SINGAPORE: Costumes worn by performers at the Chingay Parade need to be bright, light and durable at the same time.

And to get more ideas on how to do this, the People's Association has flown in an expert from Ireland who conducted a course for local designers.

The designs of the participants in the five-day course included a bee which symbolised the need to work hard, a frog with a four-leaf clover for good luck.

Their work will be judged and the winning designers will be used at the Chingay Parade.

The winning entries have to be attractive and practical as well. Also, the costumes must be able to withstand any kind of weather during the street parade.

Colm Lowne, an Irish artistic director was flown in by the People's Association to conduct this costume-making course, especially for the Chingay Parade.

Lowne is the name behind many creative designs in Buí Bolg, Ireland's premier street theatre, entertainment and community arts company.

Lowne said: "It's a night parade, so things should be really bright. And it's a really high-energy performance. It's expected for three minutes, so they need to be really light."

That's why specially-created foam is being used in some of the designs.

The finished products can be seen when they're used during the Chingay Parade on 16 February. -CNA/vm