At times like this — where uncertainty has become the main theme in our daily lives — we wonder what the future of fashion would be.
Would trendy clothes still be relevant, especially when we’re spending more time indoors than ever? Is it finally time we as consumers pay more attention to sustainable practices in the fashion world? And how do we continue to use fashion as a way of expressing our individuality?
LASALLE College of Arts’ recent graduate fashion show perfectly explored and reflected on these topics and more. The collections consisted of pieces designed by 26 final-year students from the Arts’ BA(Hons) Fashion Design and Textiles course. And each collection is reflective of the graduates’ versions of fashion’s future.
“How fashion impacts the world is an ongoing and critical conversation we want our students to be a part of,” said Circe Henestrosa, Head of School of Fashion at LASALLE. “By seeding in them a sense of inquiry and equipping them with skills to respond to changing needs of the present whilst anticipating future demands, we hope they can contribute to a better fashion ecosystem for generations ahead.”
Ready to have a peek at what fashion could look like in the future? Keep scrolling to explore their collections, below.
Agnes’ collection focuses on functionality, and her garments give wearers the freedom to adjust, detach and interchange according to their preference. There’s also the Hydrogel feature in some of her pieces, which aims to keep the body cool in Singapore’s sauna-like weather.
For this collection, Alexandria was inspired by Empress Dowager and Dominika. “Defecto uses surrealistic symbols on textiles to bring anti-heroine figures to life,” she said.
In this collection, you’ll find textile swatches that are produced using plant-based fibres, as well as photography and digital printing techniques. Ayuti’s pieces encapsulate our population’s attitude towards the ever-growing consumption, wastefulness and alienation.
Design duo Bhawika and Rupali aim to shine the spotlight on how luxury fashion can be a threat to wildlife, endangering the lives of animals for the sake of fashion. “An Other Life makes fashion for the cause against animal cruelty,” said Bhawika. “Our brand is adaptable and unique through our experimental silhouettes and textile art.”
Inspired by Italian photographer Paolo Ventura’s work, Elsa’s Velvet Motel “is a fall/winter collection born out of fascination with the circus and the military.”
Here’s something for the little ones. Thumbelina in The Magical Land collection is designed by Felicia, and its joy-sparking pieces follow fairytale character Thumbelina’s journey through various looks. “[This] collection brings children’s literature to life with playful clothing, nurturing a child’s cognitive development through sensorial experiences,” remarked Felicia.
Exploring human imperfections, particularly on stretch marks that some women are concerned about, Irene has created a collection to accompany its wearers through her path to self-discovery and -confidence. “Begin Again is an athleisure collection that embraces the notion of human imperfections, paying particular attention to scars such as stretch marks,” explained Irene.
Instead of chasing after trends, Jaime’s pieces from the Hanover by Modern Heirlooms collection focus on timelessness. This is why each design is made to last and even be passed on from one generation to the next.
Forget about separate women- and menswear. Justin is driving gender equality through his gender-neutral clothes, throwing out any gender stereotypes that society has on fashion. “Polymorphism is a collection of transformative pieces created with functionality at the forefront,” said Justin. “They weave seamlessly into wearers’ everyday lives.”
If Kimberly’s pieces exude a sense of tranquility, that’s because they’re inspired by her personal experience of meditation retreats in Indonesia. Made from natural and organic materials, “Satu: Jati Semesta is a collection of wearable forms… that builds a connection between the wearers and makers in fashion,” explained Kimberly.
The eye-catching pieces in Lydia’s The Handmade’s Tale collection aim to bring crochet lovers together no matter how old or young they are. “[It] is a community revitalisation project that explores the identities of crochet homemakers in Singapore through craft participatory design,” said Lydia.
In this collection titled Kaliyuga, Meenakshi zooms in on Hinduism’s Cycle of Time to look at conflicts and sins, turning her personal reactions into prints and motifs for her distinctive designs.
Tibetan traditional garments have been given a new lease of life in the hands of Meng Ge. Updated with modern prints and embroidery, she hopes her pieces can encourage more young Tibetans to embrace their culture and heritage.
Dedicated to addressing environmental and other issues in the fashion industry, Kelly created her Disposable Fashion collection that features biodegradable materials that can help to make fashion more sustainable.
“Spaghetti Cutting is a collection that introduces a method where fabrics are cut into long strips and spiralled to form a tube,” said Joshua. The results: A line up of black and white pieces that make great conversation-starters.
Rabiatula’dawiyah’s pieces not only emphasise modesty and comfort, but they’re also embracing femininity for Muslim women. “Nebula: The End to the Beginning is a collection that marks a new beginning for Muslim women through the symbol of nebulae in dress,” explained Rabiatula’dawiyah.
Inspired by the protective features of uniforms, Sheree has dreamed up a collection that befits a modern-day warrior. “RÜI蕊 is a collection that explores the cultural reconciliation between lost China and contemporary reality through the figure of a modern warrior seeking to find their own voice,” explained Sheree.
Stefanie hopes that her work can be a form of self-healing. “Night Bloomers is a collection that uses fashion to resolve traumatic experiences such as sexual harassment,” she said. The pieces in this collection are inspired by floral still-life paintings that show flowers blooming in dark places.
With sustainability at its core, the Fallible collection by Ruby uses deadstock and transforms them into modern and fashion-forward pieces. Ultimately, Ruby hopes to raise awareness on the wastage and consumption within the fashion world.
The rich colours and experimental style on Tanvi’s designs represent how a sacred tree in India looks normal on the outside but it is in fact vibrant and colourful on the inside. “Kalpa-Pat is a collection inspired by the diversity of Indian culture, particularly the myth of Kalpavriksha,” said Tanvi.
Capturing the four-stage process of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly, Urvi’s Chrysilience collection represents the insect’s break-through, resilience and strength, while also conveying the beauty and transformation of the butterfly.
Yaoqiuzi was inspired by her Chinese heritage and combined it with contemporary style and innovation. “Song for a lost dynasty is a collection that symbolises one’s interaction with and embodiment of culture,” she explained.
For this romantic, floral-filled collection, Qianying was inspired by the 2017 film titled Tulip Fever. “[It] represents the spirit and ephemerality of tulips as a symbol for contemporary femininity,” she said.
