Off The Street

Tell us a bit about yourself!
My name is Addison. I’m a final year student at Singapore Polytechnic (SP) studying media arts and design.

We hear you also have your own brand—can you tell us more about it?
I own this brand called 631. It’s a clothing brand that my teammates and I started in SP when we were taking a module together. Afterwards, we came out as an independent brand because we saw the potential that we had to reach more youths and inspire them to express themselves through fashion, and to wear their own stories.

Why did you choose clothes as a medium instead of any other product?
That’s a good question! Growing up, I’ve always had a passion for fashion, especially streetwear. I grew up in a time where the community and culture of streetwear was very strong, and everyone was chasing a particular designer or brand, including me. So lowkey since then, I’ve always known that I want to be in the fashion industry, running my own brand full-time.

Well, it seems like you have quite the eye for aesthetics. Can you walk us through how you plan your own outfits daily?
I was waiting for someone to ask me that question! I think, honestly, my outfits are based on my mood each day. Let’s say I’m happy, I’ll go for something louder. But if let’s say I’m chill and lazy, I’ll just go for something simple.

Today, I’m very happy, so I’m in a louder kind of fit.

As a small business owner yourself, do you try to support local or other small brands as well?
Of course! Ultimately, whether it’s fashion or any other business in general, it’s really hard to take your first step and come out as a business owner. Respect. So honestly, if my support, whether it’s monetary or verbal support, helps to boost their morale and vision, then it’s worth it.

What are some of the biggest milestones you’ve reached with your brand since you started?
We had a booth at Sole Superior, one of the largest sneaker/streetwear conventions in Singapore last year. There were many other brand founders that came by, and we formed a kind of friendship and connection with them, which was very wholesome. I think that’s something that we really cherish the most in this journey of ours—keeping it tight with the rest.

We agree, community is so important in every industry! On that note, what is your definition of community?
Hmm, having a community means everyone having the same vision, and everyone working towards a certain something that hasn’t happened yet, but that we all believe will happen if we come together.

Honestly, I feel like the Singaporean market has lost this sense of community where we come together to form a culture of our own, but why I chose to start my own business is because I’m very much inspired by the Malaysian, Indonesian, and Vietnamese communities. I think the youths there really carry this definition of community.

In a similar vein, how would you define streetwear?
I think people mistake the word streetwear as just a style and aesthetic, but I think streetwear is defined by the people that are in the streets—the kids out there expressing themselves. I think that’s what streetwear really is, and is what forms this community of ours.