Design
Ethan K opens its first standalone atelier in Singapore
While a selection of his ultra‑luxurious bag creations is stocked at Malmaison by The Hour Glass and On Pedder in Singapore, designer Ethan Koh has spent much time building a strong presence for his eponymous brand overseas, interacting with high‑profile clients and collectors as well as luxury retailers including Harrods in London, Tsum in Moscow and Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills.
Now the time has finally come for him to set up a permanent space for Ethan K back home. “Singapore is where I was born,” says the fourth‑generation scion of homegrown tannery Heng Long Leather. “So there is a special connection, especially since it is a garden city and my collections are inspired by nature and the tropics.”
Koh was pleased to rediscover the charming River Valley neighbourhood, which he
feels comes with “a renewed artistic vibe”. Housed in a colonial‑style shophouse, his new 1,650 square feet gallery, which is by appointment‑only, is “well‑situated among some of my favourite art galleries like Miaja Gallery and alongside restaurants such as PS Cafe at Martin Road”, he notes.
Along with the new Ethan K atelier, Koh also took the opportunity to revamp the brand’s e‑commerce website to cater to the changes in consumer behaviour. “The modern luxury consumer favours instant gratification—she wants a style statement that offers functionality,” says the 2018 Generation T honouree. He will also be launching his new fragrance and candle capsule collection, as well as the Mystical Landscapes range—a first attempt at mixing exotic skins with materials seldom used in Ethan K creations such as calfskin and rattan.