Parco next NEXT: Success or failure?
Established to help up-and-coming local fashion designers become viable business owners, Parco next NEXT is part commerce training program, part industry mentorship, part retail experience.
For many years, Singapore's fashion industry has been highly underrated and under supported, but this joint collaboration between Parco (Singapore) Pte Ltd and the Textile & Fashion Federation (Singapore) (TaFf) -- supported by SPRING Singapore -- is lending solid legs to Singapore’s fashion industry.
A year on, the project is showing modest success, taking on its second batch of designers and receiving sales orders from buyers around the region and from as far away as New Caledonia.
The achievements of the first batch of 24 budding designers speak for themselves. Eight of the original designers staged a group show at the 2011 Audi Fashion Festival titled Parco next NEXT.
One designer, Max Tan, was asked to be one of eight avant-garde designers at Amsterdam’s Modefabriek trade show; his label is now distributed throughout Europe and the brand also won a silver medal at the China Fashion Creation Contest 2010.
Other designers from the project have also been approached by multi-label and department stores. A group of 11 of the original PARCO next NEXT designers also showcased at AFX’s Blueprint event this year.
The local fashion exchange event is known for providing strong exposure for young labels to a global market.
“We have seen tremendous efforts and improvements in the designers’ collections,” says Lai Sau Kuen, general manager of PARCO (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
Lionel Roudaut, program leader of fashion design at LASALLE College of the Arts also agrees and notes that Singaporean fashion is finally moving to an international standard.
“A new generation of Singapore designers is emerging -- it’s a big change that I’m starting to see in the past two years,” says Roudaut. “Young designers are going for very elaborate designs with a strong contemporary edge that can compete international[ly].”
Two examples cited are Pauline Ning and Jit Kanwal (of brand Sophielle).
“The usage they made of organza mixed with other materials is really exciting and their approach to design and construction are really unique.”
Beyond individual designers, Lai is convinced the Parco next NEXT project has helped changed the perception of Singaporean fashion in the eyes of the general public.
“The perception of local brands has changed,” says Lai. “With the influx and intense competition from foreign brands, it has been an uphill task to establish local fashion labels in Singapore in the past two decades.
“They have generally suffered poor brand image and weak recognition. The launch of PARCO next NEXT has created more exposure and rekindled interest in local fashion design. Local designers’ profile[s have been] raised significantly.”
