Singapore Designers: Delightfully Modern With A Touch of the 1980s
By Michelle Taylor
Photos by Alex Zotos

SYDNEY, May 9, 2004/ FW/ --- Singapore, a small island nation in Southeast Asia with a population of only 4.16 million is better known as a trading post than a fashion capital in Asia.

With the country’s top 8 designers showing at Mercedes Australian Fashion Week last Wednesday, we get a glimpse of the country’s modernity converging it with its Asian heritage.

Annoyingly Enormous presented a very colorful collection ranging from bright red to moss green, with some interesting color combinations such as aqua and sunflower yellow.

The silhouette is flowing and soft, the most interesting is a malong-based skirt in beige. Though hardly revolutionary, the collection is unique and interesting.

Baylene showed influences from other famous Asian designers such as Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo of Comme Des Garcons. With layered fabrics that were sometimes voluminous, it sometimes looked too heavy for spring and summer.

The collection is not without merits though. The designer’s use of rubber boots as in rain boots is delightful and will be a hit with the teens and early twenties market.

Celia Loe was more mainstream with her trapeze chiffon dresses cut with wide lapels and sometimes featuring some ruche. Very wearable and right on target with the romantic trend that hit the international runways for Fall 2004.

Daniel Yam is heading for a cult status kind of wear, catering to the club going set, though his cobalt blue cocktail dresses with its flowing ribbons can easily fit into New York’s Studio 54.

Franciz went Polynesian with his colorful spaghetti strap dresses. With the models wearing flowers in their hair, it was like a Hawaiian luau.

Hansel was 1980s modern. Remember Members Only? She updated it for the 21st century. Interesting use of adidas shoes in all the outfits.

Mime used thongs as in beach footwear for their asymmetrical flowing dresses that look like something you can wear over your swimsuit.

Redsmith also revisited the 1980s with colored tights, mid-calf dresses and skorts. Tops featured Peter Pan collars.

Annoyingly Enormous Designer

Baylene Designer

Celia Loe Spring 2005

Daniel Yam Spring 2005

Franciz Designer