New in store on level 3, london-based label jigsaw marries three things modern women love: affordable prices, artisanal workmanship, and styles that’ll last for seasons.
New in store on level 3, london-based label jigsaw marries three things modern women love: affordable prices, artisanal workmanship, and styles that’ll last for seasons.
The gongfu that goes into jigsaw’s fall/winter 2015 collection sounds right out of a high-end label. To create a smudgy fl oral motif, for example, the brand’s designers hand-painted the blooms on hand-pressed paper; the painterly pattern was then digitally printed in south korea using italian machinery. Meanwhile, some of its knitwear can take up to 35 hours to complete – they’re done by hand.
But the most impressive thing about this 43-year-old british label lies in its accessibility. Prices here start from $79 for a tank top to $1,119 for a coat. In the words of its buying and merchandising director shailina parti: “we’re a premium high-street brand… we’re about everyday wear with a touch of luxury.
It explains why even though parti and crew tap into trends, the styles are timeless. Take this season’s spin on ’70s wrap dresses: spare lines and a skimming – not clingy – fi t make them sexy without being retro. Suits refl ect the current taste for mannish cuts, but are mostly slim-fi t (read: more forgiving on petite women; longer wardrobe lifespan).
And like a permanent cruise line, one can always count on separates that’ll traverse seasons and are great for layering (cue the breton in lightweight cashmere). Says parti: “each of our pieces is designed for longevity… our advertising campaign tag line is ‘for life, not landfi ll’. We want our customers to be buying (pieces they’ll keep) for life.”
Aarika lee
It could be a long shot to call lee singapore’s answer to beyonce, but it’s also hard to ignore the similarities. There’s the dyed blonde hair (not intentional), exotic good looks (also not intentional), rapper husband kevin lester and button-cute daughter zola mae (definitely not intentional; baby number two ari jon just popped at point of writing).
The 31-year-old is also a beloved name in singapore’s independent music circle – she co-founded the now-defunct group sixx with lester in 2006, mixing up hip hop, funk and rock way before bey did. While she now only sings on records of her musician friends (“it’s a small scene so we all help each other out”), she still performs solo every tuesday at the mad men attic bar, belting out charming covers in her kittenish drawl.
But what she shares most in common with queen bey is how, despite a clear dedication to domestic life – the words “wife” and “mama” appear in her instagram profile @aarikalee – she’s never lost her creative mojo. On her list of feats in the past year: co-founding branding agency elementary co (she’s marketing director and copywriter) and dress rental company rmbrthedress (both with bestie and fellow f-collective member charmaine seah). Next on the cards at press time: producing an sg50 youtube video series with lester on local personalities – all this while keeping her street-meets-gypsy-chic style in check.
In other words, she’s the perfect role model for the modern multi-hyphenate mother. Says lee: “i just do everything that I love to do, and always keep an open heart and mind. It never fails me... That, and parenting can be a very creative job.”
Nadia Rahmat
For modelling in the brand’s s/s ’15 campaign, this fka twigs lookalike has become known as the marc by marc jacobs girl. What the 24-year-old would most like to be recognised as, though, is an events whiz – someone who crafts “immersive” experiences, with a buzz that outlasts any instagram moments
She got her start helping out with music programming at creatory, a gourmet-meets-art festival organised by top local design agencies including hjgher, ong&ong and 8@ate productions last year. Then came the audiovisual fest super 0 open air this january, where she spearheaded social media marketing. “a few years ago, the (lifestyle) scene here had nothing. Now, there’s something fun and creative to go to every weekend,” she says
Her enthusiasm led her to join small plates restaurant kilo – known for its after dark parties that have drawn the hip set with its house tunes, trippy lasers and authentic underground vibe – in april. At press time, she had just wrapped up its second anniversary bash that saw an over 1,000-strong turnout, and was working on an upsized edition: a festival that “aims to take the after dark name regional, and contribute to the local music scene with its focus on singapore-based djs” early next year.
She says: “the best events showcase creativity… they’re multidisciplinary with good music, food and an interactive element. No one wants to go (to an event) just to stand around and take photos.”
Guan Min
On her mostly monotone account @girlwhocriedwolf, guan is the consummate fashion instagrammer – OOTDs , flat lays, wanderlust-inducing travel shots and come-hither bed selfies. The thing about her, though, is that even without the social media app, that quietly confident, cool-girl persona is all her.
For as long as she’s been a regular on the local party circuit (she started nine years ago at age 18), it’s been her trademark look: sophisticated all-black dresses worn with a rock star flair, minting her status as It girl of mystery. It’s also what’s reflected in her fouryear- old, one-woman-show label Feist Heist, which has gained a following among the trendy set with its simple yet sexy designs. Its staple, a slouchy oversized tee with cropped sleeves dubbed the Martyr, regularly sells out, with Guan estimating that she’s moved thousands of pieces.
Such consistency is admirable in an age when trends and news are driven by Snapchat videos. It’s no wonder A-list brands like Bulgari and Nars have collaborated with her. Her 7,856 followers might not put her in the Instagram big league, but she’s got something better: true personal style.
In april, home-grown cosmetics brand faux fayc invited her to create a lipstick inspired by the deep shade of red that’s been part of her signature look since she was a teen. (available on the company’s website and multilabel pop-up keepers, it’s called wolf and has had to be restocked repeatedly.) she also plans to launch her own youtube channel. “it’s a fun, creative outlet for me to share my views on fashion and beauty on a more personal level,” she says. Expect the likes to come.
Hanli Hoefer
What’s this winsome vj known for her wacky high jinks, including recording dubsmash videos on instagram, doing in this collective? Because she’s always got her finger on the pulse of what’s in, and knows how to deliver it to today’s audience of Gen Zs and millennials.
Think of her job – she’s been the face of mtv here since 2013 – as part news presenter, part vlog star. Thoughtful research on what’s trending in the world of music, fashion and entertainment is a requisite because it’s what makes a convincing host, she says. “i’m generally interested in industry news. Every day, i’m online checking out which new singles have dropped, or what kanye meme is trending. When preparing for interviews, I research the artist in detail. Knowing his or her background makes me more confident, and the conversation more easy-going.”
At the same time, she’s as socialmedia- obsessed as every other 23-year-old out there (whatever the app, she’s got it). But instead of preening OOTDs and slick photos of the good life, her account @hanlihoefer gives a glimpse into her everyday world, whip-smart hashtags notwithstanding. (Her following at press time: 14.6K.) Ask her to name her professional heroes, and she rattles off a list of Youtube personalities known better for their raw, humorous slice-of-life videos than style, including Jenna Marbles and Lilly Singh.
“These online personalities have had a huge influence on my hosting style because of their authenticity… My approach to being a VJ is to stay as genuine as possible. All my randomness and weirdness on The MTV Show is just me being me,” she says. An Instagram star who knows how to keep things real? We like.
Amanda Keisha Ang
If there were to be a riot grrrl revival in Singapore, we’d vote this pixie-cute 30-year-old as its face. So she’s not hardcore like the feminist movement’s most famous proponents (think Kathleen Hanna), yet she’s still getting the same message across through the same mediums: art and music.
As a final-year graphic communications student, she got into illustration and – influenced by Art Nouveau artists like Aubrey Beardsley and Alphonse Mucha – found herself developing a feminine pop art style and penchant for drawing women. Brands from Zouk to Lacoste have since commissioned works; these, along with her personal projects, can be viewed on her Tumblr site An Everyday Muse.
Two years ago, she teamed up with Serene-Rene Ong and Syaheedah Iskandar, pals she met at all-girl DJ boot camp FFF, to start their own collective. Dubbed Attagirl, it hosts parties, including its own monthly night at Zouk’s Wine Bar, which spotlights female talents in the male-dominated industry. “People think of female DJs as playing electronic dance music and popping champagne,” she says. “We want to move away from this stereotype.”
The highs this year indicate that they’ll only get bigger. This interview had to take place over e-mail because the trio were travelling to New York to spin at the W Hotel for Discwoman, a Brooklyn-based outfit with a similar pro-female stance. Before that, they opened for one of Hanna’s close collaborators at its local gig: electroclash superstars Chicks on Speed.
