WHY DON’T YOU...?
BY PRISCILLA SHUNMUGAM
The Singapore-based designer on Peranakan culture, secret getaways, and fashion as conversation. ... SNEAK IN TIME TO ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE? It’s been a busy time at the label but I’m glad I stole some time off to catch Star Wars: The Last Jedi when it first hit the cinemas. I’m a big fan of Princess Leia; I love her fearlessness and the influence she had on all women in the Star Wars era. Watching Carrie Fisher’s last appearance was like a send-off for my favourite character. ... INDULGE IN YOUR SECRET HIDEOUT? Auriga Spa in Capella Singapore is my perfect retreat when I need to rest and rejuvenate. It’s like stepping into an oasis of calm, with varying treatments designed to enhance your well-being. I always go for the herbal steam room for a good sweat, and scented aromatherapy shower after. ... FOLLOW THROUGH WITH YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS? The most memorable book I’m about to read is The Art Of The Good Life by Rolf Dobelli. Someone gave it to me on the 1st of January this year, and the book is about putting strong mental models in place for a good and practical life. ... DISCOVER YOUR HERITAGE THROUGH THE MOST UNEXPECTED WAYS? There’s always an assumption that heritage is best learned through formal institutions but I’ve found the best places to discover cultural inspiration is your old box of memories. History that is personal to you is not only meaningful, but beautiful and relatable, too. For example, my Cheongsam 2018 collection was inspired by a memory of me, surrounded by unique flora in a jungle retreat in Seremban, Malaysia. ... START CONVERSATIONS THROUGH THE WORK YOU DO? My job is pretty simple: to continue having meaningful conversations with our customers, season after season, and people who’ve never heard of us. The fashion world now is filled with compelling imagery, created as an instant call of action. We try to communicate our ideas through the designs that we make, images that we take, down to the text that we put together. ... REVISIT A CITY THAT MOVES YOU? London has been a favourite for a while now: the long walks in Hyde Park, the diverse food scene that satiates any culinary desires, and the way fashion has a pulse. I hit my sweet spot with a gin and tonic at The Lord Wargrave, where the natural light instantly brightens up a gloomy London day. www.ongshunmugam.com
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