Keepers Singapore Designer Collective – A Singapore Treasure Trove

Keepers, a multi-label pop up boutique, housing a coterie of Singapore’s best local fashion labels, artisans and designers, turned one year old last month. The mysterious jewel box shape popped up on Orchard Road to much excitement from the local fashion industry. Supported by Spring Singapore and TAFF (Textile & Fashion Federation), the store was launched in September 2014 to coincide with the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

As the brain child of jewellery designer, Carolyn Kan, the store’s term was extended from the initial 5 month pilot due to the the success of the space. Kan’s initial vision was to showcase Singaporean designers and artisans – from the architect Randy Chan of Zarch Collaboratives who came up with the structure to the design team from Acre who were behind the branding. Curating a mix of clothing, furniture, jewellery, food, books, artisanal perfume and millinery, all the brands are specially selected to showcase the possibilities of Singaporean design capabilities.

To learn more about the space and the journey thus far, we caught up with Carolyn Kan, the driving force behind Keepers and the owner of label, Carrie K Jewellery.

So it’s been one year since your launch, how has the journey been so far?

Carolyn Kan: It has been invigorating, inspiring, exhausting but a fulfilling journey. We set out to put a spotlight on the independent local designers and artists to grow appreciation and value for our work, by creating opportunities for people to meet and learn from the designers and craftsmen. We have seen the small community of advocates grow. We also wanted to be a catalyst to collaborations and build a tighter design community. We have seen many collaborations, talks and workshops to share learning and grow the community as a result of our Keepers initiative.

How have customers responded? Are your patrons mainly locals or tourists interested in visiting the store or supporting brands?

C.K.: The response from the customers has been great. When we launched Keepers: Singapore Designer Collective last September, it was meant to be a 5 month pop up ending 15 February 2015. With the overwhelming response, we extended our pop up to January 2016. We had over 90,000 people visit Keepers over the first 5 months and it was a 60%:40% mix of locals and tourists.

What have been the highlights since the store’s opening?

C.K.: Our highlights include being a catalyst to growth for labels like Aijek who was picked up by Tangs after being discovered at Keepers. Showcasing new discoveries like artist Keng Lye. It is really inspiring to discover such talent in our midst and to play a part in putting a spotlight to the talent that we have in Singapore. We have also had visits by celebrities like Zhang Zi Yi, tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, and Keepers was even mentioned by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in one of his speeches. Our collaboration with graffiti artist Ceno2 who created the largest street mural (19m x 6m) titled “Beauty beneath the surface” on the exterior of Keepers was also a big highlight. We have so much creative talent to be proud of and the slow but growing recognition and appreciation for our Singapore designers, artists and artisans is starting to come through.

What have been the challenges?

C.K.: One of our key challenges has been finding passionate retail assistants. Finding good retail staff is an industry-wide challenge and I believe that it is Singapore’s ‘Achilles Heel’, as an outstanding experience is only possible with people who are passionate about telling the story and turning customers into advocates for our Singapore design community. Not many Singaporeans aspire to that role. But I am happy to say that the Keepers team is fuelled by a few stars and there is still room for more. 

Is there any brand that has stood out or developed something new since joining the collective?

C.K.: In Good Company has grown from strength to strength and has now launched their stand alone store at ION. Carrie K. has developed new collaboration designs such as the Fearless ring following a talk at Keepers by a typographer Mark de Winnie, and the Carrie K. X WitxFolly word series that was a collaboration with the talented artists at WitxFolly. Artist Keng Lye, has now turned his part-time passion as an artist into a full-time job. Following his showcase at Keepers, he was picked up by a gallery and he had a “sell-out” solo exhibition. He is currently working on his next and much anticipated exhibition in March 2016.

It seems the collective has indeed achieve leaps and bounds in terms of spreading the goodness of Singapore design. So much so that their latest instalment is a new retail pop up at Changi Airport Terminal 1. By bagging such accolades within a span of just a year I am reminded of the old adage ‘united we stand divided we fall’ – perhaps this is the secret of their success.

Anisa Johnny

Photos:  Shady Republic