27 March 2008

‘A Celebrated Moment of 1938’

An Exclusive Fashion Design Showcase & Exhibition in collaboration with the National Museum of Singapore

In conjunction with the Singapore Fashion Festival 2008 and NAFA’s 70th anniversary celebration, NAFA’s Department of Fashion Studies has spearheaded a fashion design extravaganza with the National Museum of Singapore (NMS). Here a first stage of a fashion design competition has distilled the work of 20 NAFA students that will be presented in a fashion show and exhibition under commemorative banner “A Celebrated Moment of 1938” at NMS. The year 1938 marked the birth of Singapore’s first arts institution, the Nanyang Fine Arts College (now known as Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts or NAFA).

The Department’s entire cohort of 322 students from both diploma and degree programmes took part in the competition. The competition brief was to design one ladies’ outfit depicting the glamour of the 1930’s and 1940’s. The 20 best designs were singled out for their creativity, originality, design concept, fabrics selection and use of accessories.

This collaborative ultimately features a fashion show of the 20 finalists’ outfits on 3rd April 2008, 7pm at The Concourse, NMS. Ms Eunice Olsen, Nominated Member of Parliament will grace the occasion as Guest of Honour. Please refer to the Annex for the programme outline.

Mr Choo Thiam Siew, NAFA President, said: “This is truly a multi-faceted collaboration. I’m very proud of our fashion design students who rose to the challenge and once again demonstrated their versatility. To be part of the Singapore Fashion Festival is a national honour that allows us to proudly showcase the potential of our talented students.”

Glamour, romance and history were the styles that gripped the silver screens in the 1930’s. This new era of Art Deco style brought a sense of fun into dressing, as well as new concepts in music and dance. The fashion show promises to be a splendid display of innovative minds and deft craftsmanship. All these elements seamlessly come together and unfold at the National Museum of Singapore, whose participation as a partner will offer a comparative presentation of archival and visual materials directly resonant and reflective of the 30s and 40s.

Mr William Teo, Head & Senior Lecturer, NAFA Department of Fashion Design, said: “The Thirties saw some of the most prolific designers of our time – Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Chanel and Vionnet. Unconventional designs were favored and drama was often the main order of the day. It is with this inspiration that we challenged our design students to dream, fantasize and create. 30s aesthetics with modern day sensibility. ”

The background display of old photographs and images from magazine spreads, newspaper articles and advertisements - all from the 1930s, will be unveiled on Monday, 31st March. Following the fashion show, the illustrations and actual outfits of the 20 best designs will be displayed as part of the exhibition from 5th April onwards. The exhibition will run till 11th May.

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Media Contact

For media interviews, RSVP for the fashion show or further information, please contact:

Ms Karen Loh
Manager (Media Relations)
Corporate Relations Department
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
DID: 6512 4017
Email: phhloh@nafa.edu.sg