S’porean man, done with 'homework & passing exams', now designs for Beyonce, Lady Gaga, & Kate Middleton

In 1986, Singapore was coming out of its first recession since independence.

On the back of sweeping economic restructuring, and public sector projects being brought forward, the economy grew 3.8 per cent by the third quarter of 1986 (it had contracted 3.5 per cent in the third quarter of 1985).

That was also the year Singapore walked back its “Stop At Two” population policy, with the announcement of incentives like priority allocation of flats for parents.

Chinatown, Kampong Glam, and Little India were — for the first time — identified as historical areas for conservation.

It was against this historical backdrop that Andrew Gn, aged 20, set off for London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins art school.

The time there would leave a mark.

Gn, now one of the most prolific Singaporean fashion designers, recalls intimate details of an evening where he was invited for “pasta and wine” at a friend’s parents’ home.

“There were eight of us,” he recounts in the caption of a June 2023 Instagram post, naming each of those who attended.

“Young, free, and full of dreams!!” writes Gn exultantly.

Gn says he realised, some time after serving National Service, that his calling lay elsewhere than “homework and passing exams”, and went on to graduate from Central Saint Martins in 1989 with a major in Fashion Design.

He then obtained a master’s degree in Art in 1992 from the Domus Academy in Milan.

He then worked in Paris for French fashion designer Emanuel Ungaro, before launching his own label there, in 1996.

“When I picked Paris to settle down and establish my House, it was because they have the know-how, and also because it’s an extremely beautiful city,” Gn said in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.

“Living in beauty every day… it helps,” he added.

First Singaporean to show at Paris Fashion Week

Paris has been a special place for Gn and his work.

Gn’s label had only just launched in 1996, but his work was chosen for Paris Fashion Week in that same year.

His works have been consistently featured at the semiannual event since then.

Of course, Gn’s designs are not just exhibited on the runways of fashion shows.

They have been worn by various international celebrities, at events and on screen.

This satin draped gown with velvet bow, in its head-turning shade of fuchsia, was worn by American singer, songwriter Beyoncé at a charity event in September 2010.

Lady Gaga was also spotted wearing an Andrew Gn dress, which made a Teen Vogue writer comment that “she took the LBD to new heights.”

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A post shared by Lady Gaga (@ladygaga)

Meanwhile, here’s Lily Collins in “Emily in Paris”, wearing a dress designed by Gn in Episode 8 of the Netflix show’s third season.

Gn’s work has also been worn by actual royalty, including Princess of Wales Kate Middleton and the Queen of Jordan Rania Al-Abdullah.

Asian influences

“While my label House of Andrew Gn flourished in France, it is Asia where my story began and where my roots lie,” said Gn.

Gn’s designs often incorporate Chinese, Indian, Malay, Indonesian, and Peranakan influences.

The dress seen in “Emily in Paris”, for example, features pagoda-inspired shoulders, as well as decorative buttons inspired by kerosang — Peranakan jewelled brooches.

Gn’s grandmother was Peranakan, which explains why he often references the ethnic group’s culture in his work, which also draws its inspiration from Chinese porcelain, Indian textiles, Indonesian batiks, Iznik ceramics from 15th to 17th century Turkey, and other art forms.

It’s no wonder that Gn was awarded the President’s Design Award Singapore, as the Designer of the Year for 2007.

One of Gn’s recent projects was to shortlist pieces for an exhibition of his work.

Whittling down from the more than 10,000 pieces in his archives, Gn picked out 160 outfits — including accessories — and donated them to the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore.

Titled “Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World”, the exhibition is on till Sep. 17, 2023.

Details of the exhibition

The exhibition looks back on Gn’s 28-year career, with sections on the influential women he has dressed, his Asian and Western influences, and his inspiration from nature.

There’s also a section called “In the studio” — free for all museum visitors — which provides a behind-the-scenes look into what goes into each of his works through an almost-exact replica of Gn’s atelier in Paris.

As visitors make their way through the various exhibition spaces, they can also “collect” motifs used in Gn’s work, such as the butterfly and the coral, using RFID technology.

Visitors can then use the collected motifs to create outfits and model them using augmented reality kiosks at the Contemporary Gallery.

Andrew Gn: Fashioning Singapore and the World

Address: 1 Empress Pl, Singapore 179555

Hours: 10am to 7pm daily (extended till 9pm on Fridays)

Admission:

• Singaporeans and PRs: S$12 for adults, free entry for seniors 60 and over, students, persons with disabilities and one caregiver.
• Foreign residents and tourists: S$25 for adult ticket, S$20 concession rate for seniors 60 and over, students, persons with disabilities and one caregiver.
• Children age 6 and below: Free

Those entering for free or by concession should present valid proof of identity (e.g. passport, school pass) at the Visitor Services counter.

Admission tickets include access to ACM’s permanent galleries.

Find out more here.

This sponsored article by the Asian Civilisations Museum made this writer think about revamping his wardrobe.

Top photos from Andrew Gn on Instagram