Old and New Ways to Advertise

1968: SIA Kebaya

Designed by French designer Pierre Balmain, the iconic sarong kebaya was unveiled in 1968 as the stewardess' uniform for Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA).  A special batik design with multi-coloured flowers was used and a border was added for the hems, cuffs, collar and front.  The traditional cut was also updated. The kebaya was form-fitting and had a round collar.

The Singapore Girl's sarong kebaya comes in four colours, each representing a different rank.

Following the restructuring of MSA in 197a, Malaysian Airline System and Singapore Airlines (SIA) were formed. The sarong kebaya uniforms followed SIA.

The same year, the Singapore Girl - a symbol of grace, hospitality and top-notch service standards - was created and she became the face of the airline.

SIA has evolved from a regional airline into a global brand which flies to 63 destinations in 34 countries. (Source: Singapore Airlines).

The four attractive Singapore Girls in their new sarong kebaya in 1968 for the SIA publicity photo shoot.

The former Malayan Airways stewardess uniform since 1947.

The Sunday Life feature in November 17, 2013.  Source:  SPH.

The SIA kebaya is one of the 50 objects picked to represent Singapore for this blog.

The Sunday Times is inviting readers to tell the history of Singapore. E-mail suntimes@sph.com.sg and use the header 50 objects.

Air travellers all over the world recognize the Singapore Girls and the unique, attractive Pierre Balmain-designed sarong kebaya they wear on SIA.  Its an evergreen and ever-lasting fashion for decades which does not become outdated.

The most obvious purpose of advertising a product is informing. Through advertising with words of mouth or the mass media in various ways, the excellence of the products or services as proof of  the best quality to their consumers.

The modern ways of advertising  is well-known with new ideas, creation and innovation in surprising ways.

The Tan Kah Kee & Co. advertisement in Chinese newspapers in 1910 in Singapore.

The Tan Kah Kee & Co. advertisement in English newspapers in 1920 in Singapore.

The Head Office and factory of the Tan Kah Kee & Co in 1900s archived photos above.

With the courtesy of archived photos of old advertisements, thanks and acknowledgement to the National Archives of Singapore and the contributors to share on this blog.

Fellow nostalgia and heritage friends could remember the advertisements of these products and services over the decades.

An advertisement on trolley bus in 1930s.

An advertisement on the back of a bus panel in 1950.

An advertisement on top of a building in Singapore in 1955.

An advertisement panel on the side of the bus in 1981.

A cinema advertisement beside New World Amusement Park in 1986

An advertisement for the royalties in 1950s

An old Straits Times advertisment on a pre-war building in Tanjong Pagar due for demolition in Tanjong Pagar in 1977.

I have discovered another "memory aid" with old advertisements printed in the newspapers, magazines, flyers and other publications in a fun way.

In my childhood days in the Bukit Ho Swee kampong, I knew that there was an oil mill and factory at Beo Lane but I had forgotten its name.

The Wing Woh Loong (Chun Kee) oil mill advertisement was found in an old magazine in 1951.  The oil factory was located at Beo Lane near where I lived and later destroyed at the Bukit Ho Swee fire in 1961.

Another oil mill was "Kwong Yuen Hing" in Havelock Road which was destroyed in the fire.

The oil mill and factory in the Bukit Ho Swee fire on 25 May, 1961.

Majestic Theatre and Southern Hotel in 1950s

Another advertisement of Southern Hotel in 1951.  For the new, first time hotel in Singapore with air-cond, bathroom and Rediffusion available for each hotel guest to enjoy.

Old advertisements of other products and services which young Singaporeans have not heard about.

The former location of Thye Hong Biscuit Factory at Alexandra Road

The old advertisement of the "Lifeguard Milk" brought me fond nostalgic memories to share my personal sentiments on this blog.  I was fed with the "Best for Babies" condensed sweetened milk in tins by my mother.  I was on bottles (with milk, not beer ; ) until the age of 6 or 7.

I did not grow up as fast and as instantly as a baby with the young generation brought up with "instant milk powder" in Singapore.

During the year-end school holidays, please find out more interesting stuff about the old and new ways growing up in Singapore to share and contribute at the Singapore Memory portal.

Have a happy and Singapore memory school holiday for everyone!