Supermama
Home to an interesting collection of trinkets, home ware and objet d’arts created by local (and Japanese) designers, the neat displays, white walls and potted plants give this understated space a wonderful sense of calm. One local brand to take note of is the boutique’s own in-house label, Democratic Society, which works with Asian designers and art studios in Singapore to create thoughtful, functional items with a distinct identity. Their products cover everyday items like stationery and table ware, with their first collection drawing its inspiration from key Singapore icons, transforming them into motifs on porcelain plates.
Kapok
This spacious multi-label lifestyle store might hail from Hong Kong but it does boast a good handful of local designers among the 100 niche labels it stocks. Those labels include womenswear line Stolen, a specialist in sharp, backless dresses, and Saught, which makes beautiful jewelry using materials salvaged from landmines and unexploded ordnance.
The Little Drom Store
Expect the memories to come flooding back as you step into this quirky store filled with retro merchandise like tin toys, vintage fashion and old cameras. Helmed by ad- and design-industry veterans Stanley Tan and Antoinette Wong, they often collaborate with local brands, working to incorporate local traits into their beautifully designed items. Think a magnet that says ‘chope’ or postcards emblazoned with uniquely Singaporean phrases like “steady pom pi pi”.
The Damn Good Shop
Started by the cool folks behind local social media marketing agency Goodstuph, this emporium houses one-off vintage wares, local labels and limited edition products by Singaporean companies. Those include retro eyewear brand Mystic Vintage and eye-catching artwork by design company FLABSLAB. All the items on sale here are pretty much collectibles, handpicked by the owner, well-known PR guru Pat Law.
FARM
Curated by a young team of passionate art enthusiasts, FARM’s colorful and highly original collection of products are all made in Singapore and aim to represent the country’s culture and history. You’ll find classic games like ‘five stones’, pretty tote bags with designs of old Chinese calendars, and drinking glasses with funny catchphrases in Singlish printed on them.
Tyrwhitt General Company
Neighbor to hip coffee spot Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH), this retro-fitted boutique stocks a wide range of artisanal goods—wallets, watches, tablewares, books, artwork and more. An advocate of the traditional artisan movement, they provide a platform for emerging and established labels like local brand Oldman Handmade that’s specializes in men’s accessories and homegrown minimalist watch brand Hypergrand.They also run workshops like leather crafting, planting and silkscreening for participants to deepen their appreciation of good design and craftmanship
Design Museum Shop
If you’re after something more cutting-edge, then why not visit the Design Museum Shop located at the ground floor of the Red Dot Design Museum. The store features an assortment of award-winning products ranging from Bluetooth-enabled speakers by Singapore-based company Xmi, to postcards of Singapore with quirky illustrations. They also stock Red Dot’s yearbooks that showcase the latest design innovations and concepts.
Cat Socrates
Located at the unassuming Bras Basah Complex this cosy indie store is jam packed with everything from whimsical collectibles to novelty trinkets. Their hot sellers include scrapbooking essentials, cutesy stationery, tin robots, and their prized ‘moustache’ collection (pouches, umbrellas, you name it). Some of the more noteworthy local brands that they carry are Momshoo who put out whimsical knitted accessories and Wheniwasfour, a brand that turns childhood memories like Potong ice cream into cute miniature pins.
Naiise
This online clothing, homeware and accessories boutique stocks over 250 brands from both local and international emerging designers. Named after the Singlish word, “Naiise”, this brand aims to evoke those exact emotions through the products they sell, while dispelling the idea that design has to be high-brow. Local brands they sell include coasters specialists, The Coaster People and Simitaiji, a brand that pays homage to Singaporean identity through utilizing classic phrases and logos and utilizing them on everything from kitchen mittens and t-shirts.
