6 New Labels You Need to Know

Accessories

7. By Invite Only
What it is: Accessories in the form of one-off bracelets, rings and necklaces that will make you look and feel good. 23-year-old designer Trixie Khong is still an undergraduate in Public Relations at the National University of Singapore, but has made her maiden accessories label By Invite Only her labor of love for the past two years. Inspired by 18th Century circuses and the Victorian era and made mainly from healing stones such as agate geodes (which allegedly enhances creativity and strength) and pyrite (which is said to enhance intelligence) sourced from the US, Hong Kong and South Korea, the accessories look like something Björk might wear if she went all New Age-y. “I have always been fascinated by sociology and social-psychology teachings,” says Khong. “They definitely inspire me in the way I think about my life and that everyone is shaped by their individual, unique experiences to be who they are today. That is to me what truly makes the substance of a person; not his clothes or his job but his values, thinking, experiences, ideas and opinions.”
Look out for: Colorful, trendy pieces like gold amethyst necklaces ($69) which have calming, meditative particles and the eye-catching quartz cofetti bracelets ($79) that are dipped in 14K gold.
Available at A Curious Teepee, #02-24 Scape, 2 Orchard Link, 6820-1680.

8. Carrie K.
What it is: Luxurious, handcrafted bespoke jewelry made from precious stones since July 2009 but only made available in select boutiques so far, hence amassing a cult status along the way. Designer Carolyn Kan’s offering for the label consists of three ranges: Raw, Chroma and Reborn. Raw features pieces with a harder edge with their imperfections intact, while Chroma’s color-saturated precious stones juxtaposed against silver twig-inspired links are subtly gorgeous, and Reborn is made mostly from discarded everyday things and immortalized in precious metal. “I like to scratch beneath the surface to uncover the truth and look for beauty in people and the things around us,” says Kan. “My collection is handcrafted by me at my atelier. I also work with artisans in Florence, Italy and Thailand while the stones are sourced from all over the world as many are custom cut.” Indeed, Kan’s unwavering determination to create only the best pieces results in one of the most precious accessories labels in town. “I once hunted down a source for amethysts in Uruguay to custom slice the cross section of amethyst, showing the rough edge of the stone along with its many layers of colors, just for me!”
Look out for: More accessible and rarer limited-edition pieces that will premier at Blueprint Emporium priced between $100-3,000. And hopefully in due time, special collaborative pieces with other ateliers in Europe where Kan first learn her craft. “I would like to collaborate with more artisans to showcase their work in order to make it more accessible and grow people’s appreciation of craftsmanship,” she says.
The current collection is available at The Society of Black Sheep, #B1-64 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave.,6688-7223.

9. Ling Wu
What it is: Created out of a small local workshop and available in very limited quantities, the functional and very well-made bags by Ling Wu are a great alternative for those who crave the intricate stitching and buttery softness previously found only in Chloe and Miu Miu bags, without having to blow their budget. Already stocked in Japanese boutiques like United Arrows and Vulca, these understated babies (priced between $150-1,200) are made using mainly lambskin not just for its outer structure, but inner linings as well. “Buyers will notice too that there is very little hardware used on the bags,” says creator Goh Ling Ling. “This is to show off the natural beauty of the materials. I love using lambskin because of its softness and how it slouches like second skin. I also include python from sustainable sources in the collection. The skin is amazingly beautiful in texture and feel.”
Look out for: Its latest Cruise collection that will be released at Blueprint Emporium, inspired by all things vintage and music by Serge Gainsbourg and The Black Keys. “Both artists are very raw, but their sounds are very real, and humorous even,” she says. “I like how the edges of the bags are left unsewn, which makes them look less precious and more traveled. The tassels and ruffles give a little bit of sex appeal too.”
Ling Wu’s current Spring/Summer collection is available at A Curious Teepee, #02-24 Scape, 2 Orchard Link, 6820-1680 and Blackmarket, #02-10 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd., 6634-5201.

10. Tsura
What it is: Meaning “Light of dawn” in Romani Gypsy, fine jewelry label Tsura is the brainchild of Tara Thadani, a Romani herself who travels widely to Bhutan, Laos and Rajasthan for inspiration as well as to source precious stones for her ethereal creations. With permanent as well as thematic annual collections, Tsura is made for “the modern, global nomad, who is at once from nowhere and anywhere,” says Thadani. “Tsura started with my love for jewelry and love for adornment and embellishment. On a trip to India a couple of years back, I came across a tribal bangle and I had a great idea of how I could improve its basic design and make something contemporary. From there I took a course in gemology in Bangkok and found inspiration in the stones and materials. I came up with the story of a Goddess of the Forest and started to design pieces of jewelry for her.” Tsura’s piece are truly inspired by the beauty of nature and tribal motifs, such as her first Tribal Sun bangle series, with its big, no frills and minimalistic design that makes it utterly accessible and timeless.
Look out for: The new collection Stargazer, which will debut at Blueprint Emporium, priced between $500-2,500. The Wildflower rings—brightly colored petals accented with shimmering stones, with carved stone leaves hanging from delicate chains—is especially exquisite. Also keep an eye out for the Shera cuff—a solid wooden bangle contrasted with an agate resembling a fossil—which channels the beauty of Mother Nature to great effect.