Exclusive interview with Singaporean SCAD HK fashion student Dawn Bey

updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:22
Dawn Bey
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As the sole Singaporean student who presented at SCAD HK’s inaugural fashion showcase, we spoke to Dawn Bey on moving overseas, pursuing a second degree and her inspirations!

As a junior student pursuing a fashion design degree at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Hong Kong, Dawn Bey is officially one Singaporean name everyone should watch for in the coming years – she is also the only Singaporean in the first batch of graduating students in SCAD HK’s fashion programme.

Dawn completed a degree in business administration at the National University of Singapore (NUS), before moving to Hong Kong in 2013 to pursue her second degree in fashion at SCAD. Within the relatively short amount of time in school, Dawn was awarded SCAD Artistic Honors Scholarship in 2013 and SCAD Dean’s Award in 2014. If that’s anything to go by, it’s apparent that fashion is indeed her true calling.

For SCAD Hong Kong’s inaugural fashion showcase, Dawn presented a look from her ‘Detour’ collection. Inspired by a road worker’s uniform and the idea of female empowerment, Dawn set out to design an outfit that would resonate with females who are in traditionally male-dominated jobs – such as road workers. To breathe life to that idea, the road worker’s vest was re-interpreted into a dress and of course typical neon colours and reflective strips were worked into the outfit.

So while in Hong Kong, we had to speak to the young designer on her creations, her decision to pursue fashion overseas, inspirations and how it’s like being a student at SCAD HK.

Home pride right here everyone!

Marie France Asia: What made you decide to take on a second degree in fashion in Hong Kong and not Singapore?

Dawn Bey: I’ve always wanted to do fashion but my parents thought fashion was a little risky and they didn’t believe in it being a full time venture so they told me to study business – something to fall back on in case fashion didn’t work out. It was a very tough time because I had to do 3 years of something I didn’t like but on the hindsight it really taught me a lot about marketing a brand – things that a fashion designer would really need eventually. Secondly, why Hong Kong and not Singapore, that’s because I feel that every designer wants to push themselves out of their comfort zone and move away from where they are. So I thought of leaving Singapore because I’ve been there for so long and I didn’t think I’ll be able to grow there as a designer. I wanted to move myself to a new environment. Hong Kong, in terms of culture, is very similar to Singapore so it felt a bit like home but it came with new experiences.

MFA: What are your thoughts on Hong Kong’s fashion industry and how different is it from Singapore?

Dawn Bey: Business wise, Hong Kong is much bigger. When I was working in Singapore – interning for Gucci under PR – merchandising was very much only about moving inventory from one place to another but over here [Hong Kong] it is more about sourcing. So I find that very different and Hong Kong also has a very big focus on the entertainment industry which drives a lot of fashion demand. Back in Singapore, no one really cares about what celebrities are wearing or what new lines celebrities are endorsing. So in terms of that, Singapore’s fashion industry is much smaller. In terms of consumer awareness, Hong Kong is such a cosmopolitan society, brands themselves are bringing exhibitions over – Dior, Prada, etc. So a lot of the Hong Kong consumers know about brands and are very trendy.

MFA: What has been the most challenging part of being a fashion student in SCAD so far?

Dawn Bey: I find that with the fashion programme here, the teachers really push your boundaries. Since I’ve been here, I’ve developed a different way of looking at things. Because if you want to create something new, your perspective cannot be fixed on any one thing. The teachers will always be asking you to try out options and that makes a lot of difference because it opens you up to new ideas. Also the good thing is that there are a lot of international students here and everyone shares their different points of view – for instance the different colour perspectives from Western and Eastern cultures. So in terms of challenging, it has been altering my mindset and of course the workload. Being a student is all about juggling different things and about doing your best in everything – so time management was another challenging part.

MFA: Do you think you have developed a design aesthetic, if so what is it?

Dawn Bey: Yes, it’s slowly starting to come through after doing different projects. My signature aesthetic is probably my colours and liking for iridescent hues. My work often incorporates a lot of handwork into the textiles because of my love for handmade textiles in general.

MFA: Where do your inspirations come from?

Dawn Bey: These days, I usually find myself being inspired by current social issues. Most designers are inspired by the fashion looks of the past but I find myself most motivated when I address a current issue or problem with fashion. It’s like art but you talk about it on a garment for your body.

MFA: Who are you favourite designers?

Dawn Bey: My favourite designers include Miuccia Prada, Consuelo Castiglioni of Marni and Guillaume Henry who just left Carven. These designers use a lot of interesting materials and approaches to textiles and often have a very clear design style. Their looks are often very modern and updated despite being designers for very long time (at least the first two).

MFA: What are some of your future plans as a fashion student or after graduation?

Dawn Bey: I definitely want to start in Hong Kong and then eventually settle down in Singapore. I think that’s the best way and that’s how a lot of designers get recognition back in Singapore too.

Tarandip Kaur

Read more:
Miss J Alexander: Exclusive interview with the SCAD ambassador
Cream of the Crop: SCAD Hong Kong’s inaugural fashion showcase


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Marie France Asia, women's magazine