Category Archives: Design(er) Speaks

Design(er) Speak: Corrie Nielsen

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Personally chosen by John Galliano as the winner for the Fashion Fringe platform in 2010, Corrie Nielsen is one of London’s most up and coming designers. With experience working in bespoke tailoring and at Vivienne Westwood, her latest collection is inspired by her great great great grandfather from Scotland. We had a short chat with her on her future plans

1. Have you always wanted to get into the fashion industry? Can you tell us a little bit of your background?

I was born in Pensacola, Florida, then our family moved to Los Angeles, then from the age of six we moved to Portland, Oregon and I spent my formative years there. When I was eighteen I moved to Seattle, Washington and a year and a half later moved to San Francisco. In 1998 I moved to Europe where I lived in Athens and London. From there I went to Seoul, South Korea then back to the United States. In 2000, I came back to London where I was accepted into the London College of Fashion for their Art and Design course and gained a B-Tech in Art and Design. Then in 2001 I was accepted into Central Saint Martins for BA Fashion and Design. I graduated in 2004 with a First Class Distinction in Fashion Design Womenswear, one of only four in the class do be hounoured with such distinction. In 2005, I was accepted on to the Masters at Central Saint Martins design course, but I had to withdraw due to personal reasons. In 2006, I went back to the United States for eleven months and then came back to Europe, where with my partner, I moved from Italy to London a year later. It wasn’t until June of 2010 that I was personally chosen by John Galliano out of three finalists as the winner for the highly coveted Fashion Fringe platform. Prior to that I worked in bespoke tailoring and at Vivienne Westwood.

My father is a sculptor, my mother a seamstress and my sister also works in design. It was only natural that I would do something creative.

2. Has studying at Central Saint Martins helped you in the creation of your label? Do you think a fashion degree is a must to make it in the fashion industry?

Studying at Central Saint Martins allowed me to look at life as a whole rather than a part. It opened my eyes to different cultures and lifestyles. I don’t feel education is a priority for everyone and is ‘a must’, as we are all individuals. Everyone has his or her own path.

3. What are the day-to-day challenges you faced since the start of your label?

I experience challenges with all aspects of the business from managing staff to financials to marketing! As the creative director of Corrie Nielsen Ltd, my responsibility each season is producing a new collection creatively, but I’m also at the helm of a small business and the responsibilities are endless.

4. Besides being chosen by John Galliano as the winner of Fashion Fringe 2010, what are other memorable experiences you have faced since the start of your label?

Having a space on-schedule at London Fashion Week for my seasonal catwalk shows. It’s an honour and a level of showing my work that most people can only dream of.

5. Is there a celebrity that hasn’t yet worn one of your designs that you’d love to see wearing them?

I would love to see Tilda Swinton, Kate Blanchett and Grace Jones in Corrie Nielsen, and any strong-minded women that have a unique identity.

6. What do you think is a piece of clothing every woman should own?

Underwear and a Corrie Nielsen structured frock coat or structured jacket – they look amazing on anyone, and we do bespoke or made-to-measure to ensure perfect fit.

7. How do you go about coming out with new designs and what do you do when you are stumped for ideas?

I am fascinated by history and spend a lot of time researching in libraries and researching National Heritage sites. There is so much history in London. The city has layers upon layers of hidden treasures dating back hundreds of years. The British Library, which houses books that are hundreds of years old is a great source for ideas, and I like to look back at my own family heritage.

8. Do you think social media is important to your business?

Yes! This next generation speaks digital and doesn’t want to be pushed with marketing and advertising. The connected generation wants to feel like they are a part of the conversation, like they are a friend and have direct access – the relationship with the consumer and brands is so important now. Social media is the easiest way to do create this relationship. You can follow the Corrie Nielsen studio on Twitter: @CorrieNielsen

9. In the upcoming seasons, what can we expect from Corrie Nielsen?

I can’t reveal too much, but the upcoming collection for autumn/winter 2012 draws inspiration from my Scottish great, great, great grandfather John S. Burns, who emigrated from Scotland to the United States about the same time as the Revolutionary War, settling in Arkansas. I’m also pulling ideas from the concept of Scottish clans that produced unique hand-woven tartans representing a particular family name, and infusing all with a medieval English and Scottish form of dress. Expect big, bold, structured pieces with high necklines, floor-sweeping capes and a lot of pleating.








Corrie Nielsen Fall 2012 launch

Design(er) Speak: WanderWonder

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WANDERWONDER, one of the designer labels under the PARCO Next Next Fashion Incubator program, constantly pushes the boundaries of male fashion design but still maintains the clothes’ functionality. We had a short chat with Daniel, 1/3 of the creative force behind the label to tell us more about the label and whether there will be a female line from them soon.

What inspired you to start this label? Was it a spur of the moment or was it your dream all along?

It was a mix of both, the three of us met through mutual friends and everything just came naturally. As for myself, I’m a designer by day so having to market/art direct a men’s label was something I wanted to do. Operationally, Lenz & Kenny are the driving force of the label and I’m the ‘instigator’ in the partnership, occasionally throwing a spanner in the works to challenge ourselves creatively in the process.

WanderWonder was born out of the desire to create something different but unpretentious for the menswear market. We spent most of the time traveling in our day-jobs and we were exposed to the different styles and cultures from emerging fashion designers that were making their mark on the industry. I guess we looked at a lot of vintage shirts, pants and shoes; the classic silhouettes and the like. A lot of what we do is not very far from the traditional product. We’re making use of a heritage that’s been out there for a very long time and giving it a twist in the modern context. Sometimes it’s also a little more adult and also sort of a boyish theme running through them. We’re still conservative in some ways.

What are your most memorable experiences so far?

We had a recent showcase at Zouk Club’s ‘Wardrobe’ project sharing the runaway with local label OwnMuse. Prior to that, our inaugural flagship store at Parco’s NextNext.

Wander Wonder currently specializes in men’s clothing, are there plans to go into womenswear?

We’ve toyed the idea before but having observed the current market sentiment, it’s ideal to stick to what we do best and get brand leverage locally & overseas. But surprisingly we do get women customers asking for sizes but to be candor about it, it’s not an everyday affair. So we don’t see ourselves immersing to the women’s range anytime soon. That is unless we do a collaboration with a women’s label and launch it as a permanent collection, now that would be our dream project.

Are there any celebrities that you will want to be seen in WanderWonder?

Funny that you asked, it never crossed our minds. But we’re musically inclined so we’d prefer bands to wear our label. If you followed our Facebook posts, we actually have a list of bands we’d love to ‘dress up’.

What is a must have item in your wardrobe?

Clean underwear, ha! Well, it definitely has to be the white classic oxford button-down shirt, you can wear it anytime anywhere. Best to wear ours to meet your partner’s folks! ;)

If you can be a superhero, what will it be?

Doraemon. I can get away from not doing anything at all with a pair of ball hands and you have a magic pocket at my disposal. What else can I ask for?

Explore WanderWonder’s products:

Design(er) Speak: Sifr

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A menswear label that is known for their contemporary designs and premium materials, Sifr is a rising star in the Singaporean fashion/retail scene. We met up with Chris, the creative force behind Sifr, to tell us more about the brand and how he ensures that Sifr stand out from its more established competitors in the industry.

How did you start designing fashion and what was it like when you first started in the industry?

My mother got me into designing. She used to run a silversmithing studio & her own jewelry line in Singapore from the late 80s and throughout 90s. I think time spent at her workshop after school playing with the different tools, drawing jewelry out and eventually crafting it out of silver had a much bigger impact that I imagined at the time.

What is your memorable experience since you started out?

Seeing our first few samples arrive. Every time the post would arrive there would be this buzz of excitement, it was like Christmas almost every 2 weeks till finally we had the final product at our door. The office went crazy when we saw several boxes outside. An amazing amount of energy was in the air. It’s quite romantic. Don’t get me wrong we still that a same sort of excitement today but the whole experience was so fresh the first few months. Perhaps we’re a little jaded this time around…

Where does your inspiration come from?

Personally it’s from things I interact with, experiences through life or experiences you want to create in your own life. Also depending what we are planning to communicate with a project or collection we go as in depth as possible with the core of the message.

What do you do when you are stumped for new design ideas?

Do other activities and then sit idle. Sitting idle helps a lot. Your mind wanders and starts working in different capacities when detract your focus from your present reality.

As we live in a brand-obsessed world, how have you gone about getting people to invest in your clothes versus your more established counterparts?

We keep putting our best effort into the product and the story behind the product. Investment in great quality materials and spending the time to make sure our construction is done well gives us a sound mind. As long as the product is maintained to the highest quality standards we can produce for our price level we are certain new customers will be satisfied with what they purchase. If your core is covered I think the rest follows through.

What is a clothing item that you think everyone should have?

A white oxford shirt and a great pen.

We love your t-shirts and shoes at FashionSpace.com! Can you tell us more about the process of making and designing them?

We generate a lot of ideas in relation to where we live and where we are from. In developing our Sifr Essentials line we sought to make the best basic t-shirt possible for the climate around South East Asia. We took a luxe pima fabric and dropped the weight of the fabric down to about 120GSM. At this weight the fabric is still sturdy but it’s super light and breathable. The lightweight, breathability and superb hand touch from the pima combined with high quality construction and fit makes the Sifr Essential t-shirt.

Are we allowed to know what are the upcoming plans for Sifr?

We’re currently pushing overseas as best as we can. We are scheduled to do up to 10 tradeshows for Autumn Winter 12 and Spring Summer 13. We hope we will generate something news worthy out of our participation in the overseas market. For 2012 we are looking to strengthen our US presence and through that we hope to open some doors to other markets like Europe and East Asia.

Design(er) Speak: FrüFrü & Tigerlily

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FrüFrü & Tigerlily is the brainchild of 3 best friends who shared a common passion. Often using music as their inspiration, FrüFrü & Tigerlily is known for their minimalist but daring designs and inimitable X factor. We caught up with the lovely ladies behind the label, who have recently launched their first bag collection, SerpentSkirt.

Hi Ginette (Chittick), Jasmine (Tuan) and Cheryl (Tan)! With no prior training for fashion designing, how did you decide to go into the fashion industry?

We’ve always been dictated by a careless and almost cavalier attitude when it comes to not having proper training in fashion design and now, bag design. I guess the fact that 2 out of 3 of us were trained in graphic/web design made wanting to design or create things come naturally. We’d always been making things, from silkscreening tees to zines to stickers etc. So this was just a natural progression.

Having showcased your collections in Malaysia International Fashion Week and Singapore Fashion Week, what is your most memorable expierence so far?

The most memorable experience for all of us is when we took part in our first fashion show – the annual Wardrobe show at Zouk which showcased up and coming edgy local designers. It was so exciting and so much anxiety at the same time. It was at that time, that shining moment that we became a fashion label. The show went very well and the audience packed the super club to the brim.

Where do you get your inspiration for each collection? I understand that each collection is very experimental and like a fun DIY project!

It is! We love coming together to talk about what we’ve seen, music we’ve heard, movies we’ve watched and books we’ve read. While the overarching inspiration for each collection is the music we listen to, but peripheral inspiration is always important. We think it’s so crucial for one to consume all forms of art – literature, graphic design, fashion design, architecture, movies, music, etc. – to amass a larger visual vocabulary from which one can use to express themselves.

With more than one designer, how does your design process work?

It’s very democratic. We get together with ideas, sketches, inspiration and colours. We can’t say for sure that any one garment was created by any single one of us. We all have suggestions to make each design better and discussion ends when we all agree to the design. We work so well together as we believe in making decisions very quickly and also largely because we’re best friends.

Now that you have launched your first bag collection, will you be going into jewellery designing or any other fashion projects?

We used to make accessories in the past. But those were made of chains and acrylic pieces. In fact Cheryl started out in FrüFrü & Tigerlily by making accessories out of vintage buttons. We’re not sure if there are other fashion projects we might go dip our stubby little fingers in, but our cavalier attitude might just take us off on unexpected tangents!

We have seen your Serpent Skirt collection at Black Market and we love it! Can you tell us more about the inspirations behind this collection? And will there be a second bag collection coming up soon?

Oh thank you! We’d been working on this collection for more than a year. The collection is definitely a visual extension of our ‘Like Wolves’ collection. We think making collections are much like writing songs in an album. Music and garments both tell stories. And so we wrote a narrative for this collection of a lithe serpentine girl who has been waiting by the sea for her lover to return, but he never does and she waits. Each bag uses textures of different leathers to narrate the story.

What do you do when you are stumped for ideas for your collections?

We stop talking about it and come back to it much later when we’re fresh.

If you are not running a fashion label, what would you be doing?

We’d prolly be making zines or holding parties.

Which city will you go if you have 24 hours and what will you be doing?

Reykjavik, Iceland for sure. We want to catch the Northern Lights and walk the countryside.

Who are the designers that you look up to?

We are big fans of Natalie Wood designer of Something Else, Natalia Brilli and Gareth Pugh.

Are we allowed to know about your next collection?

You would be if we knew what it was about! We have no idea as yet.

It is the holiday season, so we will like to know what is on your wish list?

We just want a uninterrupted holiday without having to think about work. That’s the one simple thing we can’t have.

Design(er) Speak: WYKIDD

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The launch of WYKIDD saw the return of one of Singapore’s most talented designers and we could not be more excited to see him back. The eponymous menswear label of Wykidd Song, previously of Song + Kelly, focuses on modern silhouettes, refined tailoring and detailed finishing through the use of traditional handcrafted technique. The resulting collection is a sleek, urbane one that real men (as opposed to mere models) will love to wear. Paying attention to details like hand lacing, motifs and weaving, Wykidd designs are clean, simple and stands out without screaming for attention.

We caught up with Wykidd and chatted with him about the memorable milestones in his career and his thoughts on Singapore’s fashion scene.

Hi Wykidd. We consider you to be a veteran of Singapore fashion design and are really excited to speak to you. Can you tell us more about why you decided to go into fashion design and what was it like when you first started in the industry?

Fashion Design was always something that I loved. Since I was young, I have always loved to draw and doodle figures and read magazines. It seemed natural that I progressed into fashion design. I took up a few jobs before I went to study in London. I had to work very hard as I wanted to learn more about fashion design.

You co-founded Song + Kelly in 1993. In all that time since, what will you say is your most memorable experience?

There were many different milestones, not just one. Each year, we pushed boundaries at Song + Kelly in terms of design and marketing. Examples of some memorable experiences would be getting an order from Harrods, Barneys, Selfridges and getting a sponsor from Tag Heaur to present at New York Fashion Week and also showing at London Fashion Week.

We love what you did with Song + Kelly and now, what you do with Wykidd. How different is it to design for the two labels? What has changed and what has not?

Song + Kelly was womenswear and was designed mostly on Ann Kelly and her wardrobe, and what was missing from her wardrobe. Wykidd is a label designed for myself. Menswear is more disciplined and rigid. I do not dress too crazily so it reflects in my designs. I usually pay attention to details like the hand lacing on some of my shirts.

You presented your SS12 collection in a very unique and refreshingly manner. How did the idea to dress the models right in front of the audience came about?

The idea was to showcase how being a prince was like, how he wakes up in the morning and gets pampered, and have people dressing him. Plus, girls like half naked men so it was a plus for the audience!

Androgyny is becoming a very persistent trend and many women are experimenting with menswear or menswear-inspired pieces. What do you think of the idea of adapting your designs at Wykidd for women? In other words, it will be like designing menswear for the ladies.

I am going to adapt my current mens collection and customise it for women. I hope to make full use of my designs and make them a timeless piece for both men and women. This also makes the effort I put into designing a collection worth it.

Having now designed for both men and women, which do you prefer? Do you think women are more demanding as customers than men or is it the other way around?

They are both human and there is bound to be one that is more extreme and pickier. I think it is just a matter of how well you can contain their pickiness. I still design wedding dresses for women. Women are more extravagant with their clothes and most men are not. I do not try to reinvent the style of my customers as I feel that design is about making people feel better.

We understand that you designed the interiors of the New Majestic Hotel. Do you have any upcoming projects in the other design disciplines? And also, what is a non-fashion project that you will love to undertake? It can be anything from architecture to product design.

I have undertaken a project which I feel is quite ambitious. The project is about building a studio that does everything and to get the most talented creative people all in one studio. I have worked on furniture so it is something that I will like to do more.

According to a global survey, Singapore is ranked 8th most fashionable in the world. We have our doubts about the survey results, but in your opinion, have we really grown out of our shorts and slippers and can finally take our place on the fashion map?

I do not think that we have became more fashionable. There were definitely more articles and buzz about the Singapore fashion scene but in terms of fashionable, no. There should be a comparison of how the people at Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, etc dress and that will be more accurate. Singaporeans generally do not like to be noticed and we usually dress very similarly.

If you are not a designer, what will you be doing? Or rather, what do you wish you will be doing if you have never gone into fashion.

I would like to be a reporter. I have always loved writing and I would love to be a reporter for world affairs, and not fashion related.

Now for that somewhat over-asked question: If you can have dinner with any person, dead or alive, real or fictional, who will it be and what will you be eating?

A fictional person would be Wonder Woman! I would bring her to eat outside where it is really hot and we would probably have seafood and chilli crabs. A real person would be Tony Blair. I would bring him to Keong Saik Street or geylang, a place that is very interesting in Singapore.

Are we allowed to know about your next collection or is it still hush-hush?

I am currently still working on my next collection and still trying to see what I can come up with.

We wonder what you have up your sleeves for Wykidd? Any grand plans to take over the world or exciting news you will like to share with us?

One of my plans is to start the studio, which I have mentioned above.

Lastly, as it is the holiday season, what is one item on your holiday wish list?

A motorcycle, particularly the Royal Anfield.

Design(er) Speak: Ong Shunmugam

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At Ong Shunmugam, Past meets Present in a most pleasing manner. Focusing on construction, fit and cut instead of passing trends, this local womenswear label brings together traditional and modern design elements to create a refreshing hybrid. Designer Priscilla Shunmugam’s latest collection, Guardianship, is a tribute to the body-loving cheongsam. Updating this oriental classic with Western-style details (i.e. colour block paneling and ruffled peplums) and intriguing eco-friendly materials (i.e. soy fibre), the resulting pieces retains the unique cultural symbolism of the cheongsam while being delightfully wearable.

We sat Priscilla down for a quick chat to get to know both her and her fledgling brand a little better!

FS: I am aware that you were a lawyer before starting Ong Shunmugan. Why did you decide to move on to fashion design?
PS: I was trained as a lawyer but I chose early retirement. In 2008 I packed my bags for London with nothing really set in stone, except for an open mind and some savings. The fashion scene there seduced me – I bought a sewing machine on a Friday and on Monday I started a dressmaking course and a few weeks later, I took up pattern cutting.From a young age, I’ve always liked the risk of creating something and watching people react to it. I suppose having these very innate inklings – the transition into an institution like law school was always going to be a challenge. The transition back however, has been a lot smoother, and that probably says a lot.
So the decision to design womenswear was not pre-meditated, it just came to me when I finally learnt to trust my instincts.

FS: What kind of materials do you use for your designs and do you source for these materials personally?
PS: Fabric plays a key role in all our collections because we capitalise on the lush textures and rich prints readily available throughout the South East Asian region. A central focus is our use of traditional Asian textiles, for example, vintage Javanese batik, Balinese batik, Cambodian ikat and Chinese brocade. We also experiment with technologically advanced fabric like silk blends, organic crepe and soy fibre.
Yes, I source for my materials personally, usually travelling across Asia with not much more than an empty suitcase!

FS: What inspires you and your designs?
PS: The Ong Shunmugam design philosophy references a spectrum of Asian heritage, for example, the Chinese and Indian civilizations, the South East Asian-specific races of the Peranakans and the Malays, or even Japanese, Indonesian and Sri Lankan peculiarities. It is a big pool to tap from but I tread carefully, ever mindful of assumptions or generalizations.
On a personal level, I get my inspiration from the simplest people and the simplest things.

FS: What are your favorite online shopping websites?
PS: Net-A-Porter gets top marks for showing everyone how to shop online like a grown up.

FS: Congratulations on opening your first store at Hong Leong Building! Are there plans to open a second store?
PS: Thank you. We are just settling in, trying to get used to being in Raffles Place. It is funny to have almost every major bank across the street and then us in our modest little corner. Another retail space? Let’s see what happens from here.

FS: Are there any designers, whether local, regional or international, who you look up to?
PS: Isn’t Tom Ford a genius? I am also a big Rodarte and Preen fan. I really respect younger designers Marios Schwab, Holly Fulton and Mary Katrantzou for their brave yet commercially viable aesthetics. Closer to home, I like Thai labels Milin and Disaya.

Design(er) Speak: Hansel

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Hansel by designer Jo Soh is a Singaporean womenswear label known for its quirky playfulness. Jo aspires to design clothes that women of all ages will feel and look fabulous in. We caught up with Jo to find out more about what inspires her, her favorite shopping haunts and what her next collection is about!

FS: Why did you take up fashion design and what is the story behind Hansel?
JS: I grew up with a very fashionable mother who had a large wardrobe of clothes. I have been exposed to different sort of clothes and understood how appearance can make you feel different about yourself. I decided to pursue fashion design when I was 12 years old.

FS: We have noticed that many of your collections are based on a signature print of an animal. The previous being a swan and now a donkey! Are you a huge animal lover?
JS: I did not choose to design the prints according to the different animals. With my drawing background, I inject my personality into the brand. Most of the prints are actually drawings that I drew with my wax crayon.

FS: Can you let us know what your next collection will be about?
JS: Our next collection will be based on the rainbow kueh lapis and it will be launched next year in February.

FS: We have seen celebrities, such as Katy Perry, wearing Hansel. If you have the opportunity to dress any celebrity, who will it be?
JS: Zoey Deschanel. She is very quirky and loud, just the right Hansel girl.

FS: What are your fashion pet peeves? What will you NEVER be caught dead wearing?
JS: My pet peeve will be to have a statement like that. I do not care and I always wear things with a sense of humour, even if its tacky.

FS: Which are your favorite countries for shopping and what are some of your favorite stores?
JS: It used to be H&M; in Hong Kong and Uniqlo at Japan. If I were to shop overseas, I would try to look for their local designers as every country has its style.

FS: What do you think about the local fashion scene? What do you think are ways we can improve the scene?
JS: I think the local fashion scene are improving. More people are taking up fashion designs. Its an industry that is starting to grow. We have support for each other.  There is more interest in the local market and people are beginning to think of it as a viable career. What we can do better is that designers must focus on creating great products which will be able to convince more people to buy. More and more people can tell the diff between good and bad designs. Quality is one thing.

FS: Last question, if you have 24 hours to spend alone in a city, where would you go and how would you spend it?
JS: I would love to go anywhere and do nothing but drawing, painting, and reading. Maybe do some sports and have long walks! I would love to go for a month as I have not have many off days.

Check out Hansel’s magazine on FashionSpace.com

Design(er) Speak: DEPRESSION

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Depression is the brainchild of Kenny andAndrew, former advertisers who, depressed with the corporate world, havedecided to start a label to channel their creativity. Known for their unisexoutfits of baggy drop crotch pants, caped jackets and t-shirts with interesting silhouettes, Depression is a well known name in the fashion scene in Singapore.

Their latest collection, Birth Defects,features Depression’s first footwear line with wedges, brogues and loafers withfringe details. There is also a pony hair envelope clutch available in black,and pink that is to die for. A very cute couple wear of a dress and a shirtthat resembles a face with bangs is another item to look out for in thiscollection. Who says couple wears have to be embarrassing?

FS: why the move to designing clothes?

D: We got depressed, that’s why! As much as we enjoyed creating ads, we got tired of the templates clients forced upon us. Frustrated with the industry, we started looking for a new medium for us to toy with. ‘DEPRESSION’ started as a design outfit that would be the antidote to our depression, and fashion became our canvas.

FS:  What’s the meaning behind the Depression name? Is there any special meaning to it?

D:Irony and dark humour are our main inspirations. Hence our labels’
name ‘DEPRESSION’, which arose as an ironic response to our depression over the corporate struggles of our previous jobs.

FS:  Congratulations on your new store at Cineleisure! Are there any plans to open a 3rd store anytime soon?

D: We opened our Cineleisure doors on 4 Nov, and there’s an upcoming media cum VIP Private Party on 17th December. We call our new home ‘a hospital found in an industrial district’, with cement flooring, metal pipes and oxygen masks filling the clinical interior. But what we love most is the location – tucked among a cluster of cool multi-brand shops (Rockstar by Soon Lee is one of our fave destinations) and local designers (Frederic Sai’s flagship looks gorgeous), Cineleisure is fast becoming Singapore’s mall with the most potential.We would also love to explore a third shop as long as there is an interesting concept thatwe can be a part of. So if there is any leasing team or angel investors reading this, wewould love to get in touch!

FS:What are the inspirations behind the Birth Defects line?

D: ‘Birth Defects’ is our AW2011 collection, which was shown during Blueprint this year.
Unfortunately, it was not inspired by circus freakshows or genetic mutations! Instead, it’s a mouthpiece on the beauty of imperfections. By adding ‘defects’ or ‘tweaks’ in the
construction of garments, the collection aims to re-invent classic wardrobe staples. For instance, the unisex Cropped Hoodie is a sporty jacket with sleeves that are deliberately
elongated. Currently, we’re getting ready to launch our AW2011 ‘T-SHIRTS by DEPRESSION’ collection. It’s our sub-line of graphic tees and accessories that’s less depressing for the wallet.

Design(er) Speak: AL&ALICIA

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We don’t really like to play favourites, but there is no doubt that AL&ALICIA; occupies a special place in our hearts. It also doesn’t hurt that their second magazine, A.ZINE Issue.02, on FashionSpace.com is so gorgeous (warning: flipping through it may exacerbate your wanderlust). With AL&ALICIA; fast becoming one of the most successful local labels on this little red dot, we caught up with its fabulous founder, Alicia Ong, for a tête-à-tête and picked her brain a little. And this is what she has to say about New York City, the Singaporean fashion scene and more!

FS: Hi Alicia! We atFashionSpace.com really like what you are doing with AL&ALICIA;. So, what is the story behind the brand – how did you get started in fashion design?
AO: I never really thought about starting my own label until I returned home from New York, where I studied at Parsons School of Design. I’ve always loved to sketch and make clothes ever since I was young, and the timing just seemed right after New York. I felt that there was a void in the local fashion industry for edgy high-end street wear and I wanted to offer exclusive, well-designed clothes of uncompromised quality that would appeal toa woman looking for a little difference in her wardrobe. Everything seemed to fall into place and I also received immense support from close friends and family, which gave me the added confidence to take the plunge with AL&ALICIA; in 2009. Of course, it helped that I’d spent a couple of years working for Marc by Marc Jacobs, J Crew, DKNY and Richard Chai while I was in New York!

FS: On whom, dead or alive, do you most wish to see your designs on?
AO: The Fanning sisters.

FS: Your last collection, Private Party, is inspired by the magical New York City night. What are the top 5 things you love about the Big Apple?
AO:
-The creative vibe, atmosphere and the people
- The endless things to do, parties and events to go to every single week.
- Museums and exhibitions
- Awesome food
- Soho and the lower east side shops

FS: If you have 24 hours to spend in New York City, what will your perfect day be like – what will you do, what will you eat,where will you shop?
AO: I’d head out to Williamsburg for some awesome brunch at Egg and grab coffee at Blue Bottle. Then some shopping along the lower east and Soho, paying a visit to Aritzia, Odin, Creatures of Comfort, Urban outfitters etc. Then walk along the high-line with my favorite Pink Berry (froyo) in hand.I’d round it off with dinner & drinks with my best friend at any of the quirky cool restaurants in the west village and then call it a day.

FS: As a Singaporean designer, what are your favourite and least favourite things about our local fashion scene? And which aspect(s) of the New York fashion scene do you think Singapore should strive to emulate?
AO:
-Favorite: The flourishing pool of local designers with aspirations and ambitions.
- Least Favorite: Locals favoring international brands over local brands.
- I don’t think we need to ‘follow’ NY, but rather, develop and cultivate our own culture and people, which in my opinion, is the main factor in contributing to the local fashion scene.

FS: What is one question that you wish people will ask you during an interview?
AO: I get nervous with interviews so I usually don’t hope they ask me anything too difficult, but questions about my inspirations…I like to talk about those because they are so varied.

FS: What is one question that you wish people will never ask you during an interview?
AO: Anything about politics.

FS: If you ever write a memoir of your fashion career, what will be its title?
AO: I’ll let you know if I ever do.

FS: In your opinion, what is the greatest fashion sin one can commit?
AO: Disrespecting a dress code.

FS: If you absolutely have to wear one of the following, which one will you pick? Leggings as pants OR a fanny pack.
AO: Can I wear a tunic to cover the leggings? If not, I guess I’d have to go with a fanny pack!

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