Asia in design takes centre stage this June at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) with the return of #SGFASHIONNOW: Runway Singapore after its premiere in South Korea and the debut of ACM’s first contemporary jewellery display, #SGJEWELLERYNOW.
Both are part of the museum’s ongoing efforts to develop a Singapore design collection, which includes contemporary fashion, jewellery and furniture. They celebrate the exceptional craftsmanship of our region and bring Singapore’s multicultural, port city heritage to new audiences. They opened to the public on 27 June 2024.
#SGFASHIONNOW returns to Singapore with the largest edition yet
Returning home after its premiere in Busan and Seoul in 2023, #SGFASHIONNOW: Runway Singapore is the largest edition in the #SGFASHIONNOW series, bringing together works by 28 established and emerging designers.
On display in the Contemporary Gallery, the showcase is part of an ongoing partnership with LASALLE College of the Arts’ School of Fashion and is co-curated with its fashion students.
Since its debut in 2021, #SGFASHIONNOW has become a significant experimental platform to express the diversity of local fashion design, and the limitless potential of creatives and artisans that have lived, worked and been inspired by Singapore.
The showcase comes to life through a range of stunning garments, centred on the themes of craftsmanship, innovation in tradition and urban styles. This includes a Kebaya Jacket and Circle Skirt from Ans.Ein’s collection for Singapore Stories 2023, a fashion initiative by Singapore Fashion Council.
The show revisits works by internationally acclaimed Singapore fashion designers Andrew Gn, Thomas Wee and Ashley Isham, while celebrating cutting-edge creatives whose practices have been touched by Singapore, such as LINAOTH and Youths in Balaclava. It spotlights the winners of Singapore Stories 2021 and 2022, Jon Max Goh and Kavita Thulasidas.
This edition also includes a look by Baëlf Design that pushes the boundaries of fashion and art, on display in Singapore for the first time.
The displays have been thoughtfully designed using repurposed materials from past exhibitions, reflecting the museum’s commitment to sustainability. The showcase will be accompanied by a talk on Singapore fashion and the city, and a catalogue featuring works from the 2021 to 2023 editions of the series will be published in late July 2024.
Kennie Ting, Director of ACM and Peranakan Museum, said: “We are very pleased to bring #SGFASHIONNOW: Runway Singapore back home after its successful run in Seoul and Busan in 2023. This 2024 iteration of #SGFASHIONNOW caps off a three-year collaboration (2021–2023) between ACM, LASALLE College of the Arts’ School of Fashion, the Singapore Fashion Council, and the larger fashion community in Singapore, to spotlight and feature contemporary Singapore fashion design practice.
“The central question we pose to the audience across the series is: “What is Singapore fashion?” We don’t provide an answer. Instead, we suggest that in their cross-cultural diversity, blending East and West, bridging the contemporary and the traditional, and marrying craft and technology, the works of fashion presented in #SGFASHIONNOW reflect Singapore’s heritage and essence as a highly-urban, cosmopolitan, multicultural port city open to trade, commerce and innovation – a crossroads of people, cultures, materials and ideas from all over the world. Seen in this light, the one thing we can say about Singapore fashion is that it is in constant flux, shifting and evolving; just like how Singapore as city and nation continually re-invents itself for the future.”
Professor Steve Dixon, President, LASALLE College of the Arts, said: “This three-year collaboration with ACM has been a tremendously fruitful and memorable journey for all of us. There is such immense breadth and depth to Singapore fashion, and it is a fitting culmination to the project that this third edition toured successfully in South Korea before making its debut at ACM — giving our students the rare opportunity to work on a showcase overseas, and bringing a glimpse of Singapore's incredibly vibrant fashion scene beyond our shores. #SGFASHIONNOW is a testament to what we can do when passionate individuals from industry, museums, and education come together.
“I am very proud of all the LASALLE students who have played a curatorial role in these showcases, and deeply grateful to ACM for the wonderful partnership. I look forward to future opportunities for more collaborations.”
ACM deepens its foray into design with contemporary jewellery
Venturing beyond fashion to encompass a broader spectrum of design disciplines, ACM debuts #SGJEWELLERYNOW, its first-ever display of contemporary Singapore jewellery.
Staged as an intervention in the Jewellery Gallery on Level 3, the unique display highlights works by three notable Singaporean jewellery designers and houses — Edmond Chin, State Property and Foundation Jewellers.
These works reinterpret Southeast Asian heritage, exemplifying Singapore’s cross-cultural influences and remarkable craftsmanship.
Director Kennie Ting said: “Since 2019, ACM has explored “Asia in Fashion” as a curatorial theme, and Singapore fashion design practice within the larger context of this theme. This year’s #SGFASHIONNOW represents a milestone for us – we are now ready to venture into other contemporary forms of design, in particular jewellery and furniture. I am so excited to launch #SGJEWELLERYNOW – our first contemporary jewellery pop-up showcase, featuring three Singapore jewellery designers. I hope that our visitors enjoy this experimental pop-up and continue to support ACM’s initiatives in the space of championing and spotlighting Singapore design.”
#SGFASHIONNOW: Runway Singapore and #SGJEWELLERYNOW runs from 27 June 2024 to 1 September 2024 at ACM. Admission is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents. For more information, visit www.acm.org.sg.
Follow @acm_sg | www.facebook.com/asiancivilisationsmuseum and hashtags: #SGFASHIONNOW and #SGJEWELLERYNOW.
The Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) is Singapore’s national museum of Asian antiquities and decorative art. As the only museum in Asia with a pan-Asian scope, ACM is devoted to exploring the rich artistic heritage of Asia through its outstanding collection of masterpieces, and through ground-breaking special exhibitions.
Opened in 1997 and in its present building by the Singapore River since 2003, the museum traces its roots to the Raffles Museum, founded in the middle of the 19th century. ACM focuses on the many historical connections between cultures and civilisations in Asia, and between Asia and the world.
ACM presents the history and art history of Asia through the lens of Singapore as a cosmopolitan Asian port city – connecting people and cultures in Asia and beyond. ACM celebrates Asian aesthetic, craft, and imagination through four broad, cross-cultural, and pan-Asian themes – Maritime Trade, Faith and Belief, Materials and Design and Peranakan heritage and culture.
For more information, visit www.acm.org.sg or follow the museum on Facebook (@asiancivilisationsmuseum) and Instagram (@acm_sg).
