TAY, Esther
Visual Arts,
Accession Number 003333
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 3
Total Reels
- Sian Eira Jay (Dr)
Interviewer
- 02:19:24
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 3
Metadata
- 23 Jul 2008
Recording Date
- 00:57:52
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1953 on Pasir Panjang, moves to Housing Development Board (HDB) in Queenstown. Dreamy child, who paid little attention at school, and whose mother made all their clothes. Becoming interested in clothes and what was available at the Pasar Malam. Talks about the 1960s and how as a teen became more interested in fashion, the opening of the first Japanese stores and the availability of Japanese clothes.
Wanting to become Graphic Designer and work in advertising, father refused, and she went to Baharuddin to study dressmaking. Did not like course and wanted more, so began to teach self about fashion. Talks about what the fashion students did when they left Baharuddin. Talks about first job at Nutmeg, a haberdashery store, and how she began designing and making clothes for the customers.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 3
Metadata
- 23 Jul 2008
Recording Date
- 00:58:29
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Busy designing and making clothes to sell in the store. After one year approached by Mrs. Devi, tailor at Hilton and asked to custom designs for foreign customers. Experience taught Tay to design for different body types and sizes. Wanted to start own business so rented room in shophouse with two machines and began work. Set up Estabelle in 1978. Began designing collections for Yaohan, Seiyu and Sogo. Decides to focus on design and goes to Hong Kong to buy fabric. Creates resort wear collection and shows stores who like collection but price point too expensive. Sells collection to friends. Buyers supply fabric and Tay designs.
In 1984 Tangs give her own space to sell own label, designing resort wear and then career women clothes. Has own small factory, and also has collections made in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Works on textiles with Indonesian designer Ardiyanto. Launches label in Japan and begins showing at Osaka Fairs. Talks about support of TDB, sales to Spain and US, and showing collections in Europe and US. Set up Society of Design and Art (SODA) with other designers, which was eventually taken over by TAFF (Textile And Fashion Federation). In 1992 begins to design uniforms. Late 1990s begins manufacturing in China.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 3
Metadata
- 23 Jul 2008
Recording Date
- 00:23:03
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
After ASEAN crisis rents go up and has to close boutiques in Singapore. Has begun to design Homewear which was supplied to Banyan Tree and Barang Barang. Still supplies homewear to some places. Uniforms now key business. Talks about her involvement with the students from Nayang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), the taking on of fashion students from Lasalle, NAFA and Poly as interns to help train, and discusses problems faced by fashion graduates when looking for jobs.
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