Is the future of fashion genderless? We speak to three local fashion designers who are contributing to the gender-neutral narrative in Asia. In the last of a three-part series, Singaporean designer Max Tan shares his two cents on androgyny and how gender influences his designs
Androgyny, according to Singaporean designer Max Tan, is a state of mind, rather than simply dressing in the dress codes of the other gender. “I feel that androgyny goes beyond the visual outlook,” shares Tan. “It is not a woman in a suit, or a man in a dress. It needs to inform the persona; it is the way one carries themselves in an authentic manner.”
Having celebrated his namesake brand’s 10th anniversary last year, the designer is currently embarking on a creative hiatus to re-evaluate his mission as a designer based in Southeast Asia. He explains: “As a brand based in Singapore, the studio questions its position and contribution to the region’s fashion landscape. Our cuts are informed by Southeast Asian garment archetypes and I pay special attention to silhouettes and construction strategies.”
Many love his designs for their strong masculine influence and austere aesthetics that have attracted men as well, but the brand, Tan says, “remains as a womenswear label today”.
(Related: Meet Sheryl Yeo, the Singaporean Tailor Who Aims to Give Everyone Access to a Good Suit)