SINGAPORE FASHION COUNCIL INCREASING ACCESS FOR ASIAN RESPONSIBLE FASHION
By: Hillary LeBlanc
There are many vibrant communities dedicated to increasing fashion success around the globe. Incubators, business development programs and fashion councils have popped up around the world to help develop business acumen within designers so that they may be able to succeed and scale their business. SIngapore is no stranger to this method of supporting their community.
The Singapore Fashion Council, formerly known as Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore), is the official association for the textile and fashion industry in Singapore. The organization’s goal is to to become a vibrant Asian hub for responsible fashion. The organization focuses on four pillars: Sustainability, Innovation & Technology, Internationalisation, and Retail. The Singapore Fashion Council offers thought leadership, extensive networks, and resources – to drive impactful change throughout the ecosystem.
Singapore Fashion Council’s Fashion Sustainability Programme aims to position Singapore as the regional capital for innovative solutions in the sustainability space, which is why it sits as one of the organizations key pillars. With the fashion industry being one of the largest polluters in the world, there is urgency to implement solutions to begin mitigation of environmental impacts. To achieve this, Singapore Fashion Council collaborates with their network of sustainability-focused companies, organisations, government agencies, consumers and communities from across the entire fashion value chain. The organisation has developed toolkits for businesses to adopt, introduce talent capability development programs and work with the industry to identify common pain points and possible solutions to explore and capitalise on opportunities in the green economy. Singapore Fashion Council also works with schools and communities to build awareness and capabilities in sustainability. Singapore Fashion Council has brought together a Sustainability Steering Committee with different stakeholders from across the Fashion value chain, for a broad ecosystems perspective. All of these initiatives serve to make the world a cleaner, more environmentally conscious place. The sustainability programme also offers resources on sustainability including webinars, a report and asks businesses to make a sustainability pledge with previous pledgers listed online.
Image Source: @sgfashioncouncil
Singapore Fashion Council also offers its members The Bridge Fashion Innovator Program in a Business Incubator prong or Corporate Innovator prong. The Business Incubation Programme comprises an 8-week bootcamp and 1-year innovation community networking which is a structured programme that identifies and grooms early-stage start-ups in the fashion and lifestyle sector to refine and validate their products, services or solutions. Participants connect with the innovation community through networking and events, equipping them with the knowledge, tools and opportunities for business partnership and continued fundraising. The programme aims to guide and broaden participants’ horizons in the fashion and lifestyle sector. The Corporate Innovation Programme aims to induce disruptive and transformative innovation in corporations in the fashion and lifestyle industry. The programme endeavours to solve three problems around research and development risks,the costs of in-house innovation and understanding corporate structure. By partnering with the Singapore Fashion Council’s innovation ecosystem, the Corporate Innovation Programme assists corporations in fulfilling their desire to achieve innovation with speed and agility and considering minimal financial risks.
On top of expanding the global reach of Singapore’s fashion industry through their Internationalisation pillar and providing strategic support and resources to grow in international markets, Singapore Fashion Council offers direct retail support. DORS at Design Orchard, managed by the Singapore Fashion Council, is a vibrant retail destination at the heart of Orchard Road. Showcasing over 80 of Singapore’s finest designers, DORS curates a dynamic selection of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands that celebrate creativity and craftsmanship.
Driven by a passion for supporting local entrepreneurs, DORS offers an inspiring and immersive retail experience designed to empower and connect communities. Every visit is a journey of discovery—where innovation thrives, artistry flourishes, and local design talent takes centre stage. The DORS e-commerce site features 35 brands that they are amplifying and giving a platform to generate revenue.
Source: DORS e-commerce website
It was also recently announced that the Singapore Fashion Council was partnering with SHEIN for the launch of a new initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in fashion. The partnership presents the “Every Body Matters” Inclusive Design Fashion Competition, an innovative platform that seeks to empower emerging fashion designers to create collections that celebrate and reflect the diversity of the world we live in. The competition encourages global emerging fashion designers and industry professionals to challenge conventional notions of beauty and style, by creating designs that embrace every body type and ability, putting a spotlight on size-inclusivity and representation.
Singapore Fashion Council also hosts an annual conference, Be The Change, which will take place this September. The conference aims to highlight the urgent need for innovation and collaboration to navigate impending challenges and harness growth potential, ensuring a thriving, responsible, and forward-thinking industry for generations to come.
In a time where many may feel Asian countries are creating a lot of our fast fashion garments, it is clear that the Singapore Fashion Council is using many approaches to uplift small businesses and tackle innovation and sustainability head on.