Details
Traditional crafts form part of Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and local traditional craft practitioners have been using time-honoured techniques and materials to create objects of functional, aesthetic, and socio-cultural significance.
At the same time, traditional crafts are also evolving in response to changes in our social, cultural, and economic landscape. The emerging intersections between craft and design, culture and creativity, tradition and modernity open up possibilities for how craft can be a resource for designers seeking to integrate elements of local heritage and culture into their design brand and identity.
Bringing together local fashion designers and traditional craft practitioners, including participants of the National Heritage Board’s inaugural Craft X Design programme, this talk explores how craft, culture, and heritage can be a resource in developing a design brand that expresses Singaporean identity and draws on our local traditions and craft practices.
There will also be a demonstration session on Peranakan embroidery led by Raymond Wong for participants to learn more about this traditional craft up-close.
About the moderator:
Daniel Boey
Daniel Boey is a creative director and television personality who has designed experiences for fashion events worldwide. His portfolio includes work in the fashion capitals for high-profile clients like Vivienne Westwood. He is the creator of the award-winning The Front Row, Singapore’s Definitive Virtual Fashion Festival and directed the Louis Vuitton Phygital runway show in 2021. He is a Governor on the Board of the Asian Couture Federation and his television credits include three seasons of Asia’s Next Top Model.
About the panelists:
Raymond Wong, Peranakan beadwork and embroidery practitioner
Raymond Wong has been practicing Peranakan beadwork and embroidery for more than 16 years and is one of the last few Peranakan kebaya makers in Singapore. He is the co-owner of boutique shop Rumah Kim Choo, where he also conducts classes to teach and promote Peranakan beadwork. In addition, he has been a part-time Fashion Design and Textiles lecturer in LASALLE since 2013.
Joanna Lim and Joanne Quak, Aller Row
Aller Row is a Singapore-based fashion label founded by fashion and textile designers Joanna Lim and Joanne Quak. Heavily inspired by local culture and heritage, the label features fashionwear with timeless silhouettes, and their works have been featured with H&M, in the ASEAN Fashion Designer Showcase, and on online and print platforms such as Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue Italia.
Kavita Thulasidas, Stylemart
Kavita took over the management of Stylemart in 1999 and developed it into a high-end fashion label. She also launched her own fashion label Asian Woman in 2004, with her design philosophy inspired by heritage and culture, mixing Asian textiles and embroidery with western cuts and silhouettes. She was the winner of Singapore Stories 2022, with her capsule collection Heritage Reinterpreted and Beyond incorporating various design elements and intricate embroidery techniques from cultures in Asia.
Presented by National Heritage Board. Supported by the DesignSingapore Council and the National Design Centre.
This talk & demonstration is part of the Craft x Design showcase at the National Design Centre, Pop-up Gallery, Level 1, running till 2 April 2023. Find out more about the showcase here.
Organiser
National Heritage Board
As the custodian of Singapore’s heritage, the National Heritage Board (NHB)’s mission is to preserve and celebrate the shared heritage of our diverse communities, for the purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It also manages the national museums and heritage institutions, and sets policies relating to heritage sites, monuments and the National Collection.
Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg for more information.
Contact
Name: Arthur Tan / Lim XingYi
Email: arthur_tan@nhb.gov.sg / lim_xingyi@nhb.gov.sg
