GATEWAY TO ASIA -
SFW07 RETURNS 12TH OCT

Singapore Fashion Week 2007 (SFW07) will kick off between 12 - 21 October 2007.

SFW07 will mark this as its 20th annual installment, held to coincide with the 30th anniversary of AFTEX (ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries) of which a council meeting to be convened during SFW07. Also being a new member of Asia Fashion Federation (founded by China, Korea and Japan), Singapore will be hosting the annual AFF conference. As always, SFW07 will showcase a series of comprehensive fashion-related trade shows featuring the latest designers' collections, brands/ labels from the region.

"An established entry on the world's fashion calendar, SFW07 is THE gateway to Asia, bringing together the most established designers/ labels and renowned international buyers for the trade show here in Singapore," says Mr Patrick Lee, Chairman of SFW07. "Streamlined and focused, we are charging ahead with the largest number of individual designer collections ever assembled together under SFW. Overall participation numbers will also swell as over 100 international delegates are expected at the annual AFF conference and seminar. The three AFF founding countries of China, Japan and Korea will also be represented by their respective top designers to showcase their collections at our gala dinner."

To further strengthen Singapore's position as a regional fashion hub, SFW07 is bringing together established as well as up-and-coming international, regional and local brands / labels featuring the latest offerings under one roof for the Spring / Summer 2008 season. With Singapore's excellent connectivity and infrastructure supporting the sourcing, distribution and supply chain functions of the region's apparel industries and connecting them to the rest of the world, this event offers exclusive business-to-business opportunities for all.

Events and programmes planned will continue to feature Singapore and regional fashion businesses and designers at different stages of their development. These offer important assistance and useful information to budding undergraduates, fledgling new businesses and even established designers looking to expand regionally and globally.

Participants, designers and trade visitors can expect a diversified and interactive platform to maximize their exposure within and beyond their industry circle and open gateways for more business opportunities.

As the core event, The Designers Show (TDS) is a trade showcase of local, regional and international designers / labels who will present their Spring / Summer 2008 collections. Spread over four days and held at 72-13 Theatreworks in town at Mohd Sultan Road, there are 27 show slots where numerous designers / labels will be showing.

An evening filled with glamour and entertainment, InspirAsian will bring together organizers and visitors for the season's high fashion social at the Suntec Ballroom. Underscoring the evening's glamour and festivities will be the 'Best of Asia's Designers' show.

Presented by VivoCity, Singapore Fashion Designers Contest (SFDC) is a nationwide search for the next ingénue in Singapore's fashion industry. This contest has become a crucial platform for the career launch of up-and-coming fashion designers. Likewise Asian Young Fashion Designers Contest (AYFDC) is a significant regional talent search that showcases up-and-coming talents from all over Asia. Over 12 countries participated last year, paving the way for many young designers in the fashion industry. Another talent spotting event, FRESH! – The Graduate Show collectively brings together the work of the four major design schools in Singapore - Raffles Design Institute, Temasek Polytechnic School of Design, LASALLE College of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Sponsored by British fashion retailer Topshop & Topman, it primarily showcases the best fashion graduates of the year. Prizes will be awarded for the best womenswear, menswear and mixed collections respectively, as well as a best overall collection.

Fringe events include the SFW Golf Tournament, the Fashion-Tech Solutions Conference, the AFF (Asia Fashion Federation) Seminar on Asian fashion trends, the ASEAN Designers Showcase, the AFTEX (ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries) Chief Delegates and Council Meetings and Fashion Shares - a tee-shirt exhibition to raise and support the awareness of AIDS and HIV in Singapore.