Mandai Wildlife Group partners Singapore Fashion Council and local brands that draw inspiration from nature to craft meaningful fashion

Daisy Tan, Vice President of Retail, Mandai Wildlife Group, said, “Animals are wondrous in so many ways, and inspirationally, we and our partners have drawn so much from their unique patterns, shapes, colours and their very existence. We cannot imagine a world without animals, and we know that when they thrive, the world we share is in a better shape too! So, coming together in this design collaboration, the mindful creations form a unique chorus of tributes that celebrate the wonderful world of wildlife.”

Ms Julynn Tay, General Manager, Design Orchard Retail Showcase, Singapore Fashion Council shared that, “Strategic partnerships have consistently proven vital in extending the reach of brands and developing distinct products or collections. The collaborative effort between the Mandai Wildlife Group and Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) presents a unique opportunity for local designers and brands, nurturing creativity and propelling their growth. Through this partnership, SFC empowers local brands to access new markets, enhance visibility, and build essential connections within and beyond the fashion industry.”

A Collection Inspired by Biodiversity

The partnership kicked off with an Open Call in February this year, which drew responses from over 20 brands that submitted ideas inspired by the animal residents in Singapore’s wildlife parks at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. Five brands were shortlisted - Reckless Ericka, Pearly Lustre, Photo Phactory, junglesuit, and La Tierra – and they collectively produced a catalogue of more than 50 items.

junglesuit

junglesuit believes that much more can be done when it comes to dressing for hot, humid climates. They aim to create stylish clothes for women to thrive in the heat, with each piece sustainably designed - from the choice of fabric by using deadstock or fabric options like Tencel to packaging. As part of the collection, junglesuit has customised their “Just Add Water” Rain Hoodie with gold accents, inspired by five animal illustrations from Mandai Wildlife Group's Wildlife Sanctuary Collection.

La Tierra

La Tierra presents “The White Tiger” as a part of the Wildlife Sanctuary collection. The design of the “White Tiger” depicts power and beauty in an illustration of biodiversity and a balanced ecosystem. Their vision is to aid in the revival of dying crafts such as block printing, natural dyeing to create modern and sustainable fashion and home linen. They’ve created a unique, multi-coloured design to incorporate in its collection of six pieces:

●      Adult Block-Printed Button-Up Cotton Shirt with Mandarin Collar (Unisex)

●      Adult Knee-length Dress with Draw-String

●      Scarf

●      T-Shirt

●      Hand block print kits
 

Pearly Lustre

Pearly Lustre aims to elevate the art of fine jewellery by converging timeless elegance with the essence of life’s beauty. Inspired by the majestic Malayan Tiger, Pearly Lustre’s jewellery design serves as a call to protect this endangered species through earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets that use recyclable and hypoallergenic materials.

Photo Phactory

As the only brand in this collection that creates lifestyle pieces for the home, Photo Phactory brings an elegant touch of wildlife to people’s homes. Handmade by artisans using sustainable, premium materials, these functional pieces are produced to last a lifetime. Photo Phactory’s range includes fashion accessories like clutch bags, scarves and shirts to lifestyle and homeware such as mugs, coasters, mango wood trays, cushion covers as well as plates and bowl set.

Reckless Ericka

A business that aims to offer an alternative option to fast fashion, Reckless Ericka ensures that every aspect of their products is carefully tested to ensure ethical production with minimal environmental impact. Reckless Ericka adds unique kids and adult unisex tees, Cuban shirts, and scarf to its collection, inspired by the parks at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve.

The capsule fashion and lifestyle accessories are available for purchase at Design Orchard and will launch in the retail stores at Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Bird Paradise from 20 November 2023. The shop-in-shop at Design Orchard will be on display until 31 December 2023. New sign-ups for Mandai Wildpass, a free digital membership for local residents, will enjoy a 10 per cent discount for the Wildlife Sanctuary Collection at Design Orchard. For existing Mandai Wildpass holders, the 10 per cent discount is applicable only at the retail stores in Singapore Zoo, Night Safari, River Wonders, and Bird Paradise.

Products will also be available online on Mandai Wildlife Group’s Lazada and Shopee e-shops from 20 November 2023. For more details on the products, please refer to Annex A.

Two more brands, Nyana Nyana, and Phoonies, will also showcase their Wildlife Sanctuary-inspired designs at Design Orchard as well as their respective distribution channels.

Annex A