Announced at the Asia Fashion Exchange Audi Red Carpet Night on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, by Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan, the new government supported Singapore Designer Attachment Programme (SDAP) will match Singapore fashion labels with young designers.
A SPRING Singapore initiative, working closely with the Textile and Fashion Federation Singapore (TaFf), the programme is see the young designers stay with their respective mentor companies for a minimum of 12 months and the designers’ salaries will be co-funded by SPRING Singapore.
The Singapore Designer Attachment Programme will assist young fashion designers like the winner of Audi Star Creation 2012, South Korean designer Ko Youngji, 32, whose drawings pictured above helped her to the final prize. Image: Audi Star Creation 2012
Competitions like the Audi Star Creation event – this year’s edition was held on Monday, May 14; the minister also handed out the winners’ prizes at the Red Carpet gala – offer a lot of potential for Singapore’s fashion industry according to Ms Callia Chua, group director of the Textile and Fashion Federation (TaFf), Singapore.
“Each year, Audi Star Creation culls really talented designers from around the region – this year’s winners were chosen from over 250 submissions, and it is often a tough fight for the top spots. This programme allows for us to secure even more of the finalists jobs, especially since most of them say they really want to work in Singapore, and extends access to this talent pool to more Singapore companies,” she said.
Likewise, designers involved in Singapore’s fashion incubator project Parco Next Next – where young fashion labels are given the opportunity to set up shop for the first time in Parco Millenia Walk – will also be eligible.
TaFf plans to place up to 14 designers in the first year of the programme, with the first intake starting work in September, 2012. There are already more than a dozen fashion companies interested in taking part including Charles & Keith, Crocodile International and Escala Fashion.
According to Ms Christy Wong, chief fashion designer at Crocodile International, there are some challenges trying to source talent particularly in the areas of understanding branding the commercial side of a fashion business. However, she feels that her company will benefit from accessing the new talent.
“I hope that they are able to bring a fresh perspective to the brand … These designers clearly have unique qualities and ability, so I believe they will complement my existing pool of designers well,” said Ms Wong.
For designers interested in entering the Singapore Designer Attachment Programme, go to the TaFf website at www.taff.org.sg; more details will be posted over the next few months.
For more information about Audi Star Creation, go to www.starcreation.sg. To win tickets to the Parco Next Next show during Audi Fashion Festival, go to: Win tickets to catch PARCO next NEXT at Audi Fashion Festival.