I LIKE my international labels as much as I like my uni and foie gras - I have to have them at least once a month.

But friends know that deep down, I’m a char kway teow (extra chilli and cockles please!) and sambal fried rice girl.

While I can skip my favourite sea urchin and goose liver treats, I can’t live without the local fare, like I can’t do without local brands.

Local fashion is as much a part of Singapore’s history as it is mine.

How can I ever forget my first big-girl party outfit back in the ’80s?

It was a bias-cut dress in sweet lilac by local designer Daniel Yam and I wore it to my first after-dark party where there was a disco mobile, beer (gasp!) and scores of teenage boys.

Never mind that I was grounded for a month after the parents found out there was no night concert in school and I was dancing at a different concert at Parklane Shopping Mall that night.

It was all worth it.

I went to my first function – that’s what they called such parties back then – and I had the time of my life. I felt grown-up and special, all thanks to the magic of a “made in Singapore” dress.

Unforgettable

Throughout the years, I have had many unforgettable fashion firsts by local designers.

My first fiery red tuxedo suit, on the night of my wedding dinner, was by Song&Kelly, the most sought-after local label then.

The stars of the designing duo were bright and promising like the future of the newly-weds.

But ironically, that stunning suit outlasted the duo’s partnership and my first marriage.

There was the first sarong skirt by now-defunct local brand, Ananas.

I learnt after that purchase that I am not built for sarong skirts. Especially since I was wearing the sarong skirt as a tube dress at a beach party when the same piece was worn as a hipster skirt by a tall, tan, buxomy local version of Megan Fox.

That was also my last sarong skirt, by the way.

And there was my first paillettes thong slipper by designer Hayden. It was the first time I learnt what those spangly, iridescent foil ornaments falling out of shoes, hats and bags are called.

Along the way up the corporate ladder, my lust for all things fashion and luxe grew and my wardrobe started filling up with well-known international labels.

It wasn’t a coincidence that my favourite shopping malls along Orchard Road have started expanding their international listings as well.

But it’s hard to kill one’s first love. I am still mad about local fashion.

Recently, I had the chance to go crazy over local designers at the Blueprint Emporium, a one-day only shopping event organised by the same people behind the recent Audi Fashion Festival.

Blueprint 2010 was marketed as Singapore’s first fashion trade show and carried designs from Asia, Europe and the United States.

It was the perfect event for me to shop for exclusive local pieces as some of the designs have not been launched commercially.

But as fate would have it, work and motherhood duty called and I’m still kicking myself for missing out on this shopping experience.

Thankfully, many of the local designers in Blueprint have retail outlets and if you, like me, are a sentimental, local fashion junkie, here are some suggestions on where to get your Singapore fashion fix.

>> Click here for the retail outlets of some local names.

This article was first published in The New Paper.