With the recent debut of the Akinn 2.4: Kind Earth collection, we interviewed the Singaporean performing artist on her inspirations and motivations for collaborating with Akinn's fashion designer Wykidd Song to create a sustainable and wholesome fashion capsule
Earlier this month, the Singapore design label Akinn—led by creative director Wykidd Song—came together with local singer-songwriter Inch Chua to launch a new fashion capsule collection, Akinn 2.4: Kind Earth, which anchored on the message of sustainability.
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In the name of making sustainability tenable, the collection took on a pragmatic approach with an understanding that an all-or-nothing mindset towards conscious fashion is largely unattainable. Instead of making grandiose attempts to transform one's fashion lifestyle, the collaborative effort believes in taking small steps towards being environmentally aware, seeking education, and practising mindfulness in our choices.
On the issue of making sustainable fashion approachable for all, Akinn's designer Wykidd Song believes in the philosophy of "Buy Smart, Buy Less". He says: "At Akinn, we try our best to choose the kindest fabric that suits the creation. There are a lot of high street brands that highlight their green labels, making it obvious to customers. Make it a point to read the labels to know what you are buying."
In that light, Akinn's approach has always been through the lens of low waste design and timeless silhouettes instead of chasing seasons or trends. With this collection, this ethos extends further by utilising a selection of earth-friendly nature-derived fabric and materials to amplify the need to appreciate the kind earth we live in.
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Featuring 11 unique pieces, Akinn 2.4: Kind Earth takes practical steps in the direction of conscious consumption in style. Centred around earth-friendly fabrics like viscose, tencel and cotton; accompanied by shades that are an ode to all things natural - stimulated by the colour palette present in Mother Nature, and a sense of wonder for the world we live in—warm, summer hues that embrace you, mysterious seas and its glitter, dancing barefoot on the grass.
On the key difference between sustainable fashion design and that of its non-sustainable counterpart, Song explained, “It starts with the curation and choice of fabric. Being mindful of not incorporating one derived from petroleum would be a good place to begin one’s sustainable creative exercise. I will also try and design items that have low or zero waste to the cuts.”
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Designed in collaboration with local musician, singer and lover of Mother Earth—Inch Chua—the musical artist lends a key inspiration to the collection from her very own single, ‘trees’. A powerful ode to nature, it relates to her personal experience during lockdown, and her lamentations about finding comfort in nature surrounding us—which involves taking refuge in the simple things around us, things we take for granted so often and to heal and grow.
We interview the artist on her inspirations behind this unique collaboration with Akinn.
