Audi Fashion Festival: Strong local showing

Team Singapore had a strong showing at this year's Audi Fashion Festival.

And celebrities including Patricia Mok, Vivian Lai and Xu Bin were seen at the six-day event, which was held at Ngee Ann City and ended yesterday.

A dozen local designers had the opportunity to show their collection to a hall of appreciative fans.

This is not including the students from Lasalle College of the Arts and those at the Harper's Bazaar Asia New Generation Fashion Designer Award show.

Further cementing the local connection, even the festival's opening act had a Singapore connection: Nepalese designer Prabal Gurung was born here.

The Singaporeans showed widely different aesthetics, from the old-school glitz of Ashley Isham to the exuberance of hip label Revasseur.

Here are five emerging stars of the local fashion scene:

AWOL

Alfie Leong has been at this for nearly 20 years, and that experience showed.

The bold, colourful and shiny collection was confounding and exciting. There were pieces that had me wondering how one got into them, but imagine the attention you will get when you step into a room.

ONG SHUNMUGAM

Right now, no one is hotter than Priscilla Shunmugam in the local design scene. Her label Ong Shunmugam has been winning accolades and fans.

Hers was a subtle, elegant collection of outfits with the cheongsam collar.

SATURDAY

Veteran Nic Wong showed a sleek, mostly monochromatic collection - perfect for the well-heeled woman.

There were many layers of clothes, but the overall feel is easy. There is fluidity even when the fabric is stiff.

EXHIBIT

Social media darling Yoyo Cao and partner Angie Chia made their debut with a black, white and pink collection.

I liked the fact that the look was not skintight but slightly more relaxed. These are clothes you can brunch in.

Providing jewellery was another Singaporean label, Curated Edition.

HANSEL

The happiest, cheeriest collection came from Hansel.

Designer Jo Soh kept it simple and wearable, with a fairy-light print becoming the focus.

While it was slightly scary to see so many models grinning and laughing down the catwalk, it was refreshing.

weeteck@sph.com.sg

This article was published on May 19 in The New Paper.

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