Room Of One's Own

For three independent design studios, refining the art and science of textiles is the new frontier for sustainability.

- KELLY KHUA

Having the time and space to explore the possibilities of textiles means everything to the founders of Tanchen Studio, Mai Textile Studio and Uncolour Studios. From weaving to dyeing, they share a love for tactility, experimentation and research in their creative practices. It is what motivates them to venture far and consider the impacts the medium has on both people and the planet. Now that crafting and slow fashion are entering public consciousness, Vogue Singapore discovers why these studios came to be and how their work is changing our relationship with textiles.

Tanchen Studio

The story of Tanchen Studio's creation is like a woven cloth that entwines Singapore and China. Founders Sanchia Tan and Amber Chen crossed paths at Central Saint Martins in London as undergraduates specialising in textile design. Working together in the same programme, the duo bonded over a shared obsession with block weaves and double cloth.

Post-graduation, Tan and Chen took on different pursuits. It was only after a meet-up to conduct workshops that Tanchen Studio formed organically at the end of 2019. By then, both wanted to focus on weaving as their main practice and having studios in Singapore and Shanghai gave them the freedom to bounce ideas off each other.