These five young designers are proof that being different and dressing according to your individual style speaks to customers. Originally operating off Instagram, some are now stocked at retailers loved by youths and Gen Zs, with one brand even spotted on a New Jeans member. Intrigued? Scroll on for more.
Specialising in knitwear, textile manipulation and intricate one-of-a-kind designs, Madeline Hing started ssdslsns in Sep 2021. Currently, a student at the China Academy of Art, the 21-year-old oversees the entire process from research, design and fabrication of delicate pieces such as the ‘Handle with Love’ crochet top, ‘Open My Heart’ knitted metal bag and patchwork ‘Stitched Remains’ skirt.
“Clothing is an extension of our body in this world, I hope that the wearer creates memories with these garments,” says Hing. The Shape top was perfect for the occasion when Mae Tan attended Coachella last year, while her Armour sleeves were worn by New Jeans’ Hanni at a recent performance in January this year.
Ssdslsns is stocked at https://apoc-store.com; prices start from $105
Moh Ee Jin, 19, created the brand Lasik to “stand out and reach beyond your current senses and move from what you are now, to see the vision and become new.” The debut collection which launched in December last year, offers a range of accessories and clothes from sunglasses, caps, boots, jackets, shorts and more. Inspired by brutalism and cyberpunk, the wearer is encouraged to break free from conventions and embrace their individuality.
Lasik is stocked at www.lasikindustries.com; prices start from $50
What started as a visual diary documenting her crochet journey evolved into a business six months later when Jewel Chin sold her first item at a pop-up in Oct 2021. With 31.8K followers on Instagram, Chin channels her love for earthy colours and distinctive patterns into every piece she creates by hand – we love the flared leg warmers.
“Our crochet and knit pieces are designed to be worn daily – combining comfort and style seamlessly,” says the 21-year-old. With a commitment to artisanal traditions and sustainable fashion, Chin intends for String of Kisses to be a slow fashion brand and be a space where self-expression and spontaneity are always encouraged. This is why she sells ready-made styles, custom-made pieces and patterns so individuals can get crafty and crochet in the comforts of home.
String of Kisses is available at www.stringofkisses.com; prices start from $12
Inspired by dark alternative subcultures with a personal twist, it’s apt that Sarah Thursday was born on Halloween. Creating both original and anime tribute merchandise, the label “celebrates the different, the weird and encourages everyone to be unabashedly themselves,” says founder Sarah Thursday. With a keen interest in illustrating since she was six, she pursued a diploma in Visual Communications at Temasek Polytechnic and has collaborated on capsule collections with artists like Shems Tan and cosplayer Knite.
The latest collection “Ouroboros” is an eight-piece illustration project, and Sarah is currently working on the upcoming launch of a mini “Ouroboros” artbook which comes with an accompanying song produced by IHASAMIC! and WovenSound. “As an independent label, our vision is to constantly create intriguing work, merch and inspire others to pursue their passion,” says the 29-year-old.
Sarah Thursday is available at physical pop-up events and anime conventions; prices start from $40
Founded in 2020 by Fiona Ng, Stilnook is an experimental craft space that creates one-of-a-kind products using natural dye and textile texture techniques. “Last year was a turning point in my life as I made the decision to leave my Lasalle University degree in Fashion Media and Industries, in order to pursue Stilnook full-time and grow the brand further,” says the 23-year-old.
Stilnook reflects her personal style and is heavily influenced by the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi – discovering the natural beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. Stilnook’s aesthetic concept is inspired by raw natural organic elements, the Temasek Polytechnic graduate experiments with plant extracts that are colour-fast, such as cutch wood, logwood, and kakishibu (unripe dried persimmon). “To get the faded effect, I boiled the dyes with the shirt and then used cyanotype printing to create botanical patterns,” she says.
Stilnook is stocked at www.spadesroom.com; prices start fromd $25