Fans of local fashion will no doubt be acquainted with Singaporean designer Wykidd Song, best known for being one half of fashion label Song+Kelly, the first Singapore RTW label that sold internationally at the likes of Harrods, Selfridges, and Barneys New York. While the brand has since shuttered, he later made his solo debut with Akinn, launching its first collection in 2020 with contemporary silhouettes with a fresh perspective.
To herald the arrival of Spring and the new year, the designer has lifted the veil on a special collab with former actress Sharon Au, of whom he has long considered his muse. Called Akinn 3.1 – Akinn X Sharon Au: The Story of Hope, the eight-piece collection in six designs that revolve around the concept of hope and bringing back the light, especially in the wake of the pandemic and its restrictions.
According to the brand, “Her constant encouragement and endeavour to spread love and light on social media from her current base of Paris served as a key reference for this collection.”
Recalling her growing up years, when she needed a safe space but was too young to reach out for help, she says of the collection, “We learn from history that we do not learn from history. And I see many similar women suffering, with nowhere to escape to. But I kept to my shell, as I have been taught from young never to air dirty laundry in public.
This collaboration with AKINN marks the beginning of us learning from history. Not to air dirty laundry nor to shame anyone, but to raise awareness of the importance of women standing up for our own independence.
Growing up I had dreams and aspirations, which I thought someone like me would never be able to realize. It was like
shooting for the stars, but I dreamt anyway. A broken soul would never grow up to be whole and happy. I was so wrong. Hence, I named these six dresses after the dreams I dared to dream.”
