TIMELESS CLOTHES IN LOOSER CUTS THAT ARE EASY TO WEAR TEND TO STAY IN ROTATION LONGER.
THE FORM: THE ANTI-TREND BRAND
Wu Kailing, 27, understands the way most women make decisions about what to wear. It’s based on the 80/20 rule, “where the average person only wears 20 per cent of her wardrobe 80 per cent of the time”, says Wu. “That 20 per cent is what she puts on heavy rotation and keeps in her wardrobe for a long time.”
That is why The Form, the online label which Wu started last year, designs only the 20 per cent type of clothing – “timeless clothes in looser cuts that are easy to wear tend to stay in rotation longer as they are forgiving and flattering even through periods when we gain or lose weight”. Think Muji meets Cos.
Wu offers capsules of dresses, separates and outerwear up to four times a year, and uses mostly deadstock fabric from Japan that she selects for its suitability for the local climate. She manufactures the clothes locally, which allows for better quality control (and the bonus of a lower carbon footprint). Price range: $79-$249
EMPORIUM OF THE MODERN MAN: FOR MORE CONSCIOUS SHOPPING
In December last year, EOMM shut its doors to walk-in customers. It revamped to adopt a byappointment-only concept, so every customer gets a personal walk-through of the store by the team. Through this, it hopes to give customers a better understanding of what they are consuming.
THE NEW ARRIVALS:
1. (A) Cosmic Wonder: Launched in 1997 by Japanese artist Yukinori Maeda, the cult label takes inspiration from art and performance, and uses traditional Japanese techniques and natural materials for its designs.
(B & C) Araki Yuu: The designer founded his eponymous label in 2013. He personally sews his designs by hand, using mostly exclusive fabrics created in collaboration with a few Japanese historical mills that are at least a century old.
2. Petrosolaum: Founded by brothers Ogino and Ryo Sotaro in 2012, Japanese brand Petrosolaum sells leather shoes which are handmade using traditional techniques and a high level of craftsmanship to respect and honour the animals used for the materials.
3. Cul de Sac: Aomori hiba, considered one of the three most beautiful species of trees in Japan, is unique to the country. Designer Mineko Muraguchi grew up in a lumber mill that specialised in the tree’s wood, which inspired her to design Aomori hiba wooden ware to share its rich, relaxing fragrance, and antibacterial and insect-repelling qualities.
4. (A) Copper The Cutlery: The cutlery brand sells ice cream spoons and butter knives made of copper. They are designed to be able to cut through ice cream without being heated.
(B) Yumiko Iihoshi: This designer launched her porcelain brand in 2007 after graduating from Kyoto Saga University of Arts as a porcelain major. She aims to evoke nostalgia with her handmade porcelain ware. “My designs are not overly stylised or crafted, and I hope they inspire people to reflect and reminisce about the passing of time.”
