OPENING NOTE:
FASHIONING THE IN-BETWEEN

NEITHER NOR blooms from the interstitial—where diaspora exists, belonging to both and neither homeland nor foreign land. It embodies the fluid, hybrid identity of those who navigate multiple cultures, defying fixed definitions and embracing the contradictions of living in the liminal. In a vibrant city like Singapore—a melting pot where boundaries blur and contrasts collide—these in-between spaces are where beauty often takes root.Fresh blooms break through the cracks, fragile yet defiant.
                    This publication is an act of renewal—one that decentralises the narrative of fashion from a Western-centric lens, contributing to it a distinctly Southeast Asian vocabulary. It celebrates identity, heritage, and craft, while reclaiming the untold stories of marginalised voices. NEITHER NOR is not just a reflection; it is an assertion of what it means to exist between worlds and thrive in that complexity.
                    Rooted in the themes of MOTHERS & MOTHERLAND, MONUMENTAL CLOTH, and HISTORY IS POLITICAL, this publication investigates the in-between with introspection and sensitivity. The featured eyewear becomes offerings of perspective—different sets of lenses through which to view these nuanced and deeply personal stories. Each frame invites you to see these narratives anew, to appreciate the layers of meaning embedded in the intersections of the individual and the collective.
                    Through fashion images, essays, poems, and reflections, NEITHER NOR mirrors the space that diaspora inhabits. Here, the global and local collide, positioning Southeast Asia as a force to be reckoned with. These pages grapple with urgent questions of our time:sustainability, representation, and the preservation of cultural heritage amidst a world influx. Yet, they remain firmly rooted in Southeast Asian traditions, weaving a narrative that is both deeply personal and profoundly forward-looking.

                    This publication is also a testament to the cohort’s arduous journey this semester—grappling with their lineage, engaging in introspection of self, and translating these experiences into a collaborative body of work. Spanning 15 weeks, the commitment to excellence of the Year 2 students from the BA (Hons) Fashion Media and Industries and Fashion Design and Textiles programmes is captured within these pages.
                    The in-between is where history meets the pulse of now. It’s where tradition echoes to innovation, where fragments of culture, memory, and modernity come together to formsomething new. In Southeast Asia, this dialogue feels especially alive—etched into ourtextiles, embedded in our rituals, and carried forward in the resilience of our communities.
                    This publication is a love letter to the in-between. A celebration of its complexity, its pain, and its hope. Our hope is that these pages resonate with you—whether they remind you of where you come from or inspire you to imagine where you could go next.

Welcome to NEITHER NOR.