Retail has always been a part of my life. Certain brands allow me to cultivate my own identity through clothes. However, in Singapore, these established brands are always mass-produced that it is almost impossible to find someone who has the same clothes as you. Therefore, this encouraged me to look for more unique clothing pieces that can build my character. My search led me to Singapore’s local fashion brands.
I started small, meaning I did not purchase a whole set of outfit, because I was still doubtful if their pieces can match my style - which is often sophisticated but comfy. Dresses are my favourite pieces of clothes since it is easy to mix-and-match with shoes and accessories. So, I picked a Yacht 21’s Midi dress and a luxurious rattan-weaved bag from Lingwu’s to match. I wore this for a weekend meet-up with two of my friends from college. And the whole time, they had never stopped gushing and asking me where I bought them.
It never occurred to me how impactful my looks were until I shopped more local clothing brands for me to experiment with. It has almost become an obsession for me. It is what I always think about when I am not working.
The more I became engrossed in the local clothing industry, the more attention I got from my friends. In a way, this has led me to further build an identity using clothes. I became a trendsetter for all of my friends. In no time, I encouraged them to buy from local fashion brands in Singapore. And, guess what, they also loved it!
If you could look at my closet right now, you would find different prints that present Chinese cultural costumes converted into modern pieces you can wear every day. It is also worth saying that you can find different ways to incorporate them into your outfit. Like, this staple piece of a scarf I bought from Binary Style. It has a familiar design of roosters that may represent the Chinese zodiac sign. Their designs are so subtle that you will not even notice that these are just red triangles stitched together to form a pattern. I wear this as a headband, a belt, a scarf, and sometimes I tie it around my handbag to add a little detail. It is so versatile!
If you prefer a different kind of way to mix-and-match your clothing pieces, this local fashion brand has it all. As for me, I will always stick with sophisticated pieces that are timeless but also provide me comfort for everyday use. They helped me achieve that, thus leaving an impact for other people who, now, admire my style.
If you want to build your own fashion identity, head over to Design Orchard in Singapore. They have the same products you would find in a retail store but more affordable and unique. To know more about their featured local clothing brands and advocacies, visit their website at https://www.designorchard.sg/shop.
