The effects of COVID-19 has cut deep for almost everyone. Even with the reopening of many businesses in Phase Two, there’s a high chance that it would still take a while for retail to recover. But if you’ve been keen to leave the house and take this opportunity to get dressed up again, why not give your usual fast fashion brand a miss and take a chance on one of these local brands instead?
From minority-owned businesses to labels that are committed to sustainability to designers with eye-catching unique designs, we’ve rounded up 10 homegrown Singaporean fashion labels that deserve a shout out. Here are the brands that you won’t regret adding to cart.
Founded by Ann Lopez, an Indian Singaporean student, Khara Online is a jewellery label that fuses East and West, featuring dainty jewellery pieces that you would be proud to keep in your jewellery box. The name serves as a homage to Ann’s grandmother and translates into the word purity. Ann is also a model and a TNP New Face 2017 finalist and can be regularly seen in campaigns within Singapore.
And when she’s not busy modelling or studying for school, she can be found on social media, bringing light to movements that are important to her. She is a vocal supporter on many social issues, frequently speaking up on things like human rights, racism, politics, and marginalised groups.
Searching for stylish and affordable clothes when you’re plus-sized is no easy feat, especially in Singapore where the majority of brands only carry up to a size UK 14. This has lead Rani Dhaschainey and Ratna Devi Manokaran to start The Curve Cult, a fashion boutique that specialises in plus size outfits for ladies.
The idea came about when Rani used to hold open houses at her place for people to try on plus size clothes before buying them online. She then moved on to holding pop-up stores and enjoyed the interaction and shopping experiences she was providing to her customers. This inspired her to open a brick-and-mortar store in Far East Plaza as a way to cultivate a community and a safe space for women to come and shop and chat.
Rani and Ratna are also prominent body activists, preaching self-love and empowering women to accept their bodies the way they are. Due to phase 2 measures, they are now holding weekly teh tarik sessions on Zoom to provide a safe space for everyone to chat in a body-positive zone.
If you like kitschy, quirky jewellery pieces, then this label is the one for you. Created by illustrator Dada (@thatgaldada), Bon Bons was a way for Dada to blend her creativity with fashion.
The label stocks colourful handmade polymer clay hair clips with fun beaded earrings reminiscent of the kind of jewellery you would wear as a child.
While the items are not on sale yet, they will be very soon, so give their IG page a follow to be alerted when the first batch drops. And while you’re at it, head on over to Dada’s own personal page as well. It’s filled with colourful illustrations of Dada’s work which will bound to put a smile on your face.
After a serendipitous trip of self-discovery brought Nazneen Aziz to the stores of Bali, it was there where she created her first piece of jewellery: a swivel ring made from found silver. This has since parlayed into a full-fledged jewellery brand called Pyar.
Derived from the Sanskrit word “Priya” which means beloved, the line takes inspiration from treasured moments of stillness, rhythms of nature and human connection.
From oversized gold hoops to shell amulets, Pyar has pieces that you could easily incorporate into your everyday wear with ease. Pyar’s pieces are also ethically made from certified recycled silver and brass sourced from a trusted supplier located in Bali. They also ensure that the artisans hired are properly compensated and given proper benefits such as work training and childcare for working mothers.
If you’re a fan of fashion influencer Camira Asrori, then her namesake label would be familiar to you. Specialising in resort wear, the Camira Asrori line is filled with statement-making clothes that is a must for everyone with a bold, personal style.
The designer has a knack for knowing what looks good visually which stems from her former training as a fashion stylist. After having difficulty finding the kind of clothes she wanted to wear in stores, Camira realised why not just personally design the stuff she wanted?
The label has since gone from strength to strength, with her last holiday collection featuring sequinned party dresses that you can wear for dressier events.
Talk about clothing that will put a smile on your face. Minor Miracles is a fun, colourful label that came about after founder Dawn Bey created an exclusive print for her bridesmaids.
She soon started receiving encouraging requests about her prints and decided to combine her love for pattern making with her core discipline of fashion design. And just like that, Minor Miracles was born.
Aided by a locally staffed team of fashion graduates and creatives, the labels feature clothing and accessories in vibrant one-of-a-kind prints that are anything but cookie-cutter. Think pinafore dresses with bubble hems and printed sportswear that’s bound to make you a standout at the yoga studio. We especially love the colourful face masks they’ve recently created and we’re not the only ones as they seem to sell out almost immediately with each release.
Inspired by the joy and magic of exploration, Wray Crafted is a slow fashion label that aims to design classic and easy-to-wear pieces that can be taken on a lifetime of adventures. Think breezy blouses and dresses with traditional mirrorwork embroidery and hand-tied tassels that would be perfect for vacations (when we can finally travel again) or Sunday brunches.
The label also goes out of their way to work hand-in-hand with skilled artisans and local communities and all their pieces are crafted in limited batches alongside artisan communities.
As a celebration of the rich culture and heritage of India, their first collection features the work of artisans from Rajasthan.
Ever stare into your closet and think “I have nothing to wear”? Well, The Form was created by Wu Kailing as a response to that.
With the idea of the 80-20 rule in mind (where it is believed that the average person only wears 20% of their wardrobe on a regular basis), The Form wants to approach fashion with intentionality, creating high-quality pieces that will last for years, ensuring their pieces will fall in the 20% of pieces that you can reach for again and again.
If you’re in the market for classic pieces with a twist, look no further than this minimalist brand. One of their highlights is the silk satin slip skirt, a classic piece that’s bound to look great dressed up or down.
This isn’t just your grandmother’s old clothes, it is your grandmother’s clothes. Inspired by the classic samfu (a matching breezy shirt and trouser set) that her grandmother would always wear, founder Trixie Chua felt compelled to come up with an ethical label that reflected the timeless style and sustainability of the older generation.
Like their name suggests, the label exclusively makes matching top and bottom sets that can be purchased as a set or individually for you to mix and match.
And as part of their bid to be as eco-conscious as they can, Dear Samfu’s products are made from remnant fabrics left behind in the supply chain by larger brands to avoid the production of new material.
What were you doing when you were 13? Well, for Ava Soh, she was creating her very own jewellery collection. The 13-year-old (yes, 13!), was always interested in fashion design and was looking for a way to empower women through her creations.
The idea for the jewellery pieces came about when Ava was eating a love letter on her finger during Chinese New Year. She realised how much it looked like a ring and when she researched on the snack, she found out that in the past Peranakan girls would hide their love letters in the biscuit and give it to the boys they were interested in.
Instead of giving these pieces to anyone else, she wanted women to be gifting these love letters to themselves as a form of self-appreciation and self-love.
Text: Cheryl Chan/CLEO.
- TAGS:
- Fashion
- jewellery
- local designers