Back in 2015, Harper’s Bazaar Asia announced their New Generations Fashion Designer Award winner – Silvia Teh, who was taught under Singapore’s veteran designer Thomas Wee. Stepping into the sartorial spotlight since this prestigious accolade, Silvia Teh now runs a fashion label of her own name sake, designed, created and executed right here in Singapore.
Born and bred in an Indonesian city before emigrating to Singapore, Silvia had overcome challenges to break free from the traditional norm to pursue her dreams. Her clothing today is designed for the women she has always aspired to become; the strong, the empowered and the passionate.
Working with a monochromatic palette, the designs avoid bright colours and instead lead the way with quality fabrics, inimitable structuring and flattering, flawless figure sculpting.
The brand celebrates the idea of Masculine Femininity, a state where women can celebrate the idea of power and independence without losing the grace and poise of their femininity. Silvia only works on the basis of delivering a Transeasonal Collection, unfettered by the trends reinforcing the concept of slow fashion. Her pieces are thus timeless. Buy quality once, wear a lifetime – the opposite ideals on which modern cheap fast fashion has so fervently based itself on.
Currently offering three collections: The Oriental Chic, Unbreakable Collection and The All White Collection, Silvia Teh works tirelessly to deliver pre-order and ready-to-wear pieces that suit Singapore’s eclectic working women. Silvia enjoys the fact that white and black shades go with every shade of skin colour and every type of female – allowing her items to bring out the best in every possible woman who wishes to embrace her brand.
“Silvia Teh is a brand made by women, for women. I aspire to empower women through clothing, that regardless of what the pursuit is I hope to equip women with confidence and self-assurance which in the end will manifest their power from within.”
I met with Silvia at her showroom and I must say, for someone so unassuming and quiet, she has such inner strength that allowed me to leave a couple of hours later feeling utterly inspired myself. Having listened to her backstory and her struggles in both designing, creating and then surging forwards with her personal brand, I felt I had only began to scratch the surface in my mind of what creatives go through to become successful. I, a mere blogger, can slightly empathise. No-one spends money to read my features and nobody has to feel comfortable walking around all day on S&SC. If you don’t choose to tune in, no skin off my nose. But as a fashion designer, it’s a whole different ball game. That being said, without the readers I wouldn’t be where I am today, so I do feel the pressure of consumer demand in that sense.
I for one love the Silvia Teh (hence the feature) designer label because I am a HUGE purveyor of women power-dressing to match their personality and authentic selves. Whilst I do usually tend to drown myself in colour, given my hair is the colour of nature now – I have to look to a muted palette in my closet to ensure I am not entirely overwhelming whenever I walk into a room. Which is where Silvia Teh’s pieces come in. So clean and stylish, the white and black pieces cleverly avoid the sterile and starched negative connotations but still nail the structured yet sophisticated clothing concepts.
As for 2020? Expect an introduction of COLOUR. But in keeping with her style, think pastel shades such as blush pink or light violet. She is also venturing into bridal too, offering a collection of bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses. She says:
“I think the current industry is selling a fairy-tale dream that wedding is a happy ending. I’m wishing to market it as a realistic collection, that a marriage is a decision of two adults who will grow together, knowing the road ahead is going to be challenging but rewarding. I want the clothes to empower them to move on to the next phase of life.”
Check out a few highlights from the available collections below:
The All White Collection
Unbreakable Collection
The Oriental Chic
Her designs are now stocked in Nana & Bird, or you can purchase instead via Silvia Teh’s online store by clicking here. Alternatively you can pop by her showroom here in Singapore – if would like to try on the clothes before purchasing, feel free to book an appointment viewing with Silvia directly.
