Exploring BSc Fashion Design at SMU Singapore: The Journey of Emily Chan
Fashion design is a glamorous and yet highly competitive profession that deals with design and creating relative products. Singapore is today in the spotlight especially in the fashion industry and with the establishment of fashion universities such as Singapore Management University (SMU) the future is set. Among the many students who have passed through the halls of SMU’s fashion design program, one name stands out: The participants were Emily Chan.
The Rising Fashion Scene in Singapore
Singapore has in the last decade developed into an international fashion destination. Historically known as the gateway to Asia, this city state plays host to numerous international fashion related shows and events; the Singapore Fashion Week, the Audi Fashion Festival to name but two. This rise has resulted in the need to recruit designers who are capable of working with the touch of Traditional designs and modern tastes. The need for skilled professionals to spearhead this fashion industry is being met by many universities, one of which is the SMU with a BSc in Fashion Design.
Emily Chan: A Star in the Making
EMILY CHAN When starting a career in fashion it is not always necessary that one’s journey starts right from SMU. She was born and raised in Singapore where she has always been inspired by textiles, patterns and the culture of sewing clothing. Looking at the trends that were set on the international ramps and native designers, she was quite sure that she belongs to the fashion fraternity.
When Emily entered SMU’s BSc Fashion Design program she came with not only the enthusiasm for fashion but direction in her eyes. For this, she desired to develop designs that would reflect the cultural melting pot of society of Singapore through integration with Asian aesthetics and modern fashion technologies.
SMU’s Unique Approach to Fashion Design
The following are some of the reasons as to why the SMU BSc Fashion Design program is unique. It combines fashion theory with the practice, and prepares students to fit the fashion industry environment, to the best. Thus, the interdisciplinary character is one of the peculiarities of SMU which makes it different from other institutions. Such students as Emily not only follow courses in design, but also acquire basic knowledge about business, marketing, and sustainability in theFashion Industry.
During the first two years of her learning, Emily was introduced to the fabric technology, construction of garments and fashion illustration. With this knowledge she was able to draw from scratch and that is how she was able to design her clothes. But in the last year was when she blossomed to the best she could ever be.
Emily’s Breakthrough Moment
The last project from Emily was her final year collection and it was noticed by both domestic and foreign fashion journalists. Stitched in the Reinvention Heritage Show titled Heritage Reimagined, she incorporated contemporary looks with fabrics like batik and songket which are indigenous to Southeast Asia. To these she added elements of the previous years’ avant-garde style cuts and used eco fabrics as part of her sustainable fashion statement.
Some of her collections were featured in Singapore Fashion Week where she impressed the audience with her ability to bring culture, technology and sustainability into,”. Despite the fact that Emily’s collection mainly looked like a set of elegant dresses, it also depicted her knowledge about Singapore’s ethnic background.
Beyond the Classroom: SMU’s Industry Connections
Also, it is significant that SMU’s Fashion Design programme mantains close connections with the field of fashion. She has had the chance to intern for some of Singapore’s most renowned designers, and equally, she was able to study abroad at Paris for a semester and learn from the best in the world. All these experiences were vital in shaping her design philosophy which is rare and exceptional.
Every year SMU organizes a fashion show to showcase final collection from the students who wish to do so. This was the most exciting moment for Emily in her entire academic period. Her collection attracted attention of the professionals and shortly afterwards she was offered a job with one of the Singapore’s most reputed fashion houses.
The Future of Fashion: Emily’s Vision
Hence, having established herself as an up-and-coming designer in Singapore’s fashion industry, Emily is still experimenting. He is an art lover who wants to present the story through the clothes she wears and the kind of design she practices, combining the traditional and modern designs and supporting the cause of sustainable fashion designs. In the future she wants to have her own fashion line specialising in sustainable luxury, and to work with young talents.
From the author’s own mouth, “Fashion is not just about beauty, it’s about voice, memory, and vision – vision for the future, for heritage and history, for the need to invent the new.” When it comes to how SMU has helped her honed her skills, she said, “This was done while at the same time earning a good grounding in realism, without which even the loftiest and most avant-garde fashion designs
Conclusion
The BSc Fashion Design program of the SMU has the potential of churning out the next generation fashions’ visionaries and Emily Chan is a perfect epitome of the program. From a young girl who wanted to design clothes to a professional women with her ideas and concepts it is evident the impact which passion, education and hard work can have. In further continuation of her journey and her successes in the fashion industry, Emily’s experience will without a doubt stand as a valuable source to upcoming designers.
