Justin Yap recalls being around 11 years old when his calling to the world of fashion revealed itself. The 39-year-old designer of the eponymous label Justin Yap Atelier has always had a love for drawing, but it was only at around this pre-teen age when he discovered his interest in creating clothes. “I knew I love to draw but on the contrary, I hated drawing humans, I had to practise, and I was self taught,” says Yap.
“I then started sketching clothes, I remember wasting stacks of A4 paper and I would file the ones I like in a clear folder, like a collection, a portfolio. I knew instantly I wanted to be a fashion designer, and I had to start somewhere.” After graduating high school, he enrolled into a tailoring school to learning the fundamentals of dress making, which he says is possibly the most important skill to have as a designer.
He went on to take part in various competitions, winning his very first award at 19. “I was then invited to join fashion weeks and I’ve never looked back since,” says Yap. When it comes to his designs, he does look back.
He tends to revisit his previous works and think about how they could have been improved. “Sometimes I dig out photos from my previous runway shows, there would be some elements that I would improve and that’s how I grow. I’m never truly 100% satisfied with my previous works.
“But of course wearability to me is of upmost importance when designing a collection. Questions I asked myself whilst designing, is.