naeem khan singapore fashion week

American-Indian designer Naeem Khan is one of the key names at this year’s Singapore Fashion Week, alongside Chinese couturier Guo Pei and Self-Portrait by Malaysian-born, London based Han Chong. Ahead of his show next week, we highlight five things to know about Khan:

#1: The brand is a Michelle Obama favourite

The First Lady of the United States has worn Khan multiple times, most memorably to 2009’s State Dinner to honour India – which was her first ever state dinner. She returned to Khan for at least two other state dinners, one for Germany and more recently, the Nordic States. That says a lot, as Mrs.Obama usually attempts to wear a designer that has some sort of cultural connection to the country being honoured at the State Dinner and American-Indian Khan was not an immediately obvious choice.

#2: Her daughters are fans too

It seems that Mrs. Obama was so enthralled with the designer that both her daughters Sasha and Malia also chose to wear Khan for a recent White House dinner.

#3: Beyonce and fam love his designs

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Beyonce and Solange Knowles have both sported Khan – Beyonce to her mother’s 60th birthday party (top) and Solange to the 2015 Oscars (bottom).

#4: He was a disciple of legendary designer Halston

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Khan’s Indian heritage often manifests itself in his super-intricate embroidery. He received his design training from none other than one of American fashion’s all-time legends – Halston, who was known for his slinky, minimalist designs. Of his India-meets-America aesthetic, Khan said in a Wall Street Journal interview that “there’s a lot of confusion in India with design and colour, and I have just taken it, simplified it, cleaned it — and this is what I get.”

#5: He might soon join the ranks of haute couture

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At his Fall 2016 show, Khan shared that he was in talks with the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, the French body that governs haute couture. The process and standards required to attain official couturier status is notoriously stringent and exhaustive, but Khan seems more than ready for it.

 

Images: Showbit.com, @beyonce, @naeemkhannyc Instagrams

The Naeem Khan Spring/Summer 2017 Collection will show on Saturday, 29 October, 8.30pm at the National Gallery. Buy tickets here.

Like this? Check out why we’re excited for Chinese couturier Guo Pei’s show at Singapore Fashion Week, 4 things you need to know about the newly revamped Singapore Fashion Week and why the Asian fashion scene is heating up right now