The Creative Class

Singapore has long been known as a business hub. A global transit point. Renowned for its food. But over the past decade, a new generation of emerging talent has redefined what it is to be Singaporean, pushing the boundaries of the state’s creative capital through a completely unique cultural viewpoint. Now, being Singaporean and creative are not mutually exclusive. In partnership with innovative watchmaker Swatch, on these pages we explore, celebrate and rethink what it means to be inventive in Singapore by shining a spotlight on the artists, designers, performers and entrepreneurs bringing to the world ideas and artistry never seen before.

- Wayne Cheong, Asri Jasman, Mitchell Oakley Smith, Ishan Singh and Derrick Tan

FIRDAOS PIDAU

FOOTWEAR DESIGNER

“Art is essential more than ever right now. We need more art,” Firdaos Pidau affirms. The footwear designer is by no means a beginner in the world of fashion, and especially in luxury footwear. A scholarship graduate of London College of Fashion’s prestigious Cordwainers course, Pidau was afforded the opportunity to undergo a paid internship for a year with renowned shoe designer Charlotte Olympia, before scoring another internship with mega-brand Zara. His return to Singapore in 2018 saw him joining local footwear brand Charles & Keith, a role that sees him redirecting the brand towards more original fashion-forward designs. “Creativity to me is about creating possibilities. It is about finding the best solutions. It is about improving the quality of life in big and small ways,” he says. Having been part of a more inclusive culture where creativity and the arts are given the same standing as more professional pursuits, Pidau opines that Singapore’s art scene could do better in supporting its bevy of talented individuals and “not only when it is profit-driven or parallel to some conservative and outmoded agenda”. AJ

KATHY ANNE LIM

PHOTOGRAPHER