These are the recipients of the Boutiques Showcase Grant (Nov 2024)
The Boutiques curation has always prioritised original, design-forward collections and looked to support emerging talent alongside established designers. This November, we are excited to introduce the newest recipients of the Boutiques Showcase Grant, an initiative that reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of design talent in Singapore. Originally launched in 2022 as the Young Designers Showcase Grant, which supported designers aged 18-30, the programme has since evolved in response to community feedback. We have broadened the eligibility criteria to include all contemporary designers, regardless of age, in order to better support Singapore’s changing design landscape. This update ensures we continue to heighten the visibility of designers who exemplify originality and creative innovation.
Boutiques Singapore: The Gifting Edition 2024 returns to the F1 Pit Building from 22-24 November. Get your tickets online now.
Webeings
Aggie Blanco’s journey with Webeings is a story of transformation — not just in terms of fashion, but in how we perceive and repurpose waste. As the Founder and Creative Director of this circular fashion brand, Aggie has channelled her experience from years spent travelling the world as a model into a creative mission that redefines sustainability in the design landscape.
Inspired by the pollution she witnessed while living in Bali, Aggie set out in 2019 to turn discarded plastic and textile waste into something new and beautiful. Behind each Webeings bag is a story that goes far beyond aesthetics. The process begins with a network of local trash mongers who collect plastic cups and bottles directly from Bali’s beaches, rivers, and landfills. Plastic bags are sourced from a local waste bank, while textile waste is sourced directly from garment manufacturers and transformed into yarn. This intricate system of sourcing, sanitising, and processing waste materials allows Webeings to create its own raw materials, ensuring the highest levels of sustainability and transparency at every stage. With over 28,000 plastic cups and 4,000 t-shirts repurposed into their designs in just 1.5 years, Webeings is a testament to how mindful choices can produce fashion that is both beautiful and impactful.
This Boutiques, Aggie brings a fresh perspective with her redesigned collection, which features updated handles, a new bag design, and water bottle holders.
rymh studios
Frustrated by the limited menswear options in Singapore, Reuben Yap envisioned a line that could find a sweet spot along the spectrum of men’s casual and formalwear. After working in a marketing role for a local label, Reuben branched out on his own to create rymh studios, with a vision of well-designed, versatile pieces that avoid rigid fashion sub-genres like athleisure or bespoke suiting.
rymh studios embraces styling ease, making it simple for men to elevate their existing wardrobes without overthinking it. Despite his experience in the fashion industry, Reuben tells us designing his first collection was nerve-wracking without proper infrastructure in place, but customer feedback on his first collection has made designing the second collection — to be launched soon — much easier. Of the upcoming collection, he says, “Now that I have the setup and infrastructure built, I could focus on designing a collection that felt truer to me. I think people familiar with me and my style will find my sophomore collection much truer to my aesthetic.”
kūpaa
There may be plenty of reusable food containers in the market, but none are quite designed like kūpaa’s signature Bowl & Carrier Duet. Inspired by the common takeaway containers seen in Southeast Asia, kūpaa’s solution is crafted from premium food-grade silicone, ensuring safety for hot meals while offering a collapsible, convenient design for customers. The product is also safe for use in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher.
kūpaa was co-founded by Julia Chia Ciaciek and her Singaporean husband, both of whom were frustrated with the excessive plastic waste generated by Singapore’s takeaway culture. Says Julia, “The name kūpaa (pronounced 'kew-pa') means 'to be firm, steadfast, and unwavering' in Hawaiian, serving as a constant reminder of our unwavering commitment to sustainability. Our products are thoughtfully crafted to be inclusive of all cultures, functional but at the same time aesthetically pleasing, and health-conscious.”
Since the advent of the brand, Julia estimates that they have prevented 694,200 single-use plastic containers and bags from ending up in landfills. They have additionally partnered with Handprint to allowave 1% of every purchase to removing plastic from oceans, and have already collected 96kg of ocean plastic in Bintan. At Boutiques, be the first to shop their new Bowl & Carrier Duet in pink, an exclusive colourway introduced in response to feedback from the community.
JENEVIEVE
Returning for her second showcase at Boutiques Singapore, Singaporean designer Jenevieve Woon continues to push the boundaries of sculptural art through her home-grown brand, JENEVIEVE. Having first debuted at Boutiques under the Young Designers Showcase Grant (YDSG), Jenevieve has since expanded her audience, thanks to the exposure and support the grant provided. “The YDSG grant and the Boutique media features have helped me connect with a wider audience,” she tells us. “I’ve had the chance to collaborate with luxury and hospitality brands and it has been an absolute dream.”
Jenevieve’s latest collection, SNACKS, brings her love for nature into focus. Inspired by her work in floral and set styling, she has created fruit- and vegetable-shaped ceramics that aim to capture the whimsy she finds in nature. And although she finds herself working with different mediums, Jenevieve constantly feels pulled towards clay. “When I sit in front of a bag of clay, all the noise falls away. I can focus on being present and listening to the material. The unpredictability of ceramics also forces me to let go of my expectations of myself and my work and to simply create and see where it takes me.”
Rock Daisy
Also returning to Boutiques Singapore for her second showcase is Rachel Liou of Rock Daisy, who continues to build on her vision of sustainable, seasonless fashion with a utilitarian edge. After a decade in the corporate world, Rachel felt increasingly disconnected from the profit-driven world she was part of. The speed at which her job pushed product and maximised profit stood in stark contrast to her growing concern for the planet. Seeking a more intentional way of living, she turned to sewing during the pandemic, which eventually led to the creation of Rock Daisy—a brand rooted in sustainability and function.
The name Rock Daisy reflects the duality Rachel strives for in her designs: the hard and the soft; the feminine and the masculine. Rock Daisy, she tells us, is a flower that grows naturally in mountainous conditions. This balance is the foundation of her design philosophy, where craftsmanship, materials, and functionality come together. Says Rachel, “We construct our garments with stitches and seams that make the product last longer: french and flat-felled seams for reinforcement, and bias-bound edges to prevent unravelling and loose threads. We also use 100% natural fibres in our collection, like Tencel lyocell, cotton, and deadstock viscose. Finally, we are proudest of our design aesthetic. We present a style that is modern yet classic, oversized yet tailored, flattering and liberated from skin-tight silhouettes. We also work with a Japanese-trained patternmaker to audit and ensure our proportions are fitted to the Asian body.”
This November at Boutiques, Rock Daisy will exclusively launch their second collection. True to their design ethos, this collection is inspired not by a theme but by function. Among other designs, expect to see roomy-yet-tailored shorts made from upcycled fabric offcuts front he first collection, an oversized vest crafted from soft deadstock viscose, and an updated version of Rock Daisy’s best selling cargo pants.
GET BARE
For her second showcase at Boutiques Singapore, Calista Tan of GET BARE aims to continue carving out a space for women who value both practicality and style in their everyday lives. Launched in 2020, GET BARE was born out of Calista’s frustration with the lack of comfortable, diverse, and practical nipple covers. “Back in 2020, there were few accessible and well-designed options for women of different skin tones,” she tells us, “and many did not suit varied lifestyles or the hot and humid Singapore climate — for example, they weren’t sweat-proof or waterproof. The materials used in many products often irritated sensitive skin, causing discomfort like itchiness, and they didn’t offer the level of seamlessness or discretion that many women needed for everyday wear.” Since the launch of the brand, GET BARE has expanded its offerings to swimwear, which can also be seen at Boutiques Singapore.
Armed with her background in psychology, Calista made the leap into fashion, blending her passion for creativity with a desire to empower women to dress for themselves. Her journey from psychology to fashion has given her a unique perspective on individuality and confidence. “Working with the neurodiverse population taught me the importance of individuality and self-confidence, values that I wanted to translate into my brand. GET BARE became my way of combining creativity, practicality, and a commitment to helping women feel empowered and confident.”
hchiehart
Hwee Chieh Ang, the artist behind hchiehart, is no stranger to Boutiques Singapore. After showcasing her work under Eden Living in November 2023, she now returns for her second solo showcase, bringing with her a body of work that continues to reflect her love for nature and intricate, emotive art. Her art draws from Chinese and Japanese influences, combined with a modern, botanical watercolour aesthetic, creating gentle and deeply poignant work.
This November, Hwee Chieh's journey has come full circle. While her initial showcase with Eden Living opened the door to the Boutiques community, her upcoming collaboration with the brand marks a new chapter shaped by personal loss. Together, they have created an exclusive diptych series that will debut at Boutiques Singapore, exploring themes of grief and growth. “Our worlds shifted after losing someone dear to us, and today, we continue to carry the weight of these losses with strength we never knew we had,” she shares. The diptych, alongside framed pieces and postcard prints, tells a story of love and resilience in the face of change.
Discover our Boutiques Showcase Grant recipients only at Boutiques Singapore: The Gifting Edition 2024 from 22-24 November. Enjoy unlimited entry for $6. Kids under 12 enter for free. Get your tickets online now. Get your tickets online now.