Singapore Fashion Festival 2008
Presented by MasterCard & Made Possible By the Singapore Tourism Board
28 March to 6 April 2008
The Tent @ Orchard, Ngee Ann City, Civic Plaza

Singapore Fashion Festival 2008

Making its highly–anticipated comeback at the mega Tent @ Orchard, Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza is the Singapore Fashion Festival, presented by MasterCard and made possible by the Singapore Tourism Board.

The Singapore Fashion Festival is set to rock the region with a cutting-edge direction of discovery and resurgence. Trend-watchers can expect to discover fashion’s hottest rising stars from around the world, blazing a new trail in the region’s style capital. Be the first in Asia to preview the Autumn/Winter 08 collections of world-celebrated designers, straight off the runways of Paris and New York, ready-to-order in Singapore.

The Festival plays host to two world-class fashion designers this year – celebrity designer Matthew Williamson and Kevin Carrigan, Creative Director of ck Calvin Klein. Making a personal appearance in the red carpet Opening Gala, Matthew Williamson will showcase his vibrant Spring/Summer 08 collection. Ending the Festival on a high note, Kevin Carrigan will be in town for the highlight ck Calvin Klein Closing Show.

Singapore is proud to welcome to its shores Asia’s top emerging models, who will join iconic British supermodel Erin O’Connor on the Festival catwalk, creating a unique contrast of cultures and beauty on the runway line-up. “The Singapore Fashion Festival reinforces Singapore’s position as the region’s fashion hub. With various international and regional designers showcasing their collections, and several making their Singapore debut, trendy and well-heeled visitors from around the region are regularly drawn to join in this exuberant celebration of all things fashion,” said Mr Andrew Phua, Director of Cluster Development, Tourism Shopping and Dining, at the Singapore Tourism Board.

“In 2006, Singapore achieved a record S$12.4 billion in tourism receipts with shopping once again accounting for almost half of visitor expenditure. Fashion and accessories accounted for the biggest share at 32% of shopping expenditure, or almost S$1.1 billion. Mr Phua added that one of the Festival’s key attractions was that visitors could buy the collections showcased straight off the runway at leading shops. “The Festival period has to be one of the best times to shop for fashion in Singapore,” he quipped. "This year, fashion-forward visitors can look forward to new memorable experiences at the Singapore Fashion Festival, with highlights including international designers, previews of Autumn/Winter 08 collections, international labels, regional designers as well as our very own home-grown Singapore designers .”

"The Singapore Fashion Festival is one of the leading festivals of its kind in Asia and MasterCard cardholders will have plenty to look forward to with MasterCard as presenter of the festival for the second year. We have lined up a series of priceless experiences and fashionable lifestyle privileges for our cardholders. From exclusive benefits at trendy dining establishments to shopping delights and pampering spa treatments, we seek to provide cardholders with all they need to live the life of the fashion elite this SFF," said Mr TV Seshadri, Vice President and Senior Country Manager, Singapore, MasterCard Worldwide.

Set in a spectacular catwalk theatre built to accommodate more than 1,000 guests, the new and bigger Tent @ Orchard at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza will feature an elevated 60 foot catwalk designed for versatility, and is the first in Asia to introduce contact-less RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) access stickers by Stickkeys™ for VIP guest clearance. Transforming from a couture gala dinner venue to a theatre-style runway gallery, the stunning catwalk will feature an impressive 8 meter-wide LED screen, creating a world-class backdrop for ten days of high-octane fashion shows and parties in the heart of Orchard Road.

“We are proud to be back at the helm of the nation’s largest fashion event. We are dedicated to making the event a world-class platform for international labels and Singapore designers, reaffirming Singapore’s position as the region’s fashion hub. Expect elegant gala dinners, red-carpet fashion parties and late-night champagne revelries, as we up the fun and glamour of the Festival” says Ms Tjin Lee, Festival Director and Managing Director of Mercury Marketing & Communications.

With MasterCard returning as the Presenting Sponsor of the Singapore Fashion Festival, and Lee Hwa Jewellery as Official Jeweller, the Festival is also proud to introduce new partners Audi as Official Car and Samsung as Official Electronics.

Be part of the Singapore Fashion Festival 2008, a 10 day celebration of fashion with glamorous red carpetgalas, retail privileges and spectacular catwalk shows island-wide. Ticket bookings for select events through TicketCharge start on 12 March 2008. Visitors to Singapore can obtain tickets to day shows from the Singapore Visitors Centre @ Orchard (available on a first-come-first-served basis). Many special treats are on offer for MasterCard cardholders, just visit www.mastercardmomentsfashion.com for priceless information on how to make the most of this year’s Festival.

The Singapore Fashion Festival 2008 is presented by MasterCard and made possible by the Singapore Tourism Board. Singapore Fashion Festival is one of the many Uniquely Singapore events by the Singapore Tourism Board. It is the first regional consumer-focused fashion event where Autumn/Winter collections are previewed and Spring/Summer collections are made directly available from the catwalk to consumers. Since its inception in 2001, the Singapore Fashion Festival has become one of Asia’s key fashion events.

Singapore Fashion Festival is set to blaze new trails with fabulous debuts and discoveries, exciting revelations and resurgence. Watch out for bold, new names and iconic legends – See you at the Festival!

For more information on Singapore Fashion Festival, please visit www.singaporefashionfestival.com.sg

Text edited by Eugene Tang. Photos Courtesy of Singapore Fashion Festival 2008. All Rights reserved