting today:
1- Audi Star Creation showdown:
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| So excited to see the Audi Star Creation finalists like Ko YOUNGJI turn their collection vision into reality |
For the past 2 months I’ve been posting my interviews with the 12 finalists if this pan-Asian fashion design competition and the moment everyone has been waiting for is finally here. Today (Monday) , I’m attending the showdown of the final collections and witnessing the crowning of the 3 winners! What’s better than seeing very fresh talents given such an opportunity to show the world that Asia has got so much to give in fashion? If you’re missing this event, tomorrow I will be posting about it – and of course announcing the winners- so keep watching this space! Last year’s winners will also be showing their debut collections on the runway at 2pm on Friday the 18th at an invite-only show. Will also keep you posted on that!
2- Singapore designers’ shows at AFF:
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| Another great local label, Alldressed will be showing at AFF |
The two most established of Singapore labels will be getting their individual shows and that is Raoul and Alldressedup. I’ve recently learned that the later is stocked in my home city of Beirut and was such a joy to see Lebanese people who are familiar with this Singapore label, known for its sophistication yet easy-to-wear style. But that’s not all for local designers, as this year the festival will include one show called ‘The Singapore Designers’ Showcase’ featuring other successful labels, namely Depression, All Walks of Life and Saturday. The Alldressedup and Singapore Showcase shows are both ticketed and open to public, and of course I’ll be there to bring you all the hot news from these shows!
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| Depression will be unveiling their new A/W collection at AFF... |
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| This is along with 2 other local labels, A.W.O.L. (pictured) and SATURDAY! |
3- Blueprint Emporium
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| The Blueprint Emporium is a great way to find all those cool labels I've been posting about and more... all going for an even better discount! |
The shopping event which I’ve been waiting for, not just because it has some great discounts, but it’ll also have some great emerging designers labels which are not stocked in Singapore! And if you’ve been eyeing a piece from a local or Asian label (some of the stuff I've blogged about ;-)), this is the chance to actually buy it at great value and get to meet the designers themselves. I know sometimes it’s just easier to hit the high street instead of hunting these designers but with the emporium there will be no excuse! It’s all there, in one place and on great discount!!! So make sure you’re in Suntec City on Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th to shop (local and emerging labels) till you drop!
4- Future Fashion Now shows
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| Mae Pang's new collection will be unveiled at the FFN show and you'll get the chance to shop the pieces on the spot! |
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| Same goes for the awesome androgynous and edgy label Max Tan |
Some of the coolest shows of the AFF will be those under the FutureFashionNow banner. These are no ordinary shows as for the first time in the world, the organizers are giving you the chance to shop online straight from the runway, whatever piece catches your eye! The designers participating in these shows are emerging ones which have been carefully curated. These include Timo Weiland (New York), Yeojin Bae (Melbourne), and Esther Perbandt (Berlin) for the first show; Jonathan Simkhai (New York), Saena (Berlin) and Juma (Toronto) for the second; and the third will be exclusive to Singapore hottest emerging designers Max Tan, Mae Pang and Dzojchen. All the shows are ticketed and will be live-streamed as well.
5- Parco next NEXT show (i.e. my catwalk modelling debut!)
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| As part of Parco next NEXT show, MASH UP will be showing some of their cool catwalk-worthy creations... |
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| And fresh from Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Sydney, men's label MILS will be also showing at home as part of the same show... |
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| Quainthood is also one of the 8 chosen labels to represent the Parco designers at AFF! |
You probably know by now how much I like the new batch of young designers at Parco next NEXT but this is not the only reason I’m anticipating this show in particular. Other than looking forward to seeing the new pieces which the selected 8 designers (20:TWOTHREE, Episene, evenodd, LION EARL, MASH-UP, MILS, QUAINTHOOD and alumnus PAULINE.NING) have made especially for the occasion, I will be walking the runway for one of them! Yup, that’s true. I’m making my catwalk debut next Saturday and despite it being a daunting thought, I’ve accepted to do it for fun and of course to bring you some behind the scenes view of what happens before the show. This show is also ticketed so if you fancy cheering me on (or just laughing at my teetering walk), and of course watching and supporting these young designers - buy your tickets now!
The full schedule of the Audi Fashion Week can be viewed here , and you can get tickets for all AFF ticketed shows at gatecrash.
For more information on Blueprint, go to http://www.blueprint.sg/