Ambassador of Singapore to Korea Eric Teo Boon Hee, left, hands a gift to Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon during their meeting at Busan City Hall, Aug. 18. Ambassador Teo visited Busan to attend the opening of "Runway Singapore #SGFASHIONNOW" exhibition and met with Mayor Park ahead of the resumption of direct flights between the two cities. Courtesy of Busan City



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Ambassador of Singapore to Korea Eric Teo Boon Hee visited Busan last week to bolster relations between Singapore and the vibrant southern port city of Korea amid prospects for future collaborations.



Ambassador Teo was present at the opening of the "Runway Singapore #SGFASHIONNOW" exhibition at the KF ASEAN Culture House, Thursday. Co-organized by the Korea Foundation (KF) and Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM), the exhibition serves as a testament to Singapore's rich, cosmopolitan and multicultural heritage expressed through fashion.



Featuring 27 experimental fashion artworks by 27 Singaporean designers and teams, the exhibition delves into Singaporean multicultural traditions and reinterprets them into contemporary styles. It is divided into three distinct sections, each providing insight into various aspects of Singaporean fashion culture.



The Craftsmanship section unveils haute couture pieces by top Singaporean designers such as Andrew Gn, Ashley Isham, and LAICHAN, giving a glimpse into the meticulous art and skill that goes into high-end fashion, revealing a blend of creativity and tradition.



The Innovation in Tradition section showcases the reinterpretation of traditional elements into modern designs. Highlights include design combining contemporary print on cheongsam by Studio HHFZ, corset pieces constructed with batik fabrics by Putri Adif and clothing that incorporates African wax fabric Ankara by OliveAnkara. This section celebrates the fusion of heritage with innovation, a theme central to Singapore's identity.



The Urbanite section is dedicated to practical yet experimental streetwear. Among the creations on display are works by The Salvages, known for designing costumes for renowned K-pop artists such as BLACKPINK and G-Dragon, and designer Harry Halim.



This is Singapore's first traveling exhibition on fashion and Busan is the first stop. After showcasing in Busan through Oct. 29, the exhibit will tour to the KF Gallery in Seoul from Nov. 21 to Jan. 31, 2024.



Ambassador Teo's visit to Busan was further marked by a meeting with Mayor Park Heong-joon at Busan City Hall, Aug. 18. They discussed the parallels between Singapore and Busan as vibrant port cities, as well as ways to enhance cooperation through people-to-people exchanges.



A highlight of their conversation was the impending resumption of direct flights between Busan and Singapore. Marking a step forward after years of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore Airlines is set to resume its service on Aug. 28, operating four times a week connecting Busan's Gimhae International Airport with Singapore's Changi Airport.



Mayor Park expressed gratitude to Ambassador Teo for the visit and noted that the resumption of direct flights is a boost to tourism and cooperation between the two cities.

