On 1st September 2011, together with Singapore's TAFF (Textile & Fashion Federation Singapore) and WDA (Work Development Authority of Singapore, Matex and its partners co-organize Singapore's inaugural Fashionably Sustainable Competition to a global audience, the successful event had a runway fashion show and saw the graduation of 40 over students from the pioneer batch of an interesting diploma course in textile.

The design contest is organised to challenge aspiring fashion designers and industry practitioners to develop innovative apparel creations toward fashion design for sustainability. It encourages designers to make their creative vision congruent to their role as stakeholders in a world in need of protection and care.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State for Ministry of Trade and Industry was the Guest of Honour at the grand finale of the competition. Three winners were selected after a fashion catwalk where the designs of all seven finalists were showcased –the top two winners each won an entry pass to the prestigious Paris Fashion Week with a return air ticket and accommodation fully paid. Each also received $1,500 cash prize; another winner was selected for the Society of Dyers and Colourist award, a United Kingdom, London competition, called the SDC International Design Competition 2011 that shared the same vision of sustainability. The winner won $500 cash prize. Please refer to Annex A for the Profiles of the Fashionably Sustainable Competition’s Finalists.

Panel of judges for Fashionably Sustainable are:

Dro Tan Guan Liang who helms Matex business development for sustainable manufacturing business in dyes and materials.

Elim Chew founder of 77th Street a youth and young adult’s streetwear fashion and accessories retail chain.

Fashion Designer Frederick Lee who uses non-traditional materials for his designs.

Gladys Chung features writer for The Straits Times Urban who has keen interest in eco-fashion.

Rajesh Chhabara, an expert in sustainability and advisor to TaFtc Singapore.

For more information, please visit: https://www.mti.gov.sg/Newsroom/Speeches/2011/09/Mr-Teo-Ser-Luck-at-the-Fashionably-Sustainable-Competition-and-WSQ-Graduation-Ceremony-in-Fashion-Te