Inan eraof instantgratification, is thereanything moreluxurious
than having outfits painstakinglyconstructedtoyourexact
specifications? Eightof Asia’s topbespoke designers—and their
muses—prove that some things are worth the wait
Letitia Phay and Jade Swee with Carmen Ow
Photographed in their Singapore studio by Joel Lim; Words by Chong Seow Wei
ForthedesignersofTimeTakento
Makea Dress,thecreativeprocessstarts
withgettingtoknowtheirclientsona
deeperlevel.“Wewanttocreatedesigns
thattella story,”explainsJadeSwee,who
is onehalfofthebrand.“Wealsowantto
translatewhatweunderstandaboutour
client’spersonalityandtheirbrieftous
intoourdesigns.”Swee,whois formally
trainedinfashiondesign,grewupsewing
andbeading,thankstohergrandmothers,
whoarebothtailors.Herpartnerin
crime,LetitiaPhay,is a biomedicalscience
graduatewhofollowedherdreamof
becominga designer.
Oneoftheirfavouritemusesis
CarmenOw,the30-year-olddirectorof
boutiquepropertydevelopmentcompany,
ClydesbuiltGroup,whofirstsoughtout
thepairin2014.“Ihadbeenscouringthe
internetfora localbespoketailortocreate
thedressI hadinmindfortheSingapore
TatlerBallthatyear.ThenI cameacross
pictures of Time Taken to Make a Dress’
creations,andI instantlythoughttheir
aestheticsuitedmystyle,”saysOw.The
resultofthatfirstmeetingwasa black
cross-neckhaltertulledressthatOwis
wearinghere.
Theentiredesignjourneyforan
elaboratedresslikeOw’scantakeanywhere
fromthreetosixmonthsfromstartto
finish,withmultiplefittingsinbetween.
“WithCarmen,it reallyhelpsthatshe’s
soopentooursuggestions,”saysPhay.
“Shealsomakesusfeelappreciatedand
understandswhenmoretimeis neededto
perfecta dress.She’sthedreamclient.”
SinceOwreceivedherfirstgown,she
hascommissionedfourmore—andit
willnotstopthere.“Theyunderstand
mystyleandI neverhavetoworryabout
theworkmanshiporfit,”shesays.“Isee
JadeandLetitiaasmyfriends,notjustthe
designerswhomakemydresses.We’ve
reacheda pointinourrelationshipwhere
if theywanttoexperimentwith a new
design, I’d be up for it.”