Designed for Celebration

Singapore is turning 50 and golden jubilee celebrations have begun in earnest. From walks to talks; art work and photographs to song and drama; chronicles of Singapore places and icons to stories about home – there has been no shortage of innovative initiatives.

In the spirit of creative celebrations, Insideinvites three local labels to come up with special SG50 t-shirt designs that not only commemorate this historical milestone but also showcase each local brand’s unique style. If they inspire you, find out how you can turn your own designs into t-shirts that shout your pride for Singapore.

50 Shades of Great by m)phosis

The Label:

Local label, m)phosis, known for its sleek, modern, minimalist designs usually in basic colours and covering everything from office to clubbing gear, footwear and even accessories is one of Singapore’s pioneer fashion brands. Around for 21 years, it owes much of its longstanding success to the fact that its simple yet stylish designs have managed to garner broad appeal with the trendy crowd not only in Singapore but regionally as well. To date, the label has 45 outlets in Singapore, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

The SG50 Design:

For Inside’sspecial assignment, m)phosis came up with a jersey tee, a signature material for the label, fringed with a combination of georgette and satin which is iconic of m)phosis’ designs that tend to play with several materials for varied texture.

“Our t-shirt has 50 fringes to commemorate SG50. The fringes are aligned in a wavy manner to represent our Kallang Wave which is a symbol of Singaporean identity,” explained chief designer, Colinn Koh.

Sensational Tribute to Samsui Women by Yacht 21

The Label:

Cruise wear label, Yacht 21, is known for its blue and white nautical inspired look. Launched in 2009, its pieces fuse fashion with function for a distinctively classy yet casual spin to holiday wear. Yacht 21 favours classic lines, simple silhouettes and lightweight material that result in comfortable, timeless fashion statements.

The SG50 design:

Inside’sSG50 project came as no surprise to Yacht 21 since it is in the process of creating a collection of celebratory cruise wear to celebrate SG50 that will be ready in May. Central to the line is the samsui woman (Chinese migrants who worked in construction in Singapore from the 1930s).

“We were inspired by these women we have contributed in so many ways to the success of our country. Our collection will feature a series of silhouettes inspired by the traditional samsui woman’s work wear and will incorporate the fisherman’s knot in keeping with our cruise-inspired look. This is for the modern woman of Singapore who works equally hard for their dreams and families,” said co-founder, Jaren Ho.

Yacht 21’s tribute to the silent heroines for their resilience and hard work features a hand-sketched samsui woman in solitary repose atop the SG50 logo.

National Pride in Full Bloom by BLUM

The Label:

BLUM, established in 1992 by Blum & Co, is an exclusive label for professional women. Designed with Asian proportions in mind, its style exudes confidence and femininity with hints of Oriental influence. Blum prides itself on the ability to combine classic tailoring with contemporary cuts to create outfits that tell the story of the Asian woman’s beauty, dedication and inner strength.

The SG50 Design:

“Our design showcases the national flower of Singapore, Vanda Miss Joaquim, a hybrid orchid, as the centrepiece surrounded by an array of orchids,” said BLUM’s spokesperson of their t-shirt design.

“We celebrate our nation's golden jubilee by infusing a hybrid of cultures like Indonesian batik and Japanese print in our designs that is, in turn, representative of Singapore as a cosmopolitan city. The choice of mainly white, red and dark colours signifies virtue, vibrancy, sophistication and our origins."

Wearable Art at Art-Serve

Are you inspired, yet? You can personalise your own SG50 t-shirt to mark the milestone, too. Art-Serve, a customised gifts printing shop, can print your designs on any number of things – t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, mugs, crystals, buttons, keychains, cushions and even puzzles. The best thing about the shop is that unlike most places that demand bulk orders, it does single pieces. Plus, if you are stumped, Art-Serve offers their designing expertise for free.

As you celebrate Singapore’s golden jubilee, why not step out in style with your own personalised SG50 t-shirt that is designed for celebration. Have a great SG50!

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