æ’lkemi

Insistent on spelling his fashion label æ’lkemi — with grapheme of the ‘a’ and ‘e’ intact — designer Alvin Fernandez might be sacrificing some much-​needed search engine optimisation in an electronic age where frock-​shopping is booming (in comparison to other e-​retail, anyway).
Fernandez has always impressed me with his manner of consistently delivering beautiful, practical, feminine pieces of fashion for women, often in prints that look one-​of-​a-​kind. But on a recent trip to his flagship store in Claremont, I was affected by a ghastly array of animal print dresses juxtaposed with unwarranted colours including lime green and turquoise (not sure what either has to do with the jungle, which is supposedly the collection’s theme). To balance these out, I assume, were several frou-​frou neutral-​hued pieces, but even these lacked the slick, avant aesthetics I’ve often associated with the æ’lkemi name.
The store itself is stunning: all high ceilings, minimalist fittings, metallic-​looking curtains, wooden floorboards and a marble counter. And I love the crocodile-​skin upholstered armchairs. The counter-​hand was sweet enough, too — for uppity Claremont standards, anyway — but I wasn’t sure if her smile was genuine, just as I wasn’t sure if the crocodile skin décor was… A little more sincerity in your next collection, Mr Alvarez, and we’ll love you again. Promise.