First Creations
Trial and error is a common process when building a brand identity. How have your favourite Boutiques brands grown over the years? Photograph courtesy of NOST.
Every brand has that one signature item or style that regular customers have come to know and love. But have you ever wondered how these designers got started? Join us as we take a stroll down memory lane as some of our Boutiques vendors tell us about the first things they ever created.
“I started Roses & Rhinos by designing t-shirt graphics around endangered animals with my children. My kids researched and we taught ourselves how to graphically represent each animal in order to press the designs onto a t-shirt — which we did at home! It's how our name evolved: rhinos are one of the most endangered animals and the rose stands for our love for all things animals.
It's strange to see how we have changed from t-shirts to full collections now, but everything is still inspired by my kids and their friends.”
— Daman Issar
Photograph courtesy of Roses & Rhinos.
“As architects ourselves, NOST took inspiration from architectural facades such as the classic Concourse building by Paul Rudolph for the motifs of our first loungewear collection.
Step 1: We first sketched the abstracted geometric print.
Step 2: Our artisans hand-carved the pattern onto wood blocks.
Step 3: We tested the pattern in different colours using organic dyes made from plants, roots, and fruits.
Step 4: Our Kalamkari block-printing artisan begins the fabric printing process using charcoal black natural dye on 100% organic cotton. It is a complex and time-consuming process involving multiple steps of washing, dyeing and colour fastening.
Step 5: After sewing, this is the completed Stara Robe in Modular Black!”
— Felicia Toh
Photographs courtesy of NOST.
“What a journey it has been since The Maks’ Coffee launched our very first product — our signature drip coffee. We made countless visits to our partner coffee farms and had numerous cupping sessions to perfect our final House Blend. From our very first handcrafted drip coffee collection that was only sold online, our drip coffee is now carried by four different retailers and eight online marketplaces. We've now also opened a coffee showroom in a quaint shophouse on Tembeling Road, Katong.
This picture says so much — the planning, creation, process, and challenges from the first day we launched The Maks’ Coffee.”
— Chris Mak
Photograph courtesy of The Maks’ Coffee.
“This is the first sketch I ever made for GeGe — simple and unisex backpack made of recycled tires. I wanted to test how the upcycled tires would look on a bigger bag. Why start with small when you can try big ;-) Tested and approved.”
— Genevieve Joly
Photographs courtesy of GeGe Fashion.
“The first photo (R) was the absolute first shampoo caneles I made. Our solid shampoos have evolved ever since — in formula and shape. I have tweaked the formula at least 50 times with help especially from customer feedback. One thing hasn’t changed — we want our shampoos to remind people of food because they are made with edible ingredients!”
— Hildra Gwee
Photographs courtesy of OASIS:.
By KIMBERLY NG of Public Culture, an editorial experience studio that believes in connection over communication.