The idea is to die young as late as possible. — Ashley Montagu — Thursday July 3rd — —

I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time. — Nayyirah Waheed — Thursday July 3rd — —

“What art does — maybe what it does most completely — is tell us, make us feel that what we think we know, we don’t. There are whole worlds around us that we’ve never glimpsed.” Greil Marcus — Thursday July 3rd — —

MATTER

Officially launched last May, the Singapore-based fashion brand MATTER is a socially motivated business focusing on affordable luxury, thoughtful design, and provenance to create travel wear with stories to tell. The first edition, Freedom, focussed only on pants, versatile pieces that are silk sumptuous yet cotton easy. Future editions will see this inaugural set of signature styles updated in different fabrics and print for the changing seasons. The mission of the brand is to inspire consumers to value provenance,  to ask of the where and why something is made, and champion alternative production models for textile artisans to expand their economic freedom.

Inspired by tradition and edited for modernity, heritage prints and weaves are reinterpreted while retaining the essence of their stories. Pants styles are designed through multiple fittings on multiple women, and field tested to ensure they withstand the challenges of airplane hopping or rush hour traffic navigation, taking the wearer from sandy beach to city bar with ease.

The original idea which sparked MATTER dates back to 2009, when founders Renyung Ho and Yvonne Suñer met on the sandy beaches of Mexico and in the course of their friendship and travels together, built an idea around their shared values and passions. A few sourcing trips, conversations, cross country adventures and serendipitous connections later, this idea came to life in MATTER: story driven, community based, built on direct relationships and a commitment to respecting provenance.

Working with artisan communities in Rajasthan, India, MATTER employs time-honored techniques of the loom and block-print to develop unique fabrics and designs. The first edition pants incorporate modern tailoring for a beautiful drape and fit, and are available in breathable, handloomed cotton or lightweight tussar silk that is machine-wash friendly, which is only produced in small batches each time.

Next to the official launch in May, the brand introduced the Matter Nomad Cart which has been popping up in the summer months of May until July in five locations around Singapore, carefully chosen for their alignment to the themes of Travel, Change, and Design. The first one took place in one of our favorites in the city: the beautiful Wanderlust hotel. As of today until the 20th of July it’s located at the last stop, Kapok: when in Singapore make sure to visit!

For more information and to order online see here.