Imagine wearing a slice of heritage on your sleeves, or having it adorn your everyday objects. Well, the National Heritage Board (NHB) and global distributor and retailer of luxury fashion Abry have gone ahead to make this a reality through their first ever collaboration – a stunning capsule collection of contemporary merchandise inspired by the National Collection of Singapore. Entitled Fabrics Of Society: Prints & Motifs, the collection is designed by Singaporean artist and designer Theseus Chan.
You’ll be able to find patterned card holders, plates, tote bags, scarves, rectangle trays, mini baskets, fans, bookmarks, coasters, clutches, and more. From afar, the collection looks like a vibrant display of attractive motifs. But take a closer look and you’ll notice that each piece of merchandise is infused with materials from the National Collection such as fabrics, traditional garments and photographs.
These elements are taken from artefacts like Peranakan wedding cloud collars, batik reinterpreting a classic European fairy tale, traditional saris and a dragon robe from the Qing dynasty.
“The idea was to capture the spirit of the past and infuse it with the energy of today. The bold, modern colour palette uses both contrasts and complements the collection’s traditional roots. This not only revitalises the imagery but also aligns it with current artistic trends, appealing to a diverse audience. The colours are selected to echo the dynamism of Singapore’s culture, creating a striking visual language that speaks to both heritage and modernity,” says Theseus Chan, designer of the collection.
Through this collaboration, Singapore’s national collection can also tap on ABRY’s international platform to reach a wider international audience. This supports one of NHB’s SG Heritage Plan 2.0’s key focuses under theHeritage x Industry trackto make the National Collection more accessible not just among Singaporeans but also international visitors.
“As the custodian of Singapore’s heritage, we hope to make our National Collection – a source of pride for us Singaporeans – more accessible to all through cultural merchandising. This collaboration raises awareness of our National Collection by creating contemporary items that can be integrated and enjoyed in our daily lives. Through our partnership with ABRY and their extensive retail network, we look forward to sharing the richness of Singapore’s heritage both within and beyond our shores,” says Ms Chang Hwee Nee, Chief Executive Officer, NHB.
For now, only a handful of the collection is available online for purchase here. However in the near future, the collection will also be stocked in physical stores, so stay tuned for more updates.
MORE NEWS
Taiwanese math rock trio Elephant Gym will perform in Singapore this June
Popular Korean chain Eat Pizza is opening its second outlet with $1.99 slices