Street culture convention Culture Cartel returned to Singapore in Dec after a one-year absence due to the pandemic. Held from Dec 1 to Dec 4 at *Scape Singapore, the convention encompassed all things related to street culture: urban street fashion brands, sneakers, tattoo artists, art and music.
With an assemblage of such a multi-faceted range of street style connoisseurs and fans, it was bound to be a hyped-up and fashionable affair. The FEMALE team captured some of the stylish individuals – from a local craftsman with a penchant for leather goods and a tattoo artist influenced by the goth kids of yesteryears that showed up and showed off. Scroll on for more.
Who: Kylie Low, content creator
What she is wearing: Uniqlo crop top and pants; thrifted leather belt; Beams sunglasses; Lemaire bag; and Valentino boots
Her style philosophy: “I don’t have a definitive word to describe my style but I dress in things that I know I am comfortable in.”
Who: Muhammad Rezza Nasrullah, creative director of tattoo studio and apparel label Pharaohs Horses
What he is wearing: Custom suit from Common Suits and Nike Air Force 1 sneakers
His work attire: “The wearing of suits is to align with the theme of Pharaohs Horses – everyone dresses in a preppy, clean-cut style. My boss does the fittings and everything is tailor-made.”
Who: Charmaine Tan, art director
What she is wearing: Top from her friend; thrifted pants; Affirmation Club necklace; Out Of Print tote bag; and Hijack sandals
Her shopping haunts: “I normally go to thrifting events and secondhand stores, usually around areas like Haji Lane. My most unique find was a patchwork black denim jacket which I got for $40.”
Who: Simran Kaur, graphic designer
What she is wearing: Thrifted vest, skirt and bag; Weekday top; Sunnies Studios sunglasses; Guess necklace; and Asos boots
Most interesting find: “I mainly shop for second-hand items and check out Carousell regularly. The most interesting thing I’ve bought through Carousell is a denim jacket from Japan for $95 – and that included shipping fees.”
Who: Yang (he prefers to go by his first name only), leather craftsman at local leather crafts shop Devil’s Play Craft
What he is wearing: Thrifted top and jeans; and Durango leather boots
His passion for leather accessories: “I’ve been making leather goods and accessories for close to five years. It initially started out as a hobby and now it’s my full-time career.”
Who: Fay Yeo, digital marketer
What she is wearing: Tommy Hilfiger top and clutch; Ghospell skirt; hair clips from AliExpress; and Comme des Garcons Play x Converse sneakers
Her “it” accessory: “I really love gold – most or all of my accessories are in gold.”
Who: Kai Jun Leong, UX designer and co-founder of archival specialist store Milieu
What he is wearing: Comme des Garcons hoodie; thrifted cargo pants and belt; Devil’s Play Craft leather pouch; and Nike x Junya Watanabe shoes
Comfort or style?: “I always try to strike a balance between the two – though it is a fine line. Sometimes, there is a price to pay if you want to look or dress a certain way, especially since Singapore has an equatorial climate.”
Who: Louise Ong, tattoo artist
What she is wearing: Filip Leu T-shirt; skirt from Taobao; Deethings earrings, The Model Traitor necklace; harness from Etsy; and Dr. Martens boots
Her style inspiration: “’80s and ’90s goth. I would describe my sense of style as alternative and somewhat gothic.”
Photography Khong Yawen Videography Danessa Tong Video Editing Imran Jalal