Last week, Jason Wu brought his Spring-Summer 2018 collection to Singapore Fashion Week (SGFW), and, in the process, brought the house down at the National Gallery, where the show was held on Saturday night.
The trip, the result of a CFDA partnership with Mercury Marketing & Communications which produces SGW, was not just a treat for the fashion-conscious in Singapore, of which there are plenty. For Wu himself, it was an opportunity to get to know the local consumer and explore Singapore.
Between fittings, hair and make-up tests, rehearsals, and a ZIPCODE panel conversation with Harper’s Bazaar Singapore Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Go and mega-influencer Nicole Warne aka @garypeppergirl, there were several celebratory events. These included a SGFW Welcome Lunch at Publico within the just-opened Intercontinental Singapore Robertson Quay (where Wu and his team also stayed); two Net-a-Porter trunk shows and an evening cocktail celebrating the designer at The Fullerton Hotel, and a post-show Swarovski dinner at elegant Michelin Star restaurant Saint Pierre.
Despite the jam-packed schedule, Wu managed to check out the city’s famed culinary scene, from the street food to Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck Restaurant at the Paragon Shopping Center on Orchard Road.
Before the designer he continued onto Shanghai, we caught up with him on his favorite things about Singapore.
What was the first thing you did when you arrived in Singapore?
We came to the hotel from the airport, and I immediately tried to figure out where to eat dinner. I am from Taiwan so food is such a big part of my culture. I love Asian food to no end, and Singapore is one of the best places for it in Asia. We went to a Japanese place near the hotel—just a little local hole in the wall. I had warm soba noodles with a fried vegetable fritter, then grilled octopus and sake. It was delicious.
And then the next morning, you started to work on your Singapore Fashion Week show right away, correct?
Yes, the next morning, we came in for fittings. We powered through all the fittings in one day. We had 40 looks. It’s bigger than the New York show— I added some looks. I adjusted the show so it was more of a Singapore edition—especially the end of the show [featuring eveningwear, including a red gown].’
Have you seen much of Singapore in the first couple of days?
Not so much, because I have been working inside, but I went to a lot of restaurants. I had chili crab at Jumbo Seafood. Oh my god, it was so good. I went to Din Tai Fung, the most famous dumpling place, which comes from Taiwan. It has a Michelin Star and you find the best soup dumplings in the world. I also had street food. It’s so delicious here.
Singapore’s architecture is really interesting here. Hong Kong and Taiwan, where I am from, have less historical buildings, but Singapore is more like Paris in the sense that it has more historically-preserved buildings that can’t be changed. The architecture is a little Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian.
You also did quite a few interviews with local press. How did they go?
I did the BBC, Channel News Asia, and a lot of newspapers including The Straits Times. It was really fun meeting local reporters.
And you made the cover of The Straits Times!
Yes, it was my big Singapore moment.
What has been your overall impression of Singapore?
It’s so great. I first came here when I was six so I haven’t really seen Singapore. It’s a very international and modern city, with a lot of culture.
What was your biggest surprise in Singapore?
My clothes aren’t really that available in Singapore, so I was really surprised at how many people came wearing current Jason Wu. They travel so much, and they buy from stores like Bergdorf’s or on Net-A-Porter, for example.
How do the Singapore women shop differently?
I think women are a little bit dressier here, and they are very much into jewelry. Everybody had major diamonds on. People are not afraid to dress up. I just love it.
