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SQ and Alex are the designers behind local menswear label,  Coupé-Cousu. Their design aesthetic favours understatement over complex detailing and unnecessary embellishments. Every piece of garment they create has to marry design and function. “This practicality perhaps came from our academic background in finance and business,” Alex adds. “To us, our challenge in design is a lot about engineering and creating interesting garments while respecting the constraints and structure necessary in contemporary menswear.”

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About the Geometry in Grey collection: “Using a material as stark and unassuming as a concrete block, Japan’s architect extraordinaire Tadao Ando created extremely clever and modern-looking architecture by playing with spatial aesthetics, natural light and geometry. For example, the calculated placement of concrete slabs with deference to the natural landscape creates interesting hues of greys and geometric shadow at different times of the day, resulting in architectural patterns that evolve constantly. Our collection draws inspiration from his expansive body of work and philosophy, utilising essentially plain, un-embellished fabrics and constructing them in a way to create depth. Through the interplay of angled geometrical shapes, tonal colour and textures, we aim to manifest the abstract notion of space and interpret shadow – both hallmarks of Ando’s work. These are done with high regard for the function and structure of the garments. Materials are also chosen to reflect Ando’s delicate balance of tradition and modernity, such as the use of synthetic fabrics on classic styles.”

The “Geometry in Grey” collection will be launched late April 2010 at Parco@Millenia.

Photography by Brendan Zhang, Milk Photographie. Hair & Make-up by Julienne Tan. Model: Brittany Jursic, Mannequin.

A freelance fashion stylist and contributor with Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore, Ai Mei, was accepted into Central Saint Martin’s 2009 cohort for BA (Hons) Womenswear, before graduating from LASALLE College of the Arts, with a Diploma in Fashion Design in 2008. Ai Mei is the designer behind the MAE PANG label, which will open its first flagship store at PARCO’s Next this April.

Worked specifically around the Bassin Du Dragon -a central water fountain in the Gardens of Versailles-  Ai Mei’s Phantasmagoria collection is a glimpse into the quiet dramatics of the garden grounds. Depicting children riding majestic sea dragons, MAE PANG explores the fantasy story behind this prolific piece of sculpture, together with notions of guardian gargoyles and fantastical creatures alike. “The capsule collection awakens these phantom statues and silhouettes with silk screened images and dreamy pastel chalk tones,” Ai Mei adds. “The collection includes my signature cropped jackets and tops, in bold cutting-edge constructions inspired by gargoyle sculpture forms and the sharp structural configurations of dragons.”

Top: Bod Mod by ELOHIM – Bottom: Escapism by Reckless Ericka

Starting today ‚UNCOVERED‛ will be Reckless Ericka and ELOHIM by Sabrina Goh’s one week pop-up store.

This collaboration between both labels, is the sequel to the Blueprint Fashion Show at the Audi Fashion Festival 2009 in May, where both labels shared the same stage.

Located at Stamford House #01-13 for one week only -7 to 13 January- Reckless Ericka and Elohim by Sabrina Goh will be retailing the Spring/ Summer 2010 collections, “ESCAPISM” and “BOD MOD” respectively.

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Michelle Wong is  a 20-year-old fresh off fashion designer from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Michelle has a flair for fine tailored garments, and the featured pieces commanded some cosmic attention during the Parco Fashion Incubator contest last November.

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About her collection: “My collection is called “Austere” for the lack of adornment and ornamentation concept in my designs. I stripped off the entire collection of unnecessary fashion details such as drapes, ruffles, gathers, etc. With a history of tailoring in my family, my focus was mainly on the fine tailoring of my clothes and the quality fabrication. I went experimental with displaying the seams of my designs on the outside. ”

Michelle’s collection will be retailed at Parco Millenia starting April 2010. Until then,  feel free to drop her an email.

Photo Credits: Toon Liang (Photographer), Yuan Sng (Hair & Make-up), Vik Lim (Styling)

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In 2008, Terry Yeo graduated from the Universtity of Huddersfields, UK with a BA(Hons) in Fashion Design. In July 2009, Terry and his two buddies -Joe Kee and Ronnie Cheng-  decided to launch the ForInSaneHuman label.

Terry about the label: “We want to create a new style that provides consumers with another option when purchasing, while providing the label opportunities to create a new fashion statement in the local fashion line. We challenge the clubbing style in both the men and ladies wear market by designing over the top, yet wearable designs. Heavy details and the unconventional cutting is the major focus of each collection.”

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About the launch collection: The “Asylum” collection embodies the main element of calm insanity. The “Asylum” attracts certified insane people, a gathering point where twisted imagery of the mind is played over and over again. The collection consists of 5 pieces, each reflecting the elements of the strait jacket and the white room. The inspiration for the collection stems from the strait jacket – a restraining garment, which was found in 1946, used to restrain mental patients. The other inspiration comes from the white room, which is a padded confinement to house mental patients and prevent them from hurting themselves and others. You will find the extensive usage of straps details and the color white throughout the collection. The straps symbolize the harsh realities of life, sufferings that insane people are forced to keep within themselves. While the color white symbolizes the serenity and calmness that all insane people so desperately seek in their lives.”

bedlamite [bed-luh-mahyt] -the menswear label- will be available at Parco Millenia, from April 2010 onwards. bedlam [bed-luhm] -the womenswear label- is scheduled to launch late 2010.

Click image for more designs. Photo credit: Test Shoot Gallery.

Pauline Lim graduated from Temasek Polytechnic with a Diploma in Apparel Design & Merchandising, and worked on an eight-week internship at Song & Kelly. Earlier this year she received a BA Fashion Design from Lasalle, and started her own label -pauline.ning- with the Fashion Incubator.

Click image for more designs. Photo credit: Test Shoot Gallery.

Pauline about her collection: ‘When Technology Wounds’ is an assemblage of man-made and natural elements, reconciling both technology and human touch. The collection is represented by two seemingly distant themes, fusing Industrial Revolution and Art Nouveau, a movement brought about as a reflex response to the encroachment of technology on human touch. The rigid structures and freedom of lines results in an urban feminine collection, that forms a juxtaposition of structures and soft drapes. Drawn to organic shapes and elements, gathering together contradictions, the result is a mix of opposites – raw and refined, structured and soft. With the ensemble of different fabrics (material, texture and color) in one garment, minimal touches of handcrafted detailing in the pieces give a unique combination.”

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Max Tan believes with zeal and passion in what he does. Graduating form Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Max’s passion for fashion design embarks on an adventure with a boosting start, as he bags the 2006 Best Graduate Award at NAFA with his first collection, ‘Wrath and Temptations’. The following year, Max clinches second runner-up in the Singapore Fashion Designers Contest, with his debut collection, ‘Borrowing from My Boyfriend’s Wardrobe’

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Max about his Spring/Summer 2010 collection, titled PRESSED: “How many ways can you re-imagine a white shirt? The variations are practically infinite and this time, I trained my focus on the single item that may be absolutely recession-proof; a classic white shirt. If that sounds conservative, there is nothing workaday about these shirts. Shirts are toyed with quirk cuttings and blown up proportions, conjuring up silhouettes that conceal the wearer’s form, creating a new shape altogether. Transparencies of pleated organza combined with cotton shirting add a feminine air of lightweightness to the sobriety of an otherwise strict and sharp collection. Expanding on the idea of pressing a crisp white shirt, streaks of pleating are introduced to the crisp white cotton shirting collection. Normal work trousers are traded for pleated wide legged palazzos with a “collared” waistband, sleeves are also blown out of proportions for cuffed jumpsuits.”

Max’s designs are available from Blackmarket, and eggthree’s  Erskine Road and Mandarin Gallery outlets.

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skins ‘n’ bones designer, Nicole Wong is currently finishing her Degree in Fashion Design at the Raffles Design Institute. “Fashion to me is passion, and I don’t mind having sleepless nights and fashion thoughts running through my head all day long, because I can’t see myself doing anything else. I guess you can say that I’m a workaholic, and I won’t rest … ever.”

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Earlier this month, Nicole debuted her Bliss in Abyss capsule collection at Parco’s newly introduced Fashion Incubator Project. “I was watching the Lord of The Rings, when I saw the Dark Riders. I thought they looked really cool, and I was wondering what they would look like in real life. Though, my inspiration was based only loosely around those characters, the design philosophy behind my collection is edgy, dark and thought provoking. I like to explore the often unconventional and oblong styles, and apply them to my designs. I wanted to show a darker side to fashion. I stuck to a rather dark color palette, and a more destroyed, unconventional look, which is why I named it “Bliss in Abyss”. Bliss in Abyss” literally means finding a sort of comfort and satisfaction in a darker, more mysterious light. It was a play on silhouette, as you can see from the layers and the hard edges, as well as the structure, how it’s carefully given the destroyed, yet unique look.”

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Launching today is Priscilla Tan’s debut collection, Miss Dotti Bow. Priscilla graduated with a degree in Fashion Marketing from Huddersfield University, and holds a diploma in Fashion Design from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

Her collection -released under the Chalk label-  is all about Miss Dotti Bow, an imagery character, whose favorite childhood memory was of the day when she was playing with her dolls, and quite accidentally stumbled upon a box brimming with colorful ribbons, novelty trimmings, and cheerful polka dot fabrics. “That is when I decided to dress in pretty clothes, exactly like my dolls, and started styling and creating my own looks,” Priscilla adds.

Each collection comes with a  limited range of stationery that complements the collection and is individually handmade with love.

Chalk designs are stocked at Soon Lee, 56 Haji Lane Level 2.

Throughout her academic life, Mandy Wu has been trained in Sciences. While pursuing a bachelor degree in Chemistry, she decided she needed a creative outlet. “Going into jewelry design was a natural choice, because I see jewelry as instrumental in telling  stories and evoking emotions,” Mandy explains. “Plus, I have always been intrigued by the amount of detail and personality a single piece of jewelry can add to an outfit.”

For her 09/10 collection, Mandy sought to capture the dark romantic essence of one’s transition from girlhood to womanhood. Mandy: “During this transition, the girl sheds her innocence. She discoveres deep emotions and embraces her sexuality. Hence, I wanted to create something sensual, yet elegant. I used quite a bit of symbolism when designing this collection. For instance, crystals and pearls were used to convey innocence and purity while skulls were made the centerpieces to imply an end. Pink roses were used to represent first love as well as the innocence that disappeares with its end.”