What was behind the decision to rename the Textile and Fashion Federation of Singapore (Taff) to Singapore Fashion Council (SFC)?

Wilson Teo (WT): It’s not simply a change in name. We wanted to be more inclusive of the wider fashion ecosystem in Singapore. Our previous name might have given the impression that you had to either be in fashion or textiles to become a member. Now, when we talk about fashion, there are so many aspects beyond being a fashion brand.

With this change, we want to let people know that SFC welcomes all players in the fashion industry that participate in different ways, be it through technology or innovations in the supply chain, for example. They should be part of the community.

As an authority on fashion in Singapore, what are SFC’s main goals?

WT: As a trade association, our goals remain the same. We want to be a voice for the fashion community and make sure that we can continue to uplift and support the local industry. What has changed is how we do it. We are focusing on three strategic thrusts: sustainability, fashion innovation and Asian craftsmanship. It is now clearer how all our activities revolve around these three pillars. We have a sharper focus on how we’re going to achieve our goal to position Singapore as an innovative fashion hub.

What do you think are the strengths that make Singapore perfectly primed to be a fashion hub for Asia?

WT: Singapore has a strategic position in Asia. We are surrounded by countries where manufacturing takes place. We can play a unique role as a hub, connecting the different stakeholders and fashion supply chains in the region.

In doing so, I think we can create a more vibrant space for our local fashion brands to thrive. There will be a lot of knowledge sharing and exchanges. Fashion businesses can come here for the network, the connections and the resources that we can offer. We don’t have a history or heritage of being a design hub, but we do have ideas and innovations to offer.

How do you think Singapore can differ from other global cities (e.g. Paris, London) as a fashion hub?

WT: We don’t want to be another New York, Paris, or even Tokyo or Shanghai. We don’t have the history or heritage that those big cities have. Our approach is different; we’re focusing on things like tech innovation and sustainability, which are all very important and relevant topics for the fashion industry.

SFC has announced partnerships with schools like Temasek Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Lasalle College of the Arts. How is SFC shaping fashion education in Singapore?

WT: We think that it’s important to get the younger generation more engaged and interested in the local fashion space. Having a successful career in fashion is not the first thing that comes to mind for a lot of people here. They have an impression that it’s challenging and tough. But I think there are a lot of opportunities in this industry, besides just designing beautiful things. It’s SFC’s role as a trade association to let the younger generation understand more about the local fashion industry and train them for those opportunities.

What initiatives does SFC have to equip new fashion entrepreneurs with the skills to run a business?

WT: One good example is The Bridge Fashion Innovator (TBFI) programme. We offer participants mentorship on how they can shape their business plans. These mentors come from different backgrounds; we have mentors who can advise on fundraising, or they could be from the investment space. We also have entrepreneurs themselves who can share their experience. We want to offer participants a holistic support to successfully run their own fashion business.

What are some ways that SFC hopes to promote appreciation of Asian craft techniques? How can it engage more talents to pick up and preserve these skills?

WT: We want to enable SFC members and designers with the skills to tell their own unique stories confidently. Our partnerships with institutions like Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) are helpful because they can expose them to rich resources of Asian heritage. We want to celebrate, promote and elevate Asian craftspeople and ecosystem. That’s what our objective is for creating programmes like Singapore Stories, where we celebrate local fashion designers and encourage them to find inspiration from ACM, for example.

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What are the ways that SFC already sees fashion and technology crossing over? What are the tools or technology that SFC is particularly excited about?

WT: It’s not just fashion; everything happens in the digital domain right now. At SFC, we’re very excited because these are all new opportunities for us. The digital space could offer a new avenue for us to showcase fashion. The metaverse is a good example; it’s something that we think is important to be a part of. Besides Design Orchard, local designers could also sell their products in the metaverse.

We’re also working with Starhub to see how we can tap into their solutions to enhance the experience of traditional commerce and create an omnichannel experience. Starhub is also exploring holographic telepresence technology.

The technology is out there, but it hasn’t been applied to the fashion industry yet.

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Would you say there has been a rise of digital or virtual fashion brands in Singapore?

WT: We have an alumnus from our TBFI programme who is solely creating digital fashion. And there’s definitely a growing interest in the digital space, especially from some of our members and even from traditional fashion brands. That’s also why SFC is trying to facilitate conversations and support our members in understanding more about it.

Does SFC intend on launching some version of Singapore Fashion Week in the future?

WT: We used to do a fashion week, but we realised that it may not be sustainable today to have in that form. We are open to creating another Singapore fashion week or festival, but it has to be impactful. There are already some ideas, like presenting it in the digital space and not just through physical fashion shows.

We currently have a few events like Singapore Stories, TBFI, and we have kicked off our Sustainability Summit. We want to bring them together and create a flagship fashion event for the local industry, so stay tuned.

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