It has been almost two years since you won the Men’s Folio Singapore Designer of the Year competition. Take us through your new collection, what inspired you this time?
My graduate collection is titled “A Jester’s Act” and I was inspired by clowns, jesters, oddities and carnivalesque characters this time. It’s fuelled by the excess materialism held by the upper classes of society and explores the inequality of the world — more specifically the era where we are witnessing the full effects of climate change and fighting against capitalist order. I also used humour for playful juxtaposition between the light and dark themes explored.
I was first heavily inspired by the medieval jester, who could freely speak his mind without worrying about the consequences and whose role was not only to entertain, but to serve as advisor to the king or queen of those times. And from there, I went down the rabbit hole and discovered that there are three distinctive types of clowns in the circus — mainly the Whiteface who holds the highest hierarchy and is usually the leader, the Auguste which usually accompanies the Whiteface and lastly the Tramp clown, who was inspired by homeless people in the 19th century, who is the receiver of the other clowns’ comic doings. These three archetypes of clowns are very reflective of class distinction in modern society, therefore I’ve decided to divide my collection into three couples to represent each of these archetypes.
This is an even larger collection. What was the process like?
This story is from the May 2023 edition of MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2023 edition of MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is That Nostalgia I Hear On The Runway?
What can the soundtrack of a fashion show say about the state of fashion, culture and the way we negotiate the movement of music through time? With an observed rise in the use of indie music during the Fall/Winter '24 collections, Men's Folio does some research.
Nobody Does Hedi Like Hedi
Celine Summer '24 is an extension of Hedi Slimane's timeless methods of tackling masculinity, defined by two unchanging tenets of his ever-evolving career - his love for indie rock and the Hedi way.
Studio of Creativity
Bvlgari unveils the Bvlgari Studio in the heart of Seoul, where the maison's iconic B.zero1 shines as a symbol of cutting-edge spirit and creativity.
Two-Tone
From the classic gold and silver execution to new-age alchemy mixand-match, watchmakers are giving two-tone watches a new definition.
Heavy Duty
Sheathing oneself in adornments is a practice as old as time. But when sported by a new generation, the hard-shell decoration of the flesh and bone creates new life and new meaning in the art of decorating oneself.
A World of Our Own
Well into their idol crusade, ATEEZ has hit the jackpot time and again. Before their history-making Coachella stage and new world tour, Men’s Folio sits with MINGI, WOOYOUNG, YEOSANG and YUNHO of ATEEZ in an exploration of their journey, their destination and the friendships they have made along the way.
Heroic Vision
Louis Vuitton's Super Vision opticals are set to be the maison's next hero product.
A Road Never Travelled Before
One year after debuting, xikers, are bent on making sure they stay on the right path no matter which road they take.
Art de vivre.Even While In Seoul
Even while Seoul is packed with in culture, the Sofitel Ambassador Seoul is magnificent in its ability to imbue the French way of living with its impressive Parisian-styled spaces and culinary offerings that does not feel out of place in one of the city's most defining districts.
Rosy Posy
Indulge in the allure of \"Queen of the Garden\" with Belaire Rosé.