Founded by bagmaker Ethan Koh in 2011, the EthanK label is certainly one that rings a bell amongst the fashion-forward. The label is one of Singapore’s best-known brand exports and its bags have since been a red-carpet favourite amongst celebrities (Princess Eugenie, Jennifer Lopez and Hailey Bieber included), and stocked at renowned retailers like Harrods in London, Saks Fifth Avenue in the United States and Paris’ Galeries Lafayette. In Singapore, there’s the EthanK boutique, which opened at Scotts Square in January 2022.
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“I come from four generations of exotic leather heritage and grew up with a tannery at the back of
my home. I would see the gorgeous leathers in vibrant colours and this sparked my interest at a young age,” Koh says. Learning the ropes of the craft early on, Koh readily immersed himself in the business. With the main bulk of high-quality reptile skins still sourced from his family’s tannery, Koh’s creations are quintessentially classic with elegant silhouettes paired with recognisable savoir-faire. Having debuted his womenswear collection on 18 April 2024, there are even more ways for fashion lovers to immerse themselves in his unique world.
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“Artisanship has always been part of my family’s DNA. In the early days, my grandmother escaped a neighbourhood fire and managed to take her sewing machine with her. Ever since that incident, tailoring became a business that kept my family going during the harsh days,” he explains. “Now, EthanK enters into a new chapter; one that includes a womenswear line of fabulous dresses and jackets. Essentially, it’s a collection that melds innovation and classic styles, with my favourite piece being the jacket with 18k gold-plated buttons on both sides.” Apart from the ultra-luxe feel of the Maison’s creations, naturalistic elements seem to be a running theme across the collections—the most emblematic include the use of vibrant tropical colours and the recurring hedgehog motif.
“Having visited Costa Brava during my European summer months, I was deeply inspired by the coastal region’s remarkable rustic beauty that is imbued with the vivacious colours of nature,” Koh shares. Outside of discussing his collections, Koh also chimed in on the latest bag trends—citing the “mini bag” as the leading silhouette that has captured the hearts (and wallets) of the masses. “The mini bag trend has been steadily gaining popularity over the years,” he explains. “From our Mini Alla to the Mini Duchess, the new generation of luxury collectors love statement and conversational pieces that are eye-catching.”