Our Founder

Eileen Yap is the founder of local fashion label Noël Caleb and social enterprise Singapore Fashion Runway. With the vision to nurture the people with special needs and disadvantaged communities through an INCLUSIVE movement called Fashion for a Social Cause, Eileen lives each day happily and purposefully, mentoring our next generation, organisations and communities on how to give back to the society using their talents.

An Honouree of the Spirit of Enterprise Award 2014 in Singapore, Eileen was also conferred the Spirit of Enterprise Singapore Award from Singapore Senior Minister of State, Mr Lee Yi Shyan in Nov 2014 for her spirit of passing on her entrepreneurial spirit to the next generation. She was also the first incubatee of the Social Innovation Fund offered by the Singapore government as featured in The Straits Times in July 2014.

On 16 November 2015, Eileen Yap represented Singapore at the ASEAN Entrepreneurship Summit – fashion category in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She presented a speech and a runway show to the thousands of audiences and local media in Malaysia.

 

Since 2015, Singapore Fashion Runway shows have reached out to at least 200,000 visitors in Singapore through the production of 32 Singapore Fashion Runway: Fashion for a Social Cause Runway Shows, and nurtured more than 5,000 local talents.

Singapore Fashion Runway community made up of people with special needs, disadvantaged groups and our local talents.

Eileen's fashion pieces have also been worn by our local Ministers and cabinet members for National Day 2018. She has also organised various inclusive runway shows in Singapore - involving Ministers, Member of Parliament, Mediacorp artists and our national para-athletes/athletes too. 

 

Eileen's designs worn by Singapore Ministers Grace Fu, Dr Amy Khor and Low Yen Ling

In October 2018, Eileen started an inclusive Fashion for a Social Cause space/ centre at Marina South Pier MRT Station, Singapore, with the vision of training and developing people with special needs, as well as imparting independence and life skills to the disadvantaged groups. 

Eileen with some of her Singapore Fashion Runway models/talents

Eileen believes strongly in giving back to the society as an INCLUSIVE change maker and she is passionate in integrating the special needs and disadvantaged communities with our local talents/ community.   

Eileen was nominated for the Singapore President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards 2017. In 2018, Singapore Fashion Runway led by Eileen Yap designed outfits for several Singapore Ministers at the National Day Parade in August 2018. The social enterprise’s works were showcased in Chingay 2019 too.

In 2019, Eileen Yap was also invited for a luncheon with Singapore’s President for her contribution to Singapore in bringing the biggest inclusive contingent to Chingay 2019.

In 2020, Singapore Fashion Runway won the "Best n Contingent Display 2020 (Travelling Dance)" in Chingay 2020, led by Eileen, where 65 PwDs and caregivers danced and performed in Chingay 2020.

https://saltandlight.sg/news/chingay-parade-2020-youths-with-disabilities-perform-alongside-thousands-in-gods-united-family/

The reusable fabric masks by SFR are also widely worn and supported by the Singapore leaders as they went about their General Elections/ residents' walkabout in the Fashion for a Social Cause masks.

In October 2020, SFR opens an inclusive retail store in People's Park (32 New Market Road #02-1128 S'pore 050032) to turn her special artists/ designers' art into merchandise, and create an authentic environment where people in Singapore can learn to be inclusive and support one another. 

In 2021, Singapore Fashion Runway (SFR) started a Food for a Social Cause movement. It also started an inclusive F&B space at Marina One. 

Watch our SFR documentary video here:

Eileen Yap is a mentor to our next generation, a friend/ family to the PwDs and a champion for inclusivity in Singapore.

She also spends monthly devotion time with the people with special needs through her monthly bible classes. Eileen would not have contributed so much to the society without the blessings and prayers of her parents, her husband and her 3 children Kayleen, Tricia and Caleb.

To reach out to Eileen personally, you may also write to her at eileen@noelcaleb.com.or contact her at HP: +65 97662490.