Creative Capital: How a self-taught Singaporean fashion designer got into the business of interior design

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Artistic Capital: How a self-taught Singaporean fashion designer got into the business of interior design

Priscilla Tan is now winning fans through her interior blueprint business STYLEDBYPT

Priscilla Tan is a self-taught interior designer. (Photo: Priscilla Tan)

17 November 2022 08:06AM (Updated: 21 May 2022 04:26PM)

When Carolyn Kan, founder of Carrie G and Keepers, and fairy godmother of the local pattern sector speaks highly well-nigh someone, you tend to pay attention. So, when she mentioned that her latest bazaar in Funan Eye was designed by one Priscilla Tan, I immediately clicked over to the interior designer's IG page (@styledbypt).

Tan has a great eye for colour, infinite, and light. She has a keen innate agreement of the relationships of objects within a space and how to make a infinite breathe. Given that she is a cocky-taught designer makes what she does even more impressive.

Tan, nonetheless, is no newbie to the design world. In a curt just busy career, she has been a way designer and a jewellery designer. As the former, she even had her own characterization, Chalk, which when it launched in 2010 was lauded by fans and critics alike. Local magazine Her Earth even declared "this is 1 label that every woman should own a piece of."

Y'all'VE BEEN AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, JEWELLERY DESIGNER, AND FASHION DESIGNER. Evidently YOU Have A TALENT AND PASSION FOR DESIGN, WHERE DO YOU Recollect THIS COMES FROM? DID YOUR PARENTS ENCOURAGE It? WERE You ALWAYS INTO Pattern Every bit A CHILD?

I took art lessons since I was 5 years one-time and connected till I was a teenager. That art base help set the foundation of my interest in fine art and design. My mum is also naturally creative and she cooks very well. She was the one who exposed me to the world of trip the light fantastic toe, art and music since I was a infant. I will credit her as the primeval influence in my creative journeying.

When I was in my chief school, I drew on every single empty newspaper in the firm and my father asked if I was keen to consider mode equally a career. He signed me up for pattern making and fashion illustration courses in my teenage years and I was fifty-fifty a finalist in the Singapore Young Manner Designer contest when I was doing my "O" levels. I've always known that art was a office of me every bit I loved observing what was around me and translating that either into drawings or into my imagination.

READ: The Singaporean mum who handcrafts the wonder of babyhood

One of my design highlights was winning the Topshop/Topman graduate award which offered me a trip to London to intern at the Topshop headquarters. I had the crazy opportunity of meeting Sir Philip Greenish and Kate Moss, as she had a collection that time. Most importantly, I got to learn what goes behind building a brand or a label.

Y'all HAD A LABEL Chosen CHALK Nigh A DECADE AGO. TELL US ABOUT THAT Feel.

It was a dream come up true as I had always wanted to be a fashion designer with my ain label. The timing came when PARCO next Side by side, initiated by TAFF (Textile and Style Federation of Singapore), wanted to groom a new puddle of Singaporean designers. We had our ain retail store and I launched four collections a year. I met so many fashion designers that became close friends. It was such great peer back up as we grew our brands and had the opportunity to show in Paris and London fashion weeks.

Due to the exposure, I have had the opportunity to have my clothes retail at Isetan and Tangs department stores in Singapore. The highlight of my mode blueprint career was designing corporate uniforms and I made my dad proud when I designed the outset batch of uniforms for Gardens by the Bay when they opened.

WHAT LESSONS DID Yous LEARN FROM STARTING AND RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS AT A Actually YOUNG Age?

Existence commercially viable and listening to your clients are the key lessons to running a business. In a way, I believe one has to fill a gap or a niche that is missing in the market, while calculation your own flavour to what you do. In fashion, I designed pieces that did not require much ironing. This gained the approving of many working professional ladies as they wanted something fuss-costless, while still being able to wait presentable for work.

In interiors, I noticed there was a gap in Singaporeans doing interior styling in the international market place. I wanted to testify that in Asia, we are besides able to create a abode that reflects our lifestyles and clients' needs while besides maintaining the functionality of a well-designed dwelling.

Do You lot Notice PEOPLE SUPPORTIVE IN GENERAL OF LOCAL CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS OR IS It A TOUGH Lonely Boxing

Yes, generally Singapore is a nurturing place to start a business or to larn something new. Beingness open up, humble and appreciative are the all-time ways to connect with people. I find asking questions, and crediting people who have taught you goes a long way besides.

DID Y'all Ever Run across YOURSELF Every bit AN INTERIOR DESIGNER? WAS At that place A SPECIFIC MOMENT WHEN YOU REALISED You lot COULD Plow INTERIOR DESIGN INTO YOUR CAREER?

I e'er loved looking at beautiful spaces but I never thought of myself equally an interior designer. Even upwards till now it'southward hard to say that. When I first designed my own home, I had friends and guests who came by and plant my approach unique. With their support, I did a few homes for them and enjoyed the process.

READ: The Singaporean bespoke shoemaker who dreams of stepping onto the earth stage

Iii years back, while watching HGTV Fixer Upper at my friend'southward home, it dawned on me that interior styling could exist a career. I took the plunge to first the business with a few clients. Information technology was all via word of mouth before I started sharing my work on Instagram. That'south how STYLEDBYPT was built-in.

Can Yous PLEASE EXPLAIN ONLINE DESIGN CONSULTING AND ONLINE SOURCING? HOW DOES THAT Piece of work?

I have merely started conceptualizing this. Information technology's in the early stages of the terminal plan only this is how it works. Clients will start provide me details of their abode or the space they wish to makeover or pattern, along with their budget and preferred style. I then ask for images they similar, along with images of what the space looks like at present. This is all done via e-mail.

Based on the information provided, I will exist set three initial design concepts which will exist sent to them. I will follow up with a video call to discuss what they like or don't like about the ideas. Once the final pattern has been firmed up, if it's a whole house makeover. they can work aslope with me and my appointed contractors. We volition exercise weekly calls and text messages to walk through the whole design procedure.

For a smaller room makeover that only requires styling and sourcing help, I will prepare a shopping list and instructions on how to set everything up with an online sourcing list that ranges from furniture to soft furnishings.

HOW ARE YOU ENHANCING YOUR SKILLS Equally A DESIGNER? Yous Acknowledge You'RE UNTRAINED, Just Practise YOU See YOURSELF GETTING Professional QUALIFICATIONS?

I am researching caste courses in interior design in Wellington, New Zealand, where I am now based. I have also been practising my online rendering skills with Sketch Upwards every 24-hour interval. I make certain I read up and salve images on Pinterest and Instagram featuring homes every single twenty-four hours likewise.

WHAT'S THE Nearly Mutual DESIGN MISTAKE You SEE IN HOMES?

Non planning enough storage space for your lifestyle needs is one of the biggest mistakes which leads to clutter and mess. Another design mistake is not planning the right areas for the electrical switches and power outlets. Lastly, i that I run across ofttimes is non finding the correct size furniture. That mistake solitary tin can overwhelm or underwhelm a room.

WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT INTERIOR DESIGN OBSESSION?

I am obsessed with collecting and reading pattern coffee books. I likewise cannot stop buying throw cushions to refresh my dwelling house. I am not large on trends but I have a huge dear for all things rattan lately and I call up it'south creeping into my work too.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RECENT MOVE TO NEW ZEALAND? WAS IT FOR Work OR PERSONAL REASONS?

My married man and I have always wanted to live and work overseas together. The dream came truthful when he found work in Wellington and nosotros took the crazy plunge to try a new gamble in September this yr. It's merely been a few months since we arrived but nosotros are loving the slower and meliorate quality in life. Having a new home – we are currently renting –also means I get to dress a home for ourselves which is such a therapeutic and fun experience.

IS THERE A Project YOU'D SIMPLY LOVE TO Do? A DREAM JOB?

I would love to blueprint and style a boutique hotel. Information technology'south always been my dream to translate a vision into a bigger space through a brand story.

WHAT WERE TOUGH MOMENTS IN STARTING AND RUNNING STYLEDBYPT? Can Y'all TELL U.s. Nearly ONE?

There are enough of crazy moments which, in retrospect really shaped how I see life. In interior renovation makeover work, at that place are e'er hiccups or delays, fifty-fifty with the best planning possible. I used to vanquish myself upwards a lot for all the mistakes I made but I came to realise that I learn and then much from these mistakes. My hubby encouraged me by proverb these mistakes are like lessons yous will never learn in schoolhouse. He is correct. Because of past mistakes, I am able to propose clients on potential bug and also challenge myself by pushing by previously established boundaries.

WHO AND WHAT INSPIRES YOUR Piece of work?

Honestly, the chat with the clients are the best. The stories I hear from them and making their dream homes come up live are only insanely fulfilling. I am also inspired past Emily Henderson, Joanna Gaines and Kelly Hoppen to name a few female international leaders in the design field. I love how they brand design attractive, approachable and so accessible while maintaining a clear vision of their ain branding.

WHAT'S THE VISION FOR STYLEDBYPT? WHERE DO You Promise THE Business IS IN v YEARS?

With the move to New Zealand, I hope to pattern and create more spaces STYLEDBYPT globally. The aim for the next five years is to build more than awareness of what I practise here in New Zealand and Commonwealth of australia, And maybe pattern a yacht adjacent!

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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/self-taught-singapore-fashion-designer-turned-interior-designer-176676