On Thursday, Oct 27, two-year-old independent accessories label ALT, helmed by founder/designer Angie Lai-Tay, teamed up with four labels by Lasalle College Of The Art’s 2016 fashion graduates during the Alt X Lasalle show at Singapore Fashion Week. Here’s what you need to know about the designers behind each label:
Who: The fashion graduate trained in creative pattern cutting, and her label, Ama Belle, takes its cue from French couturier Madame Gres’ exquisite detailing, from hand-beading to stitching.
The collection: Titled “Pandora’s Box”, pieces are inspired by a silent movie of the same name starring Lulu, a seductive young woman whose uninhibited behaviour results in dark consequences to herself and others. Quek’s Fall/Winter 2016/2017 collection featured pieces with twisting pleats over translucent mesh and layered, gathered ruffles, reflecting the designer’s sartorial interpretation of the character.
Who: The fashion design major whose label ESH balances the idea of masculinity and femininity, with an emphasis on accentuating the waist while keeping the shoulders oversized.
The collection: The title of Choy’s Fall/Winter 2016/17 collection is a quote by German-American actress Marlene Dietrich – “I Am At Heart A Gentleman”. Dietrich was often seen in tailored pants (they were synonymous with the structured military dresses that were huge in the 1930s), and Choy’s designs reflect the same tailored silhouettes.
Who: Behind one-year-old label Aryl Ctto is local fashion textile designer Cheryl Teo and Indonesian creative pattern cutter Agnes Citto. Its aim: Preserving traditional techniques and textiles and retaining handmade aspects in design.
The collection: Its Spring/Summer 2017 collection, named “Tik Anyar”, was all about putting a modern spin to traditional handmade craftwork (like beading and stitching) but also using new technologies like laser cutting and digital printing. Combining 1930s European fashion influences with South East Asian’s textiles like batik, ikat and sarong, prints are reinterpreted and turned into on-trend pieces like crop tops and flared pants. We particularly like how the constructed silhouettes and diagonal lines were used to elongate women’s bodies.
Who: Danielle graduated with a diploma in Real Estate Business before shifting into textile design in Lasalle. Equipped with the knowledge and background from both fashion and interior textiles, she challenges the idea of having effective wardrobe storage solutions with her pieces.
The collection: Ranging from tops, pants to dresses, each piece from Phua’s ready-to-wear collection “Flat2” can be folded and fitted into A5 pouches to optimise wardrobe storage solutions by at least 50 per cent. Panels of some pieces were detachable and can even double up as cushion covers too.
Like this? See what went down at Max Tan’s Spring/Summer 2017 show, why we’re excited to catch Arissa Cheo’s debut show at Singapore Fashion Week and Female Collective member Aarika Lee’s favourite local designers.