Spreading His Wings
The PEAK Singapore|September 2024
From bespoke handbags to accessible collections and womenswear: Singaporean luxury designer Ethan Koh opens a new chapter for his label.
YANNI TAN
Spreading His Wings

Scores of celebrities, including Hailey Jennifer Lopez, British Bieber, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Carina Lau, are already faithful fans of EthanK. Such a feat is truly impressive, especially for a young brand born in 2011 when its founder Ethan Koh was still a student at Central Saint Martins.

From its beginnings as a custom maker of bespoke exotic leather handbags, the past decade has seen the brand in a flurry of expansion and evolution. Ethank diversified its offerings to include perfumes and candles, steered away from made-toorder pieces towards more accessibly priced and readily available collections, and extended its presence from its original home base in Harrods, London, to other parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

And that's not counting his numerous global pop-up ventures, which included a collaboration with Galeries Lafayette in Paris and an event launching a Harrods private members' club in Shanghai. As his clientele grew, he also started hosting intimate VIP shopping retreats, which he calls "collectors' reunions", in swanky locales such as the French Riviera.

While the local style set warmly welcomed the opening of Ethank's first-in-Asia flagship boutique at Scotts Square in October 2021, they have even more reason to celebrate now with the recent launch of a one-of-a-kind womenswear collection.

LOVE OF THE CRAFT

"For a brand known for its handbags and accessories, this move may be quite surprising. In Southeast Asia, a luxury handbag is regarded as a status symbol, but to some, a beautiful dress or jacket is more important," says Koh, who has made these two garments the stars of his new capsule fashion collection named The Shield.

This story is from the September 2024 edition of The PEAK Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2024 edition of The PEAK Singapore.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE PEAK SINGAPOREView All
From Screen to Store
The PEAK Singapore

From Screen to Store

Heini Zachariassen, founder of global wine rating app Vivino on how its first retail store in the world brings data-driven curation to wine lovers.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
In the Dining Spotlight
The PEAK Singapore

In the Dining Spotlight

Renowned Dutch chef Sergio Herman, whose name has been associated with the Michelin Guide in the Netherlands and Belgium, is expanding his Asian footprint with his Singapore outpost, Le Pristine in Grand Hyatt Singapore.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
All for One
The PEAK Singapore

All for One

How would you navigate a corner if you were hearing-impaired or enjoy school if you were on the spectrum? These architects posit that inclusive design must be part of mainstream standards to improve overall living environments.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Pods and Swirling Staircases
The PEAK Singapore

Pods and Swirling Staircases

This quirky and playful home designed by Park Associates is shaped after its owners, a young family with three children.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Stories Behind the Kebava
The PEAK Singapore

Stories Behind the Kebava

Sufiyanto A. S., one half of the duo behind the Kebaya.Societe Instagram account, has had enough of seeing Malay identity erased and forgotten.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Good to Go
The PEAK Singapore

Good to Go

Driving classic Jaguars on the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit is all the magic a motorhead needs.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Seasons of the Snake
The PEAK Singapore

Seasons of the Snake

Japanese architect Tadao Ando once again works his magic for Bvlgari, with the Serpenti Tubogas as an artistic canvas for nature's cyclical transformation.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Phoenix Rising
The PEAK Singapore

Phoenix Rising

One gutsy retired pharmaceutical executive rescued two-century-old Swiss watchmaker Bovet, and today, its presence is stronger than ever in Southeast Asia.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Con Amore, Leggiero, Presto!
The PEAK Singapore

Con Amore, Leggiero, Presto!

Chan Weitian injects new insights into Presto Drycleaners, blending operational innovation with time-honoured values.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2024
Preserving Paradise
The PEAK Singapore

Preserving Paradise

Gaya Island Resort takes eco-tourism beyond the expected, blending conservation efforts with authentic luxury.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024