Stephanie Er is one of Singapore’s hottest cultural trendsetters (spot the read in our January 2017 issue). And while she has worked on a wide variety of ventures, from setting up salad bar Sprout to establishing a t-shirt range for children dubbed XIXIX, her latest project is her most fashion-centric one to date.
Arch, a 12-piece line of what Er calls “girly tomboy” pieces, launched online this month. Designing clothes was something she fell into naturally: “I always had pieces in mind that I wanted to make, so I thought of turning them into a capsule collection”. Her love for fashion is evident: Vetements, Gucci and Chanel regularly feature on her Instagram, and her knack for unconventional styling (a hoodie with a velvet skirt, or teaming pastel pink pants with a lilac top) makes her OOTDs visually arresting.
Er’s creative eye also plays out throughout the collection, which showcases her vision of the Arch girl – independent, creative and adaptable. Everything is sourced and made locally, and while feminine separates such as pleated midis pepper the collection, edgier pieces – like a long-sleeved mesh crop top ($115.50) and a PU leather jumpsuit ($363) – convey a devil-may-care attitude.
Then there are the unisex basketball jerseys ($177) and dresses ($283), which come tagged with an irreverent slogan – “world-class poser” – on the bottom left corner. It’s an ironic, self-deprecating statement that pokes fun at an Instagram-addicted generation (and is so hot in fashion right now).
Er also shares that the collection will be bucking the traditional fashion calendar of seasonal launches. Instead, she’ll be dropping fresh items as and when inspiration hits. Expect to see accessories such as socks and berets, as well as a tracksuit, coming up.
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