Launching Vogue Singapore two years ago in the midst of a pandemic was by no means an easy feat. Now with over 17 issues and counting, the magazine’s successful expansion into Singapore is in itself a journey of rebirth. From championing diversity in the ‘Every Body’ issue to exploring Fashion’s New World in the metaverse, Vogue Singapore continues to push boundaries and uphold its values of inclusivity, sustainability and creative storytelling.
To mark this milestone, Vogue Singapore is unveiling exclusive, sustainably-made merchandise in collaboration with two local brands. Featuring a twill cap by The Paper Bunny and a grey hoodie from Dirty Manners, Vogue Singapore’s second anniversary line up offers memorable pieces that are timeless as they are efficacious.
As far as local start-ups go, The Paper Bunny is one of Singapore’s most established household names. Known for its minimalist aesthetic, the brand has cemented itself as the go-to authority for sustainable everyday products.
Jaime Lee and Justin Tan established The Paper Bunny in 2013. Within two years, their product range expanded to include pieces to wear and carry, attracting a significant online following. This burgeoning popularity was good news. Eventually, Jaime made the tough decision of leaving her corporate job to focus on building her business.
Fast forward to today and the leap of faith that the couple took has worked wonders. Their achievements include collaborating with local brands like Singapore Airlines and designing a collection with Superga. But their proudest moment is the opening of their first shop at Ngee Ann City last year. “Every moment to celebrate was an affirmation and vote for us to continue doing what we were doing,” they share.
“With every new endeavour, the promise of rebirth to us is exciting and renewing, a chance to explore new grounds and flourish in new ways.”
Although the path to success was not plain sailing, the couple believes that every setback has challenged them to improve and shape who they are now. “With every new endeavour, the promise of rebirth to us is exciting and renewing, a chance to explore new grounds and flourish in new ways,” adds the couple.
Jaime looks forward to seeing how fans of The Paper Bunny incorporate its exclusive Vogue Singapore caps into their everyday outfits. Classic and sleek, the twill caps feature a black-and-white colour way and an embroidered quote on the front. “It’s a nod towards the versatility and broad relevance of both brands in people’s everyday lives,” shares Jaime.
As for Dirty Manners, the emerging label aims to promote mindful living—something we often lose sight of in our daily lives. Founded by Annelieke Dompeling, Kai White and Francesco Pellicano, the trio created Dirty Manners after a canoe-camping trip in Lapland, Sweden.
Inspired by pristine wilderness, the three founders named the brand after their goal of nurturing better manners towards our planet. Looking back at their early days, they deem the outdoor shoot for their launch campaign their biggest struggle and greatest achievement—they had to battle endless, torrential rain complicating the filming of numerous scheduled scenes.
Describing their excitement to create Vogue Singapore’s merchandise, the trio shares: “Working with one of the most influential and significant voices in fashion is extremely validating and it shows the world that you don’t need to compromise style for sustainability.”
“We want to show that clothes shouldn’t come at the expense of our planet.”
Taking on the October issue’s theme of ‘Rebirth’, Dirty Manner’s hoodies reinterpret vintage athletic hoodies to make them snug and lightweight. Available in an understated light grey colour, the hoodies are built to last as a timeless wardrobe essential. Recycled materials such as deadstock textile scraps are segregated and transformed into the fabric, eliminating the need for additional dyeing processes.
“We are continuously rethinking every stage of the design process: the materials we source, the way we package our goods and the organisations we partner with,” says White. “We want to show that clothes shouldn’t come at the expense of our planet.”
Seeing how the two homegrown brands are thriving in pursuit of their passions, the future of local talent is more palpable than ever. As Jaime puts it: “A strong brand is built from being authentic, listening and a lot of experimenting. Being brave to try new things and not being distracted by what everyone else is doing.”
Photography Cher Him
Styling Jasmine Ashvinkumar
Hair and make-up Angel Gwee using L’Oréal Paris and Dior Beauty
Photographer’s assistant Zhan Hong
Stylist’s assistant Jason Sonja
Shop Vogue-exclusive merchandise from The Paper Bunny and Dirty Manners.
