By Chen Ying (25A01C) and Tara Sim (26A01C)
All photographs provided by Lucas Aw (25A01C) and Lim Xylyn (25S06T) unless otherwise stated.
Themed “Wanderland” this year, the Runway members hoped to display the concept of fantasy through their pieces, allowing their audience to break away from the mundane reality of daily life.
“We were mainly drawn to the concept of fantasy and not being rooted in reality, because our lives are [already] quite rooted in reality and it’s quite boring. With this theme, you can go crazy, and even if you go crazy, there will be no questions asked.”
Ning Wanqing (25S03L), Secretary of Raffles Runway
The showcase itself was the culmination of months of preparation. Throughout the process, the members encountered various challenges, from having to self-teach sewing techniques from Youtube tutorials, to contending with a tight budget.
Behind the Scenes of RPROJ…
To begin, while the members were trained in the basics of sewing and patternmaking, the process of creating the final garments itself was almost entirely independent. Thus, they had to rely on online tutorials and clothing patterns for more specific techniques required for each design. Even then, the tutorials were hard to follow as they often skimmed over crucial steps, posing a significant challenge for the members.
In particular, one of the Runway members, Anya Mittal (25A01C), shared that she struggled significantly with the flare pants for her male model. Most clothing patterns online only had patterns for women’s flare pants, and these could not be used due to the difference in proportions and shape between men and women. In the end, Anya resorted to spending months modifying a pattern for men’s pants that she found online. Thankfully, after much trial and error, she finally succeeded in making the flare pants of her dreams.
(Curious to see how it turned out? Scroll on to the designer highlights!)
Budget-wise, the members were given $30 for each outfit, and this could be redistributed by their discretion if they made multiple outfits—for instance, if a member received $60 for two outfits, they could choose to spend $20 on one outfit and $40 on the other, or any other combination of their choice. As you might have already guessed, this budget is, simply put, limiting.
Needless to say, the members were forced to be resourceful, and turned to unexpected sources to source the materials needed for their designs. While some members repurposed fabrics that were donated or thrifted, others scoured through shops in Chinatown. Some even sourced materials from overseas through platforms like Taobao (a member even purchased fabric while on vacation)!
At the end of the day, the members’ hard work paid off. Despite having to work within the constraints of a small budget, the members successfully pulled off beautiful outfits (as you will see later on in the article). When audience members were interviewed after the show and asked to estimate the amount spent to make each outfit, the guesses averaged at $100. Clearly, the members overcame the challenge so well that the audience was none the wiser!
Setting the Scene…
However, the challenge of budget applied to more than just the creation of the clothes—it also applied to the set design for the show itself! The members were given a budget of around $700, but the price of the set was only partially covered by the school, with the rest being paid for by the proceeds from ticket sales.
Huang Anqi Annie, the Logistics-in-charge, shared that sourcing an affordable option for the grass carpet posed a significant challenge. However, the members were determined to purchase one as it was crucial to the set. After much discussion with the teachers-in-charge (Ms Lim Lizhen and Ms Ruth Fung Su Fei), the members managed to obtain one after convincing them that it could be reused and finding a reasonably priced supplier.
Although the members ended up getting a carpet, another problem cropped up: most of the budget had been used for the carpet and the printing of the foam doors, leaving little for the rest of the set. Thus, the members had to think out of the box for a budget-friendly way to create a set that was both impressive and in line with the theme. In the end, the members utilised cardboard boxes from the canteen and the bookshop, scrounging up enough to fill up the corner of a classroom.
Over a span of five weeks, the entire CCA worked together to put together and paint the centrepieces from the cardboard they collected. During this process, they encountered various challenges, such as how the key centrepiece was imbalanced. However, with the help of a lot of tape, the centrepiece was secured in an upright position by the members.
The final product was stunning. As soon as one entered the venue, they would see a green walkway, made out of their painstakingly obtained grass carpet, surrounding the heart-shaped key, arranged such that it formed the shape of a heart. This walkway was where the models would later catwalk, with three posing points at the two sides and the centre top of the heart. As the models leave, the key, symbolising the way into our world—or Wonderland, for Alice—is left alone in the centre, providing strong symbolic meaning beyond simply being a piece of decoration. Upon closer inspection, you could even see hand-cut flowers scattered at certain points of the walkway!
Furthermore, the stage had sheer doors designed by the Y5s for the models to pose through before they walked, giving the audience a “sneak peek” of the looks to expect while referencing the recurring motif of magical entrances throughout Alice in Wonderland.
Just by looking at the set, one could clearly see the effort put in by all the members to showcase the theme while working within a budget. Elements of Wonderland were tastefully added throughout the set design without being glaringly obvious, and everything was beautifully crafted with love from the whole CCA. When asked to sum up the experience, Annie said,
“Yep. We did that.”
And we couldn’t have said it better!
The Effort It Takes to Look Effortless
Of course, when discussing the showcase and the clothing that was featured, one cannot neglect mentioning the ones who wore said clothing—the models!
In theory, modelling might sound easy. After all, you just wear pretty clothes and strut, right? Well, it’s not. Every single detail is carefully decided upon, and it is precisely because of the sheer amount of effort put in that models look so, well, effortless. To prepare for the showcase, the models even attended a workshop conducted by Runway’s instructor, fashion designer Ms Adelyn, and professional model Ms Spencer, where they learnt how to pose and better work with the camera during photoshoots.
“Everything should be, and is, well planned out and thought about, from the number of steps a model should take to how they should hold their gaze.”
Chua Xin Chen (25A01B)
While the outfits painstakingly created by the Runway members were already beautiful to begin with, the models helped to better round out the showcase by bringing these designs to life through their catwalks.
Making More Than Just Clothes
With only 10 members in the 2025 Batch of Raffles Runway, it’s no surprise the CCA has grown into more of a friend group than a club. When asked about any favorite memories they had together, one of the members, Wanqing laughed,
“We have a lot, we love each other so much.”
Spending what feels like endless hours hunched over, hand-sewing beads onto a dress might sound daunting to most, but for this group of passionate students, their weekly CCA sessions feel more like hanging out with close friends than hard work. With Lorde blasting through the speakers as the members would lose track of time as they worked till dusk, and the silence would be broken by someone saying “Guys, I’m hungry!”. Then, in a matter of a few seconds, all the members will go from sewing to passing around a phone to order food.
Other times, someone would call out, “Guys, I’m going to DJ,” and the room would come alive—the music playing as they laughed and chatted, hunched over tables cutting, sewing, and talking about everything and anything. Even with their vastly different personalities, their chemistry somehow just worked. Spending late evenings in Runway, their friendship extended beyond weekly sessions in the Runway room.
On their unofficial CCA outings, no one ever felt overdressed—if anything, being severely overdressed became the dress code. It wasn’t just about making clothes anymore; this little family had become the one place where they could truly go all out in dressing up and never feel out of place for it.
It was clear from how fondly the Runway members talked about their batchmates that, while most of them had joined hoping to bring childhood dreams of designing outfits inspired by Winx Club or Barbie to life, they had found something even more special—a group of people that felt like home.
“I have this weird theory that some people are drawn to each other because their atoms were near each other when the universe was created…and that’s exactly what Raffles Runway feels like.”
Runway Showcase Video
This community didn’t stop at just the Runway members—many of the showcase models mentioned that they felt a deep sense of belonging during the preparation for the Runway showcase. One of the models, Chua Xin Chen (25A01B), shared that “the informal sessions [the] models had with the designers in the Runway room” was his personal highlight. “Watching the designers plan their works and ideating together with them [was] very enjoyable”.
Though the experience of preparing for the showcase was fraught with obstacles, the members ultimately came out stronger thanks to their teamwork as a CCA and the guidance from their teachers.
“This showcase of course would not have been possible without Runway’s wonderful teachers-in-charge, Ms Lim Lizhen and Ms Ruth Fung Su Fei, who were there to guide and help us every step of the way.”
Loh Xuan Lin, Natalie (25A01B), Chairperson of Raffles Runway
Designer Highlights
While it will be impossible to fully convey the beauty of each designer’s creation through mere text, we shall briefly attempt to do so with a recap of the highlights by each designer.
Designer: Poh Shi Ying (25S03K)
Shi Ying’s second design appeared in the second half of the show, and was modelled by Ng Jun Jie (25S03K). With a fur cape draped over his shoulders and his face hidden by a mask shaped like a dog’s skull, Jun Jie perfectly embodied the character of a mysterious warrior as he expertly spun his spear prop. To further complement the outfit, a chain made of teeth encircled his hips.
Don’t let the realistic skull and teeth fool you though—the skull is handmade from EVA foam, and the teeth, from clay! Overall, the incredible detail and artistry combined made for an extremely breathtaking outfit, which ended up as one of the audience favorites for the night.
Designer: Xu Wanjia (25S06H)
Wanjia had two designs, a gorgeous blue one piece and a pink gown. Amongst the two, the latter, modelled by Ashmi Chatterjee (25S03N), left a particularly deep impression on us. Dressed in a champagne pink off-the-shoulder gown, Ashmi looked like a princess as she floated down the catwalk. Wanjia, the designer, created the skirt with tulle such that it had a beautiful floating effect, making Ashmi look as if she was walking with a pink cloud around her hips. Additionally, the top of the gown had corset boning, which created a flattering A-line shape, while the lace detailing on the corset further completed the overall look.
Designer: Anya Mittal (25A01C)
Anya had three designs in total, one of which being the green babydoll dress modelled by Sylvia Heng Jia Yun (25S03C). With a handmade button headband which looks like flowers from afar and hand-sewn flowers covering her dress’ skirt, Sylvia looked like a flower fairy who had just stepped out of Wonderland. The designer, Anya, aimed to embody the fantastical beauty of Wonderland through this outfit, and just by taking one look at this dress, you can definitely tell that she has achieved her goal.
In another design, Anya brought back the 70s disco look with this gorgeous purple two-piece set. Modelled by Niranj Prathiban (25S06L), the outfit featured a vest with a heart-shaped back window encrusted with $20 worth of rhinestones. Not to mention, the flare pants (mentioned earlier in the article) turned out amazing! This look was inspired by the Cheshire Cat, and the liveliness of the disco era that the outfit referenced certainly paired well with the concept.
Designer: Colette Chua (25A01C)
Colette had two designs: the first was a black halter neck vest paired with a white ruffled skirt modelled by Lim Wen Xuan Chloe (25S06I), and the second was a pink and white two piece set modelled by Rohan Vinod Patil (25S06J). Most notably, the former stood out for its asymmetrical design—one side of the vest was black while the other was checkered, adding a layer of dimension to the vest. Further detail was added to the vest through the inclusion of star-shaped patches, with its bright yellow providing a nice contrast against the otherwise monochrome vest.
Colette shared that the patches of the checkered side were sewn together one by one, and that countless hours were devoted into making sure that all the pieces lined up to create the perfect checkered pattern. After seeing the outfit, one can definitely say with full confidence that the fruits of her labour can certainly be seen from the resulting vest!
Designer: Jane Therese Ng (25S03D)
One of Jane’s looks featured Amanda Lai (25S03K), who stepped onto the stage like a garden fairy that popped right out of a storybook—graceful and magical. The gown she wore swept around her with an elegant silhouette, its intricate details and romantic flourishes whispering of an ethereal charm.
This gown, designed thoughtfully with its gentle drape and high waist, seemed to be Regency-inspired—a style known for its refined elegance and romanticism. The sage green silk shimmered with quiet opulence, while the accents of pink satin detail wrapped around the dress added a touch of femininity and romance. Keen-eyed audience members might also have noticed the delicate touch of a pale pink Angel’s Trumpet gracing Amanda’s neck, a light bloom that completed the entire look with soft allure.
Designer: Ning Wanqing (25S03L)
Krystal Lim Shuhui (25S03B) stepped down the stage wearing a halo crown adorned with a Queen playing card and lush roses, echoing regality with a theatrical flair. This striking headpiece was the perfect accessory to complement the bold eye makeup and lipstick, amplifying the drama of her look tenfold. The corset detailed with scarlet ribbon accents and a satin rose pulled tight was a deliberate nod to the Queen of Hearts and the rigid elegance expected of queens.
The skirt told a different tale: soft, white and flowing, it fell in gentle waves as Krystal walked down the runway. Crimson blood stains bloomed across the milky fabric, a stark juxtaposition symbolising a sullied purity, and speaking of a heart that had once loved innocently but now ruled with fear.
Designer: Loh Xuan Lin, Natalie (25A01B)
In Natalie’s first design, Elizabeth Ong (25S03C) floated down the runway in a layered tulle mini skirt, each baby blue petal-shaped tier swaying like a delicate flower in the soft breeze. She was a vision of playful elegance in a white, silky bubble top which puffed gently around her, matching the volume of her skirt and completing the look’s delightfully bouncy silhouette.
Everything about Elizabeth’s aura radiated lightness, from the outfit’s airy textures to the model’s own bubbly energy—even the detail of her hair being done up into two space buns like twin puffs of clouds. She practically embodied whimsy, and in a moment that felt particularly fitting for the ‘Wanderland’ theme, she leaned forward and blew a handful of petals from a teacup, scattering them into the air like magic.
Another one of Natalie’s designs was based on the White Rabbit from the Tim Burton 2010 live action adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Inspired by the more gothic style of the adaptation (as compared to the original), the design was modelled by Chua Xin Chen (25A01B).
The design’s key features included a rabbit mask covered in silk roses which Natalie carefully handmade from ribbons, and tulle train armbands which made Xin Chen seem as if he was floating down the walkway. Combined, the two came together to create an ethereal, otherworldly effect, emphasising the particularly wondrous nature of this White Rabbit.
Designer: Quek Tian Yin Esther (25S03K)
Nor Aniqa Binte Norhazry (25S03D) glided down the runway with an almost dance-like rhythm, her steps light and dreamlike, as if caught in a springtime breeze. In her hand, a parasol resembling a giant bloom swayed gently, adding a touch of fairytale wonder.
The unique accessory crafted by Esther made this particular look come alive as it blossomed with delicate charm. Aniqa’s puffy satin lavender top glimmered under the lights, its soft and cloudlike silhouette bilowing softly as she made her way down the runway But it was the skirt that truly stole the show—a clear plastic layer with hand-drawn illustrations of flowers and foliage floating just above a white skirt. The contrasting colours made the artwork really pop, as if the garden she donned were alive.
Designer: Huang Anqi Annie (25A01E)
All three of Annie’s designs were intended to represent a set of golden poker cards, with the models representing different suits. Erin Helena Nur Effendi (25A01C) represented hearts, Sujith Selvendran (25S03L) represented both clubs and spades, while Nur Iman Bte Alias’ (25S06G) outfit was designed with diamonds in mind.
In particular, Erin’s outfit stood out for Annie’s modern and casual take on the Queen of Hearts, where she masterfully captured the character’s regal spirit without the rigidity of traditional royalty. The centerpiece of the look was a beautifully crafted heart-shaped bodice panel—an intentional reference to the heart motif.
Annie shared that the design itself was inspired by the Chinese qipao (or cheongsam). These elements can clearly be seen in the high side slits of the skirt and the chinese frog closure on the collar, as well as the folding fan (zheshan) which was added as an accessory. Maroon eye makeup and rosy blush on Erin tied everything together, contributing to the richness of the red hues in her outfit, making the look feel like royalty reimagined for the modern runway.
Another outfit that left an impression was the one modelled by Sujith, due to the incorporation of both clubs and spades. Annie utilised an asymmetrical design and designed the collar to look like two big playing cards, placing a club and spade on each shoulder to symbolise the suits that the outfit was meant to represent. While this outfit already stood out due to its bright colour palette, the most eye-catching part of the outfit was perhaps the “window” on the back, where strings of pearls criss-crossed to create a pattern (which happens to look like a star!).
That brings us to the end of the designer highlights! RPROJ 2025 is over now, but to borrow a quote from the Runway members:
“The show may be over, but our magic lives on.”
Anya Mittal (25A01C)
Shoutout to all models and designers!
Designers:
Huang Anqi Annie (25A01E)
Anya Mittal (25A01C)
Colette Chua (25A01C)
Quek Tian Yin Esther (25S03K)
Jane Therese Ng (25S03D)
Loh Xuan Lin, Natalie (25A01B)
Poh Shi Ying (25S03K)
Ning Wanqing (25S03L)
Xu Wanjia (25S06H)
Models:
Ng Jun Jie (25S03K)
Lucia Znidaric (25S03M)
Elizabeth Ong (25S03C)
Ethel Kam (25S03E)
Krystal Lim Shuhui (25S03B)
Celestine Choo Boon Suan (25S03G)
Iniyaa Srinivasan (25S03K)
Rohan Vinod Patil (25S06J)
Erin Helena Nur Effendi (25A01C)
Niranj Prathiban (25S06L)
Ashmi Chatterjee (25S03N)
Breeze Ong Ler Sing (25S03B)
Nur Iman Bte Alias (25S06G)
Chua Xin Chen (25A01B)
Wang Siang Ning, Shannon (25S03D)
Sujith Selvendran (25S03L)
Amanda Lai (25S03K)
Nor Aniqa Binte Norhazry (25S03D)
Lim Wen Xuan Chloe (25S06I)
Keng Yi, Nicole (25S03S)
Sylvia Heng Jia Yun (25S03C)
