Peranakan-inspired outfits for APEC Leaders in Singapore

Singapore - APEC leaders meeting in Singapore will be dressed in Peranakan-inspired outfits at their traditional group photo-taking session on November 14.

"We broke with APEC tradition, in some ways, because we want to do something different," said Ms Koh Lin-Net, chairwoman of the APEC 2009 Organising Committee, as the outfit of the 21 world leaders is generally kept under wraps until the photo session.

Created by award-winning Singaporean designer Wykidd Song, the linen shirts for men will come in a choice of blue, red or green - the official colours of the APEC Singapore 2009 logo - while red silk with more elaborate embroidery and lacing details will dress the female leaders.

Mr Song said Singapore's identity as a multi-racial and multi-cultural society is reflected in the leaders' attire which he drew inspiration from the Peranakan culture.

"I see the Peranakan culture as a hybrid of the different cultures we have in Southeast Asia, and that is what is reflected here in Singapore," said Mr Song who also described the culture as a part of Singapore's living heritage, with its a unique blend of Chinese, Indian and Malay elements.

The specially-designed outfits will feature the strong workmanship and intricate details distinctive to the Peranakan culture while taking a modern interpretation to the traditional style.

And for the first time in APEC history, the leaders will be wearing these outfits for an entire evening, after the traditional photo-taking session.

Ms Koh said: "Our main brief, really, was to make sure that the designer did not think it was something that they wore for a few minutes, took it off and then that's done.

"But rather, they would wear it for the entire evening. And then we added that ... it must be so comfortable that they would want to wear it again."

She revealed that the APEC leaders had chosen the colour for their attire and given their body measurement to the organiser.

Complementing the leaders' attire will be a set of round cuff-links made of sterling silver accented by a gem of either blue topaz, red rhodolite or green peridot for the male leaders, while their female counterparts will be presented with a brooch made of sterling silver with a red rhodolite inset.

Among APEC leaders who have confirmed their attendance at the summit are US President Barack Obama, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Korean President Lee Myung-Bak and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Sumber: http://www.channelnewsasia.com
Photo: http://www.iec.ch/online_news

Write your comment !