From The Straits Times    |

One of the biggest fashion events on the Singapore calendar, Audi Fashion Festival Singapore (AFF) returns to the heart of Orchard Road this year.


From left: Prabal Gurung, Oscar de la Renta 

From May 14 to 18, 2014, all fashion focus will be on the Tent@Orchard outside Ngee Ann City. And for good reason – designer Prabal Gurung will open AFF 2014 with his Autumn Winter 2014 collection. What a treat it will be to see the Himalayas-inspired pieces on the runway. Here’s a little piece of trivia about the Nepalese-American designer – he was born in Singapore.

The closing show will not be outdone – Oscar de la Renta will make sure the AFF 2014 will end with a great bang. We can’t wait to see the glorious gowns, much loved by Hollywood celebrities, up close and we hear that Kate Bosworth will be sitting front row at the de la Renta show.


The faces of SK-II Kate Bosworth and Godfrey Gao will be attending AFF 2014

Yes, you read it right, the A-list fashionista will be flying into Singapore as the face of SK-II, the official skin care of the festival. Bosworth will be joined by fellow hottie and SK-II face, Godfrey Gao. The latter will be strutting his stuff in homegrown designer Ashley Isham’s showcase of his Autumn Winter 2014 collection at AFF 2014.


Homegrown designer Ashley Islam (left) will be presenting a show along with Malaysian designer Jonathan Liang at the AFF 2014 

Along with Isham who returns to the AFF tent, up-and-coming Japanese designers will also present their creations as part of the Parco Japan Showcase at the festival. Malaysian designers Farah Khan and Jonathan Liang are also part of the exciting line up. The Paris-based Liang’s Autumn Winter 2014 collection will be presented along with Roberta Pieri bags.


Designer Priscilla Shunmugam (far left) of Ong Shunmugam and Yoyo Cao (middle) and Angie Chia of Exhibit will be making their AFF debuts

This year, Singaporean labels are well presented. AFF 2014 sees familiar names like Saturday and Hansel and new ones like Ong Shunmugam, Exhibit and Curated Editions making their debut. Dzojchen, Revasseur and Mae Pang will be part of the Essential Looks 1.2014 by Schwarzkopf Professional showcase while homegrown brands like Aijek and 2HB will be showing in the Singapore Designers Showcase.

We will be also on the lookout for future fashion stars at AFF at the Audi Star Creation 2013 Capsule Collection and Lasalle Degree Fashion Show 2014.

The Audi Fashion Festival 2014 will be at the Tent@Orchard from May 14 to 18, 2014. For more information, go to www.audifashionfestival.com. Get updates on AFF 2014 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AudiFashionFestivalSingapore, on Twitter @AudiFashionFest and Instagram @AudiFashionFest and by following the hashtag #affsg.