Mr Teo Ser Luck at the Opening Ceremony of Bronx Creative & Design Centre Pte Ltd

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SPEECH BY MR TEO SER LUCK, MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF BRONX CREATIVE & DESIGN CENTRE PTE LTD ON 16 JULY 2013, 10.30 AM, AT 29 TAI SENG AVENUE, NATURAL COOL LIFESTYLE HUB 

Mr Leow Hai Kuen, Vice President (Industry Development), Bronx Creative & Design Centre;

Representatives from Footwear Associations;

Distinguished Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Good Morning.

I am happy to join you today at the official opening of Bronx Creative & Design Centre. I understand that this is Singapore’s first footwear design, prototyping and education centre, and also the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Congratulations!

Evolution of the Fashion Industry

The Fashion industry today is competitive and dynamic, driven by fast-changing consumer preferences and lifestyles. This is in stark contrast to Singapore’s early days of industrialisation in the 70s and 80s, when the fashion industry then was mainly manufacturing-centric. Over the years, it has transformed into an industry that is design- and innovation-led, as well as brand-centric.

Although most of the apparel and footwear manufacturing activity has moved out of Singapore to lower-cost countries, the Fashion industry remains an economic contributor as fashion manufacturers, distributors, retailers and brand-owners, carry out business management and other knowledge-intensive headquarter activities here. More importantly, a vibrant local fashion scene supports our tourism growth and provides a nurturing environment for aspiring designers and entrepreneurs to thrive.

Importance of Design and Innovation in the Fashion Industry

Business competition for the consumer dollar will continue to intensify with better-heeled and increasingly sophisticated customers, particularly with the entrance of foreign international brands and the increasing prominence of Asian brands on the international stage.

Going forward, design and innovation will continue to be important ingredients for success in the fashion industry. Brands and products will be differentiated by their brand promise, in-store experiences, online offerings and value proposition. Over the years, we have seen Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) moving up the value chain to provide design-led services as Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs). Some have successfully transformed into brand-owners. Such transformations are key to helping companies stay competitive in today’s challenging global fashion landscape.

Pioneer Facility in Footwear Design, Prototyping and Education

The Bronx Creative & Design Centre will thus be a positive step for the industry. This centre is the first-of-its-kind in Singapore, capable of supporting the design and prototyping of different kinds of footwear under one roof. Designers, manufacturers and brand-owners can benefit from its commercialisation-enabling services and resources, prototyping, sample-making and even small-run manufacturing. Independent young designers and entrepreneurs, who used to have limited access to such resources due to lack of scale, will now find the odds evened.

Strong infrastructure is required to ensure a sustainable fashion eco-system. Back-end support is critical where quick turnaround is required, whether this is to launch new collections or meet small contract orders. A footwear service centre in Singapore gives designers direct oversight of the production process so as to ensure that their designs are properly interpreted as good quality prototypes before they go into production. This centre, therefore, plugs an industry gap and is an important initiative in our fashion industry’s developmental blueprint; supporting local designers and brand-owners with R&D and knowledge management services to shorten time-to-market.

It is heartening to learn that Bronx, a home-grown SME, is collaborating with a local education group, Raffles Education Corporation, to develop a comprehensive footwear design curriculum. Designers and professionals who are keen to upgrade their skills and craftsmanship in footwear design can now receive hands-on training. For example, basic courses in pattern-making, prototyping and assemblage techniques will equip beginners with the fundamental knowledge in footwear design. For advanced professionals, the programme will help them acquire capabilities for personalisation of designs and development of footwear collections.

The centre also gives Singapore-based fashion companies direct access to training. Local fashion companies, such as Charles & Keith, no longer have to fly their people overseas for training in footwear prototyping and design. Internship and student-exchange opportunities can also be explored with the footwear associations of our neighbouring countries. Such ‘win-win’ partnerships will benefit the industry through fostering commercial collaborations. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to thank the management and staff of Bronx Creative & Design Centre for your hard work and commitment, in the establishment of an important industry infrastructure that contributes to our industry development. I wish you all the best and look forward to your continued contributions to Singapore’s fashion industry.   

Thank you.