Dream Weavers
Letitia Phay and Jade Swee with Carmen Ow
Photographed in their Singapore studio by Joel Lim; Words by Chong Seow Wei
For the designers of Time Taken to Make a Dress, the creative process starts with getting to know their clients on a deeper level. “We want to create designs that tell a story,” explains Jade Swee, who is one half of the brand. “We also want to translate what we understand about our client’s personality and their brief to us into our designs.” Swee, who is formally trained in fashion design, grew up sewing and beading, thanks to her grandmothers, who are both tailors. Her partner in crime, Letitia Phay, is a biomedical science graduate who followed her dream of becoming a designer.
One of their favourite muses is Carmen Ow, the 30-year-old director of boutique property development company, Clydesbuilt Group, who first sought out the pair in 2014. “I had been scouring the internet for a local bespoke tailor to create the dress I had in mind for the Singapore Tatler Ball that year. Then I came across pictures of Time Taken to Make a Dress’ creations, and I instantly thought their aesthetic suited my style,” says Ow. The result of that first meeting was a black cross-neck halter tulle dress that Ow is wearing here.
The entire design journey for
