10 reasons why you should #supportlocal and #shoplocal

Written by: Niki Bruce

When I first arrived in Singapore over 10 years ago, I was told by everyone that Singapore didn’t really have any local fashion. That it wasn’t worth searching out Singapore designers and spending my money on them; I was told that I’d be better off shopping all the international labels instead.

However being my perverse self, I did make a point of searching out as much Singapore design talent as I could. And it was there, it wasn’t always fantastic, but there were a few strong labels that were definitely worth spending my hard-earned cash on.

Now, after 10 years of ups and downs in the world of Singapore fashion, from the launch and eventual closure of Singapore Fashion Week; the opening and closing of tens of Singapore fashion brands; the rise of the blogshops and brands launched on Instagram, I can definitely say that there are at least 10 great Singapore brands we should be buying.

The whole idea of #supportlocal and #shoplocal is about support local talents, the artisans and the small businesses in your home country. It’s about being proud of being local and showing your love via your wallet.

Plus, more often than not, local fashion and accessories brands also tend to be supportive of other artisans and businesses in their own countries too. So, double benefit for the local economy.

Here are 10 of my personal favourite Singapore fashion brands and designers that are worth spending your money on … I’ve certainly spent enough of my own on them.

In Good Company. This contemporary brand offers brilliant value for money – think machine washable silk – with its sharp, interesting, but wearable ready-to-wear clothes for men, women and even kids. The brand also has a strong contemporary accessories line and a cute cafe in its ION Orchard store.

Depression. Despite its name, or maybe in spite of it, this unisex underground streetwear brand has survived the ups and downs of the retail industry to come out on top. A brand beloved by anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd in Singapore’s homogenous style of tees, shorts and flip-flops; Depression has celebrity fans around the world and cult status in Asia.

Carrie K Artisan Jewellery. Yes, jewellery is fashion. You can’t go past the beautiful pieces created by Carolyn Kan that come with their own stories and often with a sense of humour. She’s also known for organising Keepers Studio, a marketplace for lots of other Singapore brands. Carrie K is a superstar Singapore brand.

Ametsubi. A mix of Japanese and Southeast Asian style thanks to the two designers, this brand is classic fashion with an Asian twist; imagine white shirts with interesting trims and tucks.

Wai Yang. A Burmese designer trained in Singapore, Wai Yang creates soft wearable ready-to-wear clothes in amazing and interesting fabrics like chromed leather and great original prints. A very new brand, this is one to definitely shop while you can.

Ong Shunmugam. This is one of Singapore’s top bespoke fashion labels. Known originally for its designer’s mix of traditional Asian fabrics and silhouettes with modern fashion shapes, the brand is gaining a strong reputation for bespoke wedding gowns and special occasion dresses.

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Love, Bonito. This is a fashion brand that’s grown from strength to strength just as its founders have. Originally dismissed as an online ‘blogshop’, the brand has gone from popular cheap clothing to creating a dedicated range of stylish, clean, modern workwear for Singapore women. It’s gown so much that it now has two bricks ‘n’ mortar stores.

Esse. This is one of the newer brands and its focus is not just on fashion but also on sustainability; designer Alicia Tsi uses bamboo and organic cotton to create classic ‘basics’ with a cool-girl feel.

Kattt Ibrahim. Beautiful fabrics and clean, minimalist lines for modest fashion lovers; this is a great new Singapore brand that’s really worth checking out, whether you are into modest wear or not.

Ling Wu. The OG handbag and leather accessories brand for the new Singapore generation, Ling Wu creates beautifully coloured, soft exotic leather bags that are really functional, but still super stylish. I’ve got two of them.

These are 10 of my favourites, but there are lots of other great brands that are worth discovering like Aijek for feminine dresses, Ethan K for luxe bags, K.Blu for swimwear, Naked and Unbound for underwear and Matter Prints for eco-friendly printed pants, and Stolen for sexy but simple clothes.

So, why not discover your own favourite Singapore designers and fashion brands so you can #supportlocal and #shoplocal too.

Niki Bruce is a fashion writer and editor. You can follow her on @ini_niki_b or on www.nikibruce.com.