PUBLISHED April 5th, 2013 02:14 am | UPDATED July 22nd, 2024 03:16 pm
For those that aren’t yet in the know, Parco next NEXT was the first designer incubator zone in Singapore, a scheme established in 2010 to curate the latest young designer labels. Each year the space showcases the next generation of local fashion designers.
Here at City Nomads, we believe that the Parco incubator scheme is a fantastic initiative to support and give concentrated exposure to young designers. For me, it was inspiring to go down to Parco for a preview and learn all about their work. Having a touch and feel session with the clothing and learning about the craftsmanship and ideas behind the finished product on the rails, really made all the difference when it came to understanding the thought processes behind each designer’s collection.
Check out a couple of our favourite young designers to watch for 2013 and beyond!
LION EARL
Homegrown label LION EARL has already gathered quite a fashionable following in Singapore. His clothes have made a centre stage appearance during Digital Fashion Week, where he designed a custom-made dress for blogger Rana from Bonjour Singapore. His own private label, Lionelow, is also stocked at hip multi-label boutique MY-thology on Club Street.
For S/S ’13, designer Lionel Low has taken inspiration from crushed papers and scrap metallic pieces. The prints have been created and developed by crushing papers and shooting them under both white and amber light, then editing on photo shop. The result? A beautiful, sensitive 3D texture that is honestly unlike nothing I’ve ever seen before. Some of the designs also feature Swarovski elements. We say top marks for creativity.
Classic movie TRON was Lionel’s muse for his new collection, providing inspiration for the running lines on some of his designs. As a huge fan of TRON and any science fiction movie, I cannot help but find this crazily cool.
An original and exciting collection, LION EARL will be showing at Audi Fashion Week this May, with calendar dates yet to be unveiled. Nomads, watch this space.
SALONI RATHOR
For Spring, Saloni Rathor’s collection has been influenced by extensive travelling stints around Asia. Sourcing their light and airy materials from India, the colourful and vibrant hues of their fabric make the designers pieces wearable, versatile and flattering.
Saloni Rathor will be exhibiting and the blueprint tradeshow this forthcoming 16-17 May.
ALEXANDRIA CHEN
Alexandria Chen’s S/S ’13 collection, Created Reality (Creality) has been inspired by the underwater sculptures of Jason Taylor Decaires. This English artist worked to create cement sculptures that change in response to their environment.
Alexandria herself saw the works as parallel to human beings creating & living in a concrete jungle, and believing it as reality, thus the mix of cement grey and shades of green as choice of colour palette.
REVASSEUR – For Lovers & Daydreamers
Quirky label Revasseur, well known for its whimsical and avant-garde designs on the local fashion scene, offers a S/S’13 collection that is nothing short of tongue-in-cheek chic.
The Ships Ahoy! collection has been inspired by Fleet Week and the designer Gilda’s obsession with sailors – or rather, what they wear. Common motifs appearing throughout are stripes, anchors and boat shapes with the sailor-esque colour scheme of red, white and blue made snazzier with playful gold accents.
The PARCO collections will be released by this April, and you will also be able to catch the PARCO Next next designers show case their work at Audi Fashion Week this May!
To find out more about Parco Next next click here
Parco @ Marina Bay is open daily: 10:30am – 9:30pm
Written by A Fashionable Leo