Fashion collabs are all the rage. Everyone from high-street retailers right through to smaller, niche labels are working with interesting creatives from all disciplines in an effort to bring a bit of true individuality, exclusivity and authenticity back into fashion. If you haven’t collaborated with an artist, photographer, celebrity or simply with another fashion label, you’re doing it wrong. Some of the most memorable include the special edition Longchamp bags by contemporary Brit artist Tracy Emin and designer Jeremy Scott, and more recently, the Nike collaboration with Japan’s Undercover to produce coveted luxury sportswear—all of them produced in very limited quantities.
In Singapore, collaborative products are a bit harder to come by simply because of the sheer size of our market (or rather, lack thereof). The Nike and Undercover collaboration, for example, never made it to local stores, making it more collectible than ever. Here though, are some great crossovers that aren’t quite so hard to come by.
Opening Ceremony x Chloe Sevigny
You can only expect good things when one of New York’s coolest boutiques and fashion labels collaborates with one of Hollywood’s best-dressed celebrities. The always trendsetting Sevigny’s eclectic range of eyewear, T-shirts, legwear and footwear (also in collaboration with eyewear brand Barton Perreira, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, legwear specialist Fogal and footwear brand NaNa) has been lauded for its sense of fun and frivolity. A good thing too as Sevigny’s pieces are best for mix-and-match; its ready-to-wear pieces include printed dresses and cropped cardigans that go effortlessly with the accessories any time of the day. Available exclusively from Club 21b from $99 upwards.
Jack Purcell x Mackintosh
It’s an unlikely collaboration: Mackintosh is known more for their classic rainwear range, and Jack Purcell is one of the most respectable sneaker labels in the world. But this labor of love from the two labels has resulted in one of the most inspiring collaborations yet. Reportedly three years in the making, this is also only the second time the Mackintosh patent company has allowed their fabrics to be produced outside of their factories in Scotland (these babies are produced in China, in fact). Produced in three colorways of olive green, navy blue and chocolate, the latter two have been available for sale here in very limited quantities since May. Check them out for $260 per pair at Surrender.
A.P.C. x Converse
Already known for their pared down simplicity, the wearable French label A.P.C. applied exactly the same philosophy when working with sneaker giant Converse on its classic Authentic and Chukka models. It’s a simple and charming design which reminds one of classic school shoes made from cotton canvas and rubber outsole, imbued with subtle pastel hues of grey, blue, pink and green, and minimal branding too, so that it can be worn again and again and again. A great investment, this. $185 upwards from Front Row.
Uniqlo x Designer Invitation Project
The always productive Uniqlo team has recently added another feather to its cap—this time working with a multitude of upcoming and edgy designers and brands like Japan’s Double Standard Clothing, Suzuki Takayuki and Tiny Dinosaurs, and the US’s Vena Cava and Charlotte Ronson for its Designer Invitation Project. These collaborations are some of the most playful we’ve seen from the label—highlights include Takayuki’s easy to wear “Toha” dresses, made from organic cotton, and Tiny Dinosaur’s reinterpretation of children’s wear for adults—certainly one for the adventurous. $49.90 upwards from Uniqlo.
9Fountains x Various Designers
Singapore-based online T-shirt retailer 9Fountains, brainchild of designer Andrew Wolf and former lawyer Au Da Yu, has a keen interest in working with upcoming young designers from Southeast Asia. “We’re simply interested in elevating design, promoting designers—mostly Singapore focused—and producing wickedly cool T-shirts,” says Wolf. The team sources its designs by holding monthly online T-shirt competitions, assuring that fresh drops happen at least on a quarterly basis. The T-shirts are then produced on 100 percent ring-spun cotton, with direct-to-garment printing techniques used to produce the designs. A gamut of edgy work from the likes of Sunshee and Anwar Rafiee is then made available for sale online via www.9fountains.com from $25 upwards.
If You Want More
For serious style seekers, don’t miss out on the special collaboration tote bags and pin badges by Japan’s Comme des Garçons with our very own design firm Asylum, featuring whimsical motifs of nature and childhood-inspired activities. Only 360 pieces are produced for each collection, and they’re available exclusively at BLACK Comme des Garçons stores in Japan (nope, not even online, sorry). So if you’re heading to Japan anytime soon, you know what to do.
Also to be released in November this year: The first ever collaboration between local womenswear label Utt’er and accessories brand Frank. Expect a funky and bold collection made from leather, woodwork and crystal from Front Row.
Club 21b, #01-07 Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Rd., 6304-1459
Front Row, #02-09 Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6224-5501
Surrender, #02-31 Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6733-2130
Uniqlo, #03-27/34, 313@somerset, 313 Orchard Rd, 6834-4073
