{"id":30054,"date":"2025-01-23T16:00:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T08:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/?p=30054"},"modified":"2025-01-23T17:08:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T09:08:48","slug":"the-man-behind-mdcs-visual-styling-on-what-fuels-his-designs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/the-man-behind-mdcs-visual-styling-on-what-fuels-his-designs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Man Behind MDC\u2019s Visual Styling On What Fuels His Designs"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you watched the D\u00fcsseldorf Military Tattoo 2024 held in Germany\u00a0last September and marvelled at the performers\u2019 costumes, you have Jeremy Jiang to thank. As a wardrobe designer and stylist at the Music & Drama Company (MDC), it is his job to design apparel and provide visual styling for live performances and video productions by MDC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy is living his passion. As a teenager, he envisioned a career \u201cthat blends creativity with storytelling\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI create detailed visual proposals to conceptualise looks that align with the project\u2019s narrative, functionality, and aesthetic vision,\u201d he says, describing his role at MDC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI also manage a team to ensure smooth execution and effective collaboration, and I source fabrics and materials from trusted vendors known for their quality and variety, carefully selecting each piece to enhance the overall look and feel of the final designs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A fashion dream come true<\/h3>\n

\"Jeremy<\/p>\n

Jeremy\u2019s interest in fashion began when he was in his teens. He was inspired by how clothing could tell stories, express a person\u2019s individuality, and honour cultural heritage. He realised that he had a deep desire to create meaningful designs that seamlessly merged tradition with modernity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that fashion has the power to serve as a platform for self-expression and inclusivity, and I\u2019m passionate about using it to create a positive impact,\u201d he adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy is also a mentor to young designers from various fashion academies, a role that he enjoys and takes seriously.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMentorship is a deeply personal and meaningful endeavour for me, as it offers me a chance to give back to the fashion industry and contribute to shaping Singapore\u2019s fashion and art scene.\u201d he explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI support young designers by encouraging creative exploration and equipping them with practical skills such as project management, cultural sensitivity, and the importance of preserving our multicultural heritage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Jeremy\u2019s role as a designer has evolved and, in the near future, he sees himself further expanding into academic research and engaging in collaborative projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Costumes help tell a story<\/h3>\n

\"Jeremy<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to take the costumes in a performance for granted, but Jeremy says that they bring characters and narratives to life and make them visually compelling. Additionally, they convey cultural and contextual elements, enhance the storyline, and help performers fully embody their roles.<\/span><\/p>\n

But there\u2019s a lot more to costume design than meets the eye, as Jeremy explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPreparation involves months of careful planning, from conceptualising designs and sourcing materials to fittings and coordinating with a team. Staying organised requires detailed schedules, regular team check-ins, and a robust inventory system to track every element. Collaboration and communication are key to ensuring a smooth production process.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Although his job can sometimes be high-pressure and involve tight deadlines and logistical hurdles, Jeremy shares that he gets a rush when he sees the performers in his designs and he receives positive feedback from both the performers and the audience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHearing compliments like \u2018Your designs made us feel confident and authentic\u2019 or \u2018The costumes brought the story to life\u2019 make the effort truly rewarding,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Outside of work, Jeremy finds joy and stress-relief in illustrating. He\u2019s also deeply interested in cultural research and likes exploring traditional arts and crafts. Spending quality time with friends also helps him unwind.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy looks up to designers like Demna Gvasalia and Iris van Herpen for their boundary-pushing creativity and their skill in weaving philosophical elements into fashion. And he says that some of his favourite costumes ever were from the musical <\/span>The Lion King<\/span><\/i>, as they left him in awe with their \u201cinnovation and cultural depth\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Proud of what he does<\/h3>\n

\"Jeremy<\/p>\n

Jeremy was the Principal Costume Designer for the D\u00fcsseldorf Military Tattoo 2024, a job that he says was an honour and a rewarding creative challenge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

His aim with the designs was to tell a cohesive story of unity and diversity through colours, patterns, and fabrics that resonated with Singapore\u2019s multiracial society.<\/span><\/p>\n

One challenge he encountered at the time was designing costumes that allowed for quick and seamless changes during the performances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Collaborating closely with the dancers and creative director Andy Cai<\/span><\/a>, he came up with a way to integrate quick wardrobe changes into the choreography.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a team effort\u00a0and required multiple fittings and experimental rehearsals to perfect the functionality of the costumes,\u201d Jeremy explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe wardrobe concept was thoughtfully designed to incorporate two distinct looks within a single cohesive ensemble for each dancer while enhancing the performance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jeremy has also designed costumes for the MDC HOMEGROWN music festival and SAFRA Beer Music Play 2024. He says that he feels good knowing that his work helps to support the goals and ideals of our NSmen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI take pride in contributing to stories that celebrate the resilience, camaraderie, and identity of NSmen. It\u2019s fulfilling to witness how my work adds to the narrative, creating a visual and emotional connection for the audience.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more about the team of talents who work with Jeremy at MDC, including senior sound designer Guo Ningru<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and dancers Jeslyn Yang and Cosmas Hoo<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Follow MDC socials for the latest updates: <\/u><\/u>Instagram\u00a0@musicanddramacompany<\/a><\/u>, <\/u><\/u>TikTok\u00a0@musicandramacomp<\/a><\/u>, <\/u><\/u>Facebook\u00a0@musicanddramacompany<\/a><\/u> and <\/u><\/u>YouTube\u00a0@musicdramacompany<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Main photo: NAFA\/Nefful International<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Want more articles like this, and other lifestyle content right in your inbox? Download the new SAFRA mobile app<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and opt in for the eNSman Newsletter \u2013 you don\u2019t need to be a SAFRA member to subscribe \u2013 and never miss another story!<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jeremy Jiang, a designer and stylist with the Music & Drama Company, talks about his dream job and explains how well-designed costumes can help tell a story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":30060,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[6241,5892,6242,6013,6240,3822],"yoast_head":"\nThe Man Behind MDC\u2019s Visual Styling On What Fuels His Designs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Jeremy Jiang, a designer and stylist with the Music & Drama Company, shares how costumes can help tell a story and bring characters to life.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Man Behind MDC\u2019s Visual Styling On What Fuels His Designs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Jeremy Jiang, a designer and stylist with the Music & Drama Company, shares how costumes can help tell a story and bring characters to life.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/the-man-behind-mdcs-visual-styling-on-what-fuels-his-designs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"eNSMAN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SAFRAsg\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-01-23T08:00:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-23T09:08:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/MDC-JeremyJiang-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"836\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"430\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nsman.safra.sg\/\",\"name\":\"eNSman - 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