Ilaicha Vandeputte

12 Jun 2025
Fashion

Our Favorites from Antwerp Royal Academy MA 2025: Amar Singh

On June 6th and 7th, Antwerp’s fashion sphere lit up once again as The Royal Academy of Fine Arts unveiled its annual runway show. One of the most unforgettable entrances came from Amar Singh, whose collection Mama, I See Clowns… turned the catwalk into a psychedelic wonderland. But off the runway, the designer is soft-spoken, almost shy—an unexpected contrast to the bold, euphoric world they create. Beneath all the sequins and subversion lies a deeply emotional core, making this collection not just super fun, but profoundly felt.

The collection is rooted in a deeply personal experience: a psychotic episode during which Singh’s dreamworld began blending into their waking life. “I started seeing clowns, bricks, clocks, and stars. It sounds intense, but it was also beautiful in a way. Life suddenly felt more colorful and fun, like everything had a sparkle.”

Clowns, swans & sketchbook fantasies

Rather than suppress this experience,Singh turned it into a vivid visual world. Think: distorted tailoring, hyper-detailed embroidery, and shoes inspired by water birds—yes, ducks, swans, and geese waddle the runway. “I wanted to take traditional garments and morph them into my own fantasy,” Singh explained. “A clownesque dreamworld with a twist of joy and escapism.”

“Each look is a character, I sketch a lot. I always start from a face or a silhouette and build the world around it. It’s not rigid. It’s playful. It’s free.” That sense of play spills onto the runway: models smiled, danced, and walked like they were stepping straight out of a fever dream.

Clown couture, but make it existential

The collection is super fun. But beneath the sequins and smiles is something deeper—a refusal to let societal rules and expectations weigh down the joy of self-expression. “It’s an ode to escapism,” Singh told us. “The world feels increasingly heavy, I want to bring the party into everyday life. Paint on a smile. Life’s too serious already.” Their own drag persona, Babu, embodies this ethos. “I become the character in the club. That’s where these clothes really come alive.”

Club kid

When asked what comes after graduation, Singh answers with the same carefree clarity that defines their work: “I go where the party takes me. I’m a club kid. I want to wear these pieces in the club, become the character, and give them a place.” When it comes to internships, Singh shares, “I really admire craftsmanship, so Dries Van Noten or Walter Van Beirendonck would be amazing.” Still, they add with an open mind, “Honestly, I can see the beauty in interning at any brand.”

The backstage images were shot by Ilaicha Vandeputte exclusively for Enfnts Terribles.

The MA collections are on view on the 27th and 28th of June, 12:00 to 18:00 at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Mutsaardstraat 31, 2000 Antwerpen, opening on the 26th of June at 18:00. For more information, visit the Academy’s website.

 

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