FLY ON THE WALL
Raving about Raoul
By Sylvia Toh Paik Choo
November 23, 2009
 
 

ONE has been positively ‘paragioned’ to within an inch of one’s flatties (London’s word is kitten heels are stepping aside for the lows) this last half year.

The daily clacking across Orchard Road between Paragon and Ion as one store after another is flagged open.

Skechers here, Faber-Castell there (there is other label life besides Dolce & Gabbana you know).

So a refreshing change then to head south to Red Dot on Maxwell Road – hum chin pang, yums! – for Raoul’s spring/summer 2010 catwalk show.

Another one for the home state, as the brand is locally born, from the drawing block of the second-generation Benjamins, Frank’s son Douglas and daughter-in-law Odile.

The less-than-10-years-old label began life in shirtsleeves, from button-down office wear to dress shirt, and in no time has moved onto women’s shirts, bags, shoes, accessories and dresses.

Can the rest of the world be far away?

This year, Raoul went to New York and now has a showroom in the Big Apple. Other cities on other continents will follow.

Meanwhile, back in the Red Dot, loyal friends and supporters of FJBenjamin shared candy floss, popcorn, ice-cream, coffee and champagne with the first family of fashion (in the ’70s Frank brought Lanvin into Singapore).

Star power

The talented Mr Adrian Pang and his wife Tracie, a rare day out for the couple without their two boys, Mrs Andrea Png without her Pierre (‘what else, he’s filming’), Ashley Isham, another home-grown name that flies high abroad.

‘There aren’t enough local designers willing to take the risk to venture overseas,’ an industry player said.

‘You have to, the world is already small, how can you just stay in Singapore?’

The collection showed off its ‘international’ touches in its styles and fabric, better chope yours with them now. Available early next year.

 

The NewPaper