Cover Jon Max Goh's winning showcase at the Singapore Stories Finale 2021 (Photo: Tatler Singapore)

The competition, organised by the Textile and Fashion Federation (Taff), reveals its new theme, Fashion United

The search for Singapore’s next big fashion designer is on. Singapore Stories, the annual fashion design competition organised by the Textile and Fashion Federation (Taff), has returned for its 2022 edition with a new theme.

This year, the competition shines a spotlight on Singapore’s unique position as a multicultural fashion hub in Southeast Asia. Following the theme Fashion United, budding fashion designers are invited to explore and celebrate the diversity and cross-cultural artistry of Asian fashion found in Singapore through a six-look capsule collection.

“When we started Singapore Stories about 3 years ago, the idea was to provide inspiration and perspectives that contestants can get from their daily stories, that they can use,” said Taff CEO, Semun Ho. “So what we want is to celebrate contestants’ perspectives and their designs as well.”

Read more: Jon Max Goh Is the Winner of Singapore Stories 2021

To inspire their creative process, participants will have access to the Heritage Conservation Centre and the archives of the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) for research. Of course, they will also have to think about the future, and are encouraged to tap onto innovative and circular design to make their creations sustainable.

Candidates who make it to the first round with their sketches and moodboard will be tasked to create one look from their collection that will be presented to the competition judges. Following that, they will have eight weeks to develop the rest of their capsule collection, under the guidance of established experts in design, retail, commerce and media in Asia. These mentors will offer feedback and advice on design, and running a fashion business, allowing contestants to learn the ropes of the industry.

There are even more resources for designers to tap on to bring their creations to life, namely access to the 3D fashion design platform Browzwear, a vast catalogue of fabrics offered by Seoul-based SwatchOn, and the sewing facilities and machinery housed at The Maker’s Studio in The Cocoon Space.

The spotlight cast on Singapore Stories contestants is bright and wide, too. Semi-finalists will showcase their designs at the refreshed Design Orchard, Taff’s retail space at the heart of Singapore’s iconic shopping district that’s dedicated to local brands. Finalists will also unveil their capsule collections through a digital runway show, which will be attended by seasoned and influential figures of the fashion industry.

What’s in it for the winner of Singapore Stories? For one, the prestigious Singapore Fashion Award trophy. The honouree will also get to showcase their designs at the ACM—which has previously featured legendary couturiers like Guo Pei and Singapore’s own Lai Chan—and make their debut at Paris Fashion Week. To get their fashion brand up and running, the winner will also be presented with a S$5,000 cash prize and a wealth of retail opportunities with Design Orchard and its online store, OneOrchard.Store.

Since it was launched in 2020, Singapore Stories has acted as a springboard for local fashion talents. Last year’s winner, Livingwear designer Jon Max Goh, impressed judges with a futuristic collection that reflected a “non-Eurocentric landscape” and a human sensibility where people are “boundless, celestial and able to transcend the confines of human reality,” as he described.

As the official luxury media partner of Singapore Stories, Tatler Singapore was there to film the competition, including the fashion show presented by Goh and the other 2021 finalists. In our video series, Goh expressed his desire to use his Singapore Stories prize to create an atelier practice with local craftsmen and artisans, stating, “I think that is what the Singapore Stories is, to be able to showcase that we have what it takes to make great fashion for an international audience.”

Goh will make his return to the design competition, this time as a mentor. Stay tuned to see what inventive fashion designs are dreamed up by homegrown creatives for Singapore Stories, right here.

Find out more on the Singapore Stories website.

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