Rise And Shine

Michael Halperns disco decadent pieces channel a new resonance in these dispiriting days. JACQUIE ANG finds out from the shy designer how he redefines emancipation, one sequin at a time

IT’S TRUE THAT not all heroes wear capes. Some are in stealth-mode black, such as Michael Halpern, whose personal style is in contrast to his trippy, resplendent designs that have become mood-enhancing armour you put on to get through the day.

Halpern’s Pantone-powered glamorous numbers festooned with ritzy sequins have catapulted him to fame since his debut collection in 2017. The Central Saint Martins alum often cites his mother’s stories of 1970s New York as inspiration for his Studio 54-esque creations, of which familiar silhouettes and his unapologetic penchant for paillettes have taken on a new relevancy.

The popularity of his designs is a reaction to what’s going on in the world right now, he surmises. “I think the world is really scary. You turn on the news and it’s quite sad everywhere, in Asia, in Europe, in America where I come from, it’s kind of a dark time. No matter what you’re going through, being able to put something on and have that moment of freedom, and to be a little elated is good for your mental health, for your friends and family you’re with… People want to feel good.”