Fashionistas perpetually crave new things, so it makes perfect sense that stores reinvent themselves to keep up with the times. Local multi-label menswear store K.I.N. (Know It Nothing) shut its Haji Lane outpost last month to focus on its number two outlet at Pact in Orchard Central. And lifestyle furniture store Fred Lives Here has just moved into the same space. Meanwhile, multi-store concept Actually consolidated its two stores into one at 313@somerset, and luxury flea market concept Robe Raiders recently moved into a new permanent home located inside an industrial warehouse. We chart the latest movements in the indie shopping scene to see what these newly relocated shops have to offer.
Then: K.I.N. and Fred Lives Here
K.I.N. was one of the first few fashion stalwarts along Haji Lane, selling hard-to-find international indie labels since 2008. Fred Lives Here, tucked along a quiet street off Orchard Road at Emerald Hill Road and operating on a by-appointment-only basis, was one of the most innovative home furnishing stores in town.
Now: Pact
The three-in-one concept store—previously featuring only K.I.N., cafe Kilo and hair salon Kizuki+Lim, set up earlier this year—recently expanded its floor space to include Fred Lives Here, with an unnamed art gallery joining the fray within the next month. The latest buzz is centered on the new 2,000 sq. ft. now home to Fred Lives Here, which carries funky furniture from Thailand’s Propaganda and the UK’s Ooh Deer.
Then: Robe Raiders Pop-Ups
Created by fashion designer Sarah Tan, fashion designer Resham Melwani and business development manager Claudia Sondakh, Robe Raiders have been selling new and used designer clothes at ad-hoc bazaars at venues like Kha and Palais Renaissance for the past three years, as well as through the online store www.roberaiders.com.
Now: Robe Raiders
The goods are the same—essentially a well-curated range of used but good-as-new fashion offerings from covetable luxury labels and past season designer items like Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant and 3.1 Phillip Lim at a fraction of the cost—but now they’re available for physical viewing five days a week in a 16,000 sq. ft. warehouse space.
Then: Fred Perry Laurel Shop
The former shop at Ann Siang Hill was styled after an eccentric English home with its mix of traditional, quirky vintage collectibles and modern industrial finishing—the only store here that carried the more premium Laurel Wreath Collection collection as well as collaborations with the likes of Raf Simons.
Now: Fred Perry Laurel Wreath Collection Shop
Its two-month old space at Mandarin Gallery is more mod, with a smorgasbord of vinyls decked on the walls like a hip indie record store. Currently on the racks are still sought-after Laurel Wreath collection, including apparels, accessories and shoes, for both men ($159 upwards) and women ($109 upwards), as well as collaborative pieces with fellow Brit designer Christopher Raeburn and Raf Simons ($239 upwards).
Then: Actually+, ActuallyActually and ActuallyARC
Over the past eight years, store owner Paul Khor has been working hard at his craft to bring exclusive funky indie labels to his three stores located all over town, including Arab Street and Seah Street. Now, he has realigned the brand by consolidating the different elements from the various shops into one.
Now: Actually
A best-of really, featuring ready-to-wear and accessories from labels like Freitag, Boy London, Kanken and Lazy Oaf, previously available separately at its various outlets, plus new brands like HUF and Joyrich—with more additions like Penfield, Suit and Vagabond dropping later this year. The vibe at this two-month old 800 sq.ft. store down at 313@somerset is still very lively, jam-packed with a colorful selection of clothing.
