Essay Example on Exploring Singapore's Fashion Evolution: A Cultural Tapestry Through Decades

Fashion for People from Singapore

Singapore fashion embedded heritage and culture in fashion and clothing designs since 1945. The culture and fashion industry have been incorporating aspects of the fashion that contain the culture.

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Singapore came under Malaysian control and, in a wider sense, the imperial rule of Great Britain, leading to Singapore achieving its formal independence in 1965. World War II came to an end in 1945 yet many countries battled to restore themselves to their old status for many years afterwards. Singapore has not been any different. A privilege only afforded to the wealthier classes was dressing up in the latest trends. The Chinese islands, for example, are much more open to Western culture, and this is reflected in their clothes. This class consisted primarily of owners of Indian and Chinese businesses ("Culture of Singapore - history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social", 2020). They had better access to information and literacy from the West, given their resources, and soon embraced a more Westernized way of life. Men wear formal white shirts and ties, trousers, a coat, and shoes made of leather. Fashion rendered as large a leap in their wardrobes as it did in their rights when it comes to female styles.

Girls were authorized to vote in 1948 and eight women were running for election by 1959. Maternity care, among other items, was implemented in 1948 and the female’s mandate was passed into law in 1961. In the design of women's clothes, the greatest change came. In Singapore, ladies now choose fitting garments that display out their feminine curves instead of shapeless traditional wear ("Heritage & modernity | Asian Urbanisms", 2020). Mixing and mixing Western products with traditional objects became high fashion, giving a distinctive mark to whoever wore them. Often, they communicated with people from different nations as women were no longer restricted to the home, producing an international mix of styles.

How Style was Mixed in the ’60s

The year 1965 celebrated Singapore's sovereignty. The state made efforts to empower the employees to dress with elegance and intent in order to inspire the public. The goal was for the employees to represent the growth of the economy. The order of the day was Smart, Western types. For diplomatic occasions and functions, formal wear was reserved. A Western make-over has also been given to traditional types. The traditional Chinese wear, or cheongsam, often recognized as qipao, is a prime illustration. The new version was more form-fitting, with a split on each side of the thigh, where it was often droopy in appearance, ankle measurement, and with a high collar. During this era, maybe the greatest change was the emergence of a proud Singaporean dress style. There wasn't a sense of national belonging before liberation (Ong, Souza & Rao, 2020). The newcomers who made up the nation each dressed as per their adopted country's design. A more diverse style made up of various cultures has fused into a modern, exclusive fashion of individuality and independence.

Incorporation of Styles

The disintegration between Malaysian-Singapore Airways, which became the freshly-minted Singapore Airlines, emerged with the liberation of 1965. This new airline needed a completely new appearance, and in 1972, French fashion model Pierre Balmain was invited to invent a fresh outfit for his flight staff. What happened was an overhaul of the typical Kebaya that infused batik in bright colors with the Malay culture sarong. What was not anticipated was the success of this style, turning into a real national costume amongst normal Singapore people. The Kebaya included three-quarter sleeves in its hourglass form sewn into the written border. Beneath, the fleece vest was worn to match tightly as a cover skirt ("Singapore and Japanese Youth Culture on Fashion Essay - Free Argumentative Essays For Students", 2020). This "Singapore Woman" model has become so famous, that she even got her own wax model in 1994 at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London. As multinational brands Levis, Lee Cooper, and Wrangler hit the war, the 1970s also saw the start of the denim culture in Singapore.

Global Fashion

The state started expanding its business projects during the 80's and realized the monetary advantage that clothing might offer to the country. Designers and apparel producers were invited by the Singapore Trade Development Board (TDB) and show their activities in Paris. This culminated in a large-scale fashion show organized by the government as well as the TDB, Singapore Clothing. Shopping centers, where foreign brands were sold alongside up-and-coming Singaporean models, also came into use (Yeo, 2020). Orchard Street is popular as a luxury shopping area. Fashion was also brought out of state by local designers and developed an international market. Singapore has joined the fashion industry very well fully.

National pride and success in the 90’s

In the 90's, the mini-skirt became trendy, and also casual, stylish apparel like Bermuda shorts. Computer technology's success has now also led Singaporeans to be updated on international fashions, and not as obsolete as before. This also ultimately led to Singaporean culture celebrations by designers. The "orchid" design of the early 90s is an illustration of this. Clothes decorated with this native flower were made by designers-a symbol of national pride. These vivid, floral designs nowadays are becoming internationally associated with the brand of Singapore. The first Great Singapore Purchase occurred in 1994 ("WESTERN INFLUENCE WORRIES SINGAPORE CHIEF", 2020). This yearly shopping festival, targeted at locals and tourists alike, has been running since.

Current Fashion Industry

It is no surprise that fashion has arisen as a booming growth market, given the great advances that the design industry in Singapore has made in the past few decades. As per the Singapore Tourism Board, the nation's visitors spent a colossal SGD2.5 billion on purchases alone in 2000. SGD1.07 billion of that volume was used on fashion items such as clothing, shoes, jewels, fragrances, and cosmetics. Cut to 2015, and the amount has risen steadily. Foreign tourist expenditure in Singapore has already crossed US$ 14.65 billion in 2015, according to market research company Statista. Only look at the rising popularity of activities like Singapore Fashion Week which concentrates on fashion. On average, attendance numbers crossed over 20, 000 tourists in 2013.

How Local Brands Incorporate Culture

The first brand is Ong Shunmugam. Ong Shunmugam has created a niche about herself that incorporates the best of liberalism while maintaining the classic culture of Singapore, in which someone with a curiosity in culture and creativity can find anything that speaks to her in an affectionate manner. An ensemble is a work of artwork and also the title recalls the impact of Singapore on craftsmanship, such as 'Central Fire Station'. The brand has been incorporating some of the cultural outfits that have long lived to exit the design industry.The other brand is Coupé-Cousu. These brands have long lived to adopt the cultural aspects of the fashion industry. The major lining that is transferred from the cultural heritage is the outfit of the color and arm-length design.

References

Culture of Singapore - history, people, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family, social. (2020). Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Singapore.html

Heritage & modernity | Asian Urbanisms. (2020). Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://blog.nus.edu.sg/ariurban/2013/10/02/heritage-modernity/

Ong, C., Souza, J., & Rao, T. (2020). 1960s Fashion: The Legacy of Made-To-Measure. Retrieved 4 October 2020, from http://www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/2017/01/05/1960s-fashion-the-legacy-of-made-to-measure/

Singapore and Japanese Youth Culture on Fashion Essay - Free Argumentative Essays For Students. (2020). Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://lagas.org/singapore-and-japanese-youth-culture-on-fashion/

Singapore Chic. (2020). Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://www.roots.gov.sg/learn/stories/fashion-in-singapore/story

The Complete History of Fashion in Singapore: A Story of Style through the Ages. (2020). Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://purpletulsi.com/blogs/fashion/81280390-the-complete-history-of-fashion-in-singapore-a-story-of-style-through-the-ages

US, J. (2020). Singapore's Fashion Evolution From the 1960s-2000s: A Look Back To The Old Days. Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://hypeandstuff.com/singapores-fashion-evolution-1960-2000/

Wearing Our Heritage: Shining the Spotlight on Local Fashion and Heritage. (2020). Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://www.mci.gov.sg/pressroom/news-and-stories/stories/2018/11/wearing-our-heritage

WESTERN INFLUENCE WORRIES SINGAPORE CHIEF. (2020). Retrieved 4 October 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/04/world/western-influence-worries-singapore-chief.html

Yeo, Z. (2020). The Way We Were: Fashion Through the Decades. Retrieved 4 October 2020, from http://www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/2017/10/12/the-way-we-were-fashion-through-the-decades/#easy-footnote-bottom-2-7851