The training of fashion designers in Singapore : with special reference to the School of Fashion Studies, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

This thesis traces the development of the training of fashion designers in Singaporefrom early days to the present.While the training of fashion designers in the modern sense of the word did not beginin Singapore until the late nineteen-eighties, its origins must be traced back to theimportance attached to the learning of sewing and embroidery in oriental societies.This learning began in the home where girls were taught the skill from an early agewith almost religious zeal. This learning continued in the schools where sewing orneedlework lessons were made compulsory for girls. After they left school, they couldfurther their study in the privately set up sewing schools. In the sewing schools thegirls could learn techniques which enabled them to become seamstresses - avocation which was popular before the advent of the garment manufacturing industriesin the sixties.The Multi-fibre Agreement stimulated the growth of huge garment manufacturingindustries in the developing countries of which Singapore was one. The sewingschools were no longer able to meet the more exacting skills demanded by theseindustries, nor could they cope with the numbers. The government had to step in toprovide the necessary manpower by setting up sewing classes in the VocationalTraining Institutes to support the industry.By the late nineteen-eighties, a new development took place which was instrumentalin sponsoring the rise of modern fashion schools. This development was theconsequence of: - 1 Singapore reached a stage of socio-economic development whenaffluence and life-style changes created a design-conscious andcosmopolitan people. 2 The return of overseas-trained graduates of fashion departments inuniversities in the UK, USA and Europe who were ready to help set upfashion departments in the existing colleges of art. Thus, within a short space of a few years, four modern fashion schools wereestablished.Typical and representative of these fashion schools is the School of FashionStudies of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The remaining part of thisthesis examines in detail this Case Study, discussing in particular its history,challenges and responses, the changes in the curriculum, the approach toteaching and research in the pursuit of excellence, and the overall strategy forits future development. A comparative analysis of the strengths andweaknesses of the four fashion schools is also attempted.The future of Singapore fashion schools appears to be bright, as thegovernment has belatedly recognised the importance of design in contributingto Singapore's economic growth. The fashion schools have to train thenecessary manpower to make Singapore a fashion business hub andeventually a fashion Capital of the East. Research and development havetherefore to be an important focus of the fashion schools to meet thechallenges of the new millennium.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Master's Level (Level 7)

Year dc:date.issued

2001

Author dc:creator

• Theng, G

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1339702

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1339702