Did Why Not? Work?
Fashion versus “the arts”
2 weeks ago, my friend serendipitously invited me to the Why Not? show to speak with Izwan, its founder and creative director.
Pre-show, I looked it up its online platforms: a bricolage of disparate graphics, big questions rejecting norms, intellectualised interviews with fashion designers; the headstrong angst of youth.
The show was phenomenally packed. Instead of chatting after, I ended up having Dim Sum. 2 weeks post-show, Izwan and I catch up to share what we saw: him as head-insider, me, fashion watcher.
Why?
Show director Manfred and I wanted to present fashion in a more dynamic, direct, democratic way. Fashion is niche in Singapore. Wanted it to be interdisciplinary, to integrate with other art forms.
Why you?
My experience in creative directing, project management [at @eatmepoptart, @_such_a_mood_]. I’m not a fashion designer, but was able to comment on the designer’s collections as a visual artist.
Team.
Roped in talent who could contribute. I thought it would be a good experience working with people starting out so we could learn together. We were also not paying.
Audience was great.
I wanted social as late as a month before the show. Was interesting to see people respond.
Air-conditioning.
It was on full blast. We didn’t realise the audience would be standing in the “performance space” of the theatre. Lights were on.
Comments.
Was congratulated for a good start. Some were dismissive. “I should direct this.”
We made mistakes: looped audio a few times, didn’t have budget to do full-dress rehearsal. The team was quite down right after. Took us a while to say, fuck it.
During debrief, we realised we neglected our mental, physical health. It affected our performance. We need to improve resources, fund it better if we are to do it again.
If you knew ahead of time how the collections would look like, would you still have worked with some of the designers?
Yes. The designers were willing to improve based on feedback. I admire people who can admit their work sucks.
If not to sell or wear, what’s the point?
It’s a platform for designers who don’t fit in the commercial fashion mold in Singapore. Wanted to enable people who could contribute to the conversation.
A fashion show for non-fashion people?
The audience was mix of those in the creative industry, not something you’d normally see at fashion events. It’s great. They came in with different perceptions.
When I ask people about fashion, they don’t see it as an art form. “What the fuck?! Only rich people get to enjoy it. It’s nonsense.”
I like nonsense. My problem.
