Irene Lim (fashion designer)
Irene Lim Seow Goh (born 1944) was the first chairman of the Fashion Arts Trade Advisory Committee of the Industrial Training Board and a prominent fashion designer in Singapore.
Early life and education[edit]
Lim's father was prominent restaurateur Charlie Lim.[1] She initially studied interior design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.[2] However, two years after she had begun attending the university, she switched to a course in fashion as she was afraid that she would not be able to find many opportunities as an interior designer in Singapore.[3] In 1966, she won the university's Most Promising Student Award.[4][5]
Career[edit]
After graduating from the institute, Lim returned to Singapore in January 1967 and began working for a dress house.[6][7] Her dresses were first showcased at a fashion show held at the Raffles Hotel on 25 March.[8] By June 1971, she had established the mini-boutique "Irene-n-Me" at the Bata Premier Store and the boutique "Irene" at the Singapore Hilton.[9] She became a fashion coordinator at Isetan in 1973.[10] A collection of 80 of her dresses were showcased at a fashion show in the Philippines in April 1974.[11] In June, she closed down her boutique and began working as a marketing manager for an Australian men's wear chain.[10] By November 1975, her clothes had been showcased in Manila multiple times and once in Hong Kong.[3]
In 1978, Lim was appointed the chairman of the newly established Fashion Arts Trade Advisory Committee of the Industrial Training Board.[4] This made her the only female head of an Industrial Training Board trade advisory committee.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ "Looking for a job: Girl with an award in fashion designing". The Straits Times. Singapore. 5 January 1967. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "The designer who could not sketch". Eastern Sun. 15 October 1970. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b Holmberg, Judith (26 November 1975). "'Fashion in S'pore is frustrating'". New Nation. Singapore. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Portrait of Miss Irene Lim, a prominent fashion designer and former Chairman of Industrial Training Board (ITB) Fashion Arts Trade Advisory Committee". nlb.gov.sg. National Library Board. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "S'pore girls win awards for... ...dress designing". Eastern Sun. 18 August 1966. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Fashion designing 'good for girls'". Eastern Sun. 5 January 1967. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Irene back to give 'education' on fashion". Eastern Sun. 2 April 1967. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Fashion debut by S'pore designer who creates 'young,' clothes". The Straits Times. Singapore. 23 March 1967. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Moods decide". New Nation. Singapore. 1 June 1971. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b Loke, Angela (13 June 1974). "Rag trade to rich travel but still in the same game". New Nation. Singapore. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Loke, Angela (1 June 1971). "THE SINGAPORE LOOK IS NOW GOING PLACES..." New Nation. Singapore. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Ooi, Teresa (2 December 1977). "Designer Irene scores a 'first'". New Nation. Singapore. Retrieved 8 April 2024.