# Project Description

Mǎstory

Michelle Ng

Summary

Final work

For this final-year collection, I wanted to focus on something close to home — exploring my roots. With Mǎstory , I delve into the intersection of cultural heritage and contemporary functionality.

This collection explores how tradition can be worn differently today, bringing together cultural details, Equestrian silhouettes/functions, and performance-driven materials to craft garments that are both a tribute and a reinterpretation.

My process involves research into traditional and modern garments, which I reinterpret through the lens of my identity as a Singaporean Chinese.

For this final-year collection, I wanted to focus on something close to home — exploring my roots...

College London College of Fashion

Course BA (Hons) Fashion Sportswear

Graduation year 2025

At the heart of Mǎstory lies a meeting point between tradition and sport — A space where Equestrian aesthetics are reimagined through the lens of a Singaporean Chinese identity. The collection name itself — “mǎ” (马), meaning horse in Mandarin, and “story” — reflects a narrative that honours tradition while embracing modernity.

This collection is a personal exploration and reinterpretation of cultural identity, inspired by the dwindling presence of Equestrian sports in Singapore, especially with the upcoming closure of the Singapore Turf Club in 2027.

Mǎstory seeks to preserve and reimagine this unique cultural intersection through fashion, telling stories that connect past and present, tradition and innovation.

This collection takes a deep dive into traditional Equestrian attire, honouring its craftsmanship, structure, and symbolism. By studying garments worn in the past and the present, I reimagine their elegance and function through a modern lens — blending historical elements with contemporary materials, silhouettes, and cultural storytelling.

Drawing from traditional Chinese details and aesthetics, the pieces incorporate Equestrian codes such as structured tailoring, leather accents, and functional design details. The integration of 4-way stretch jersey introduces movement, comfort, and performance — bridging the gap between heritage wear and contemporary sportswear.

This dialogue between heritage and sport reflects the resilience of cultural identity in a rapidly evolving society, inviting a new generation to rediscover and reinterpret their roots. The showcase presents a curated selection of exclusive pieces that merge tradition with contemporary sportswear aesthetics.

Mǎstory is more than fashion; it is a narrative, a bridge, and a call to honour and evolve one’s story.

Final work

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Research and process

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At the heart of Mǎstory lies a meeting point between tradition and sport — A space where Equestrian aesthetics are reimagined through the lens of a Singaporean Chinese identity. The collection name itself — “mǎ” (马), meaning horse in Mandarin, and “story” — reflects a...

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