Every year, local fashion purveyors look to fashion design graduate shows with bubbling exuberance, anticipating the works from the next generation of visionaries. These graduate shows often feature a melting pot of brazen styles, distinctly illustrating the individuality and undaunted personalities of these budding new faces. A quick glance at the works of the 2023 graduate collections from the various art schools across the country—namely LASALLE College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and Raffles Design—will reveal an abundance of bold colours and unique textures.
Vibrant shades of turquoise, fuchsia and marigold are present, inspired by early rave and disco cultures. Many of the garments reference vintage silhouettes, from extravagant peplum dresses to voluminous jacket sleeves. These flashy hues and details exuded opulence then and have seen a similar resurgence in recent years.
The theme of maximalism is also encapsulated through the styling, with accessories such as leg warmers, futuristic goggles and stacked jewellery completing the various looks. From the heavy accessorising of the over-the-top silhouettes, one might note the resonance of Y2K styling sensibilities that were recently popularised by a new wave of fashion lovers. These graduates also showcased a rebellious, youthful energy through the conceptualisation of their work.
Many took sociopolitical stances on current affairs, and looked to their work as a bridge or metaphor to their opinio.