Introduction to Singapore

Singapura, more commonly known by its English name Singapore, is a city-state in Southeast Asia at the tip of the Malay peninsula just one degree north of the equator. Singapore is known as the Lion City: “Singa” means lion and “pura” means place or town, both words derived from Sanskrit. It was founded as a British colony in 1819, was previously part of Malaysia and is today one of the world’s busiest ports, as well as being a regional hub for finance and tourism. The city has a multicultural heritage that reflects the native population and the huge numbers of immigrants who arrived during the colonial era, with Chinese, Indian and Malay influences, as well as modern skyscrapers. The city is known for shopping, a diverse range of food and nightlife.

Demographics

Singapore had a population of 5.6 million people in 2017, nearly 40% of whom are foreign nationals (although many hold permanent residence). The majority of the population is descended from immigrants from the Malay peninsula, China and India. Residents speak a variety of Chinese dialects, Tamil and other languages from India, and Malay – but most speak English and use it as a lingua franca.

Top Five Shopping Districts:

1. Orchard Street: Orchard Street is a 1.4 mile stretch of malls, complexes such as ION Orchard and Paragon, where shoppers can find major designer brands. Centers such as Far East Asia cater to shoppers looking for food and fast fashion. Apart from all the shops, the street also features bars and restaurants.
2. Haji Lane: For shoppers wanting to experience shopping away from the skyscrapers, the hipster Haji Lane is the place to go. The street is full of vintage stores and quaint boutiques.
3. Marina Bay: Marina Bay is home to Marina Bay Sands, one of Singapore’s largest luxury malls – shoppers can find luxury brands and dine in fine restaurants. The shopping mall features and actual canal running through it.
4. Holland Village: A fashionable district in Singapore, the place to find handicrafts, gifts, home décor, antiques, collectables and second-hand books. It also features many restaurants and watering holes, making it a popular destination for expatriates living in Singapore.
5. Jewel Changi Airport: Jewel Changi Airport opened on April 17, 2019. The Jewel Changi Airport is a unique shopping mall concept in that parts are open the public, other sections are restricted access for passengers in transit at the airport. It is 10 stories high, houses the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and a number of other creative feature designed to create the feel of being in a park – with shopping, dining and entertainment. It includes gardens, attractions, hotels and over 300 retail and dining facilities.

Famous Retail Events

Singapore Fashion Week: An annual event held in October, Singapore Fashion Week was started by Mercury Marketing & Commutations and now showcases a variety of top, well-known designers, as well as up and coming talent. International designers who have participated in previous Singapore Fashion Weeks include Diane von Furstenberg, Roberto Cavalli and Victoria Beckham.

Top Innovative Retailers

Magnum Pleasure Store [caption id="attachment_88999" align="aligncenter" width="547"] Source: magnumicecream.com[/caption]   Magnum is an international ice-cream brand. The Magnum Pleasure Store in Singapore is in the ION Orchard shopping mall and is the flagship store. This experiential store allows customers to customize creations by choosing from toppings, flavor combinations and decorations. There are 18 toppings, from basics such as almonds to exotic toppings such as rose petals. The store offers Magnum coffee, using Magnum chocolate-infused coffee beans. In addition to the pleasure bar and coffee, the store features curated décor and furnishings, such as art exhibits. The shop also offers Magnum merchandise exclusive to the store in Singapore, such as notebooks, leather pouches and tumblers. Location: Magnum Singapore, 2 Orchard Turn, B2-07, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801. Our Second Home [caption id="attachment_89000" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Source: timeout.com[/caption]   Our Second Home is a café that shares space with clothing brand Our Second Nature. In the Our Second Nature section, shoppers can browse collections of clothes curated by a London-based designer. The interior features contemporary pieces, going for a simplistic atmosphere. In the Our Second Home section, there is a café where customers can get coffee and pastries. The café rotates the type of coffee beans. Shoppers can relax with a book and spend time in the café after walking through the boutique. Location: Our Second Home, 43 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-66, Singapore 278115. Gallery & Co [caption id="attachment_89001" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Source: galleryand.co[/caption]   Gallery & Co is a café and shop on the first floor of the National Gallery. The gallery has an abundance of collections of Southeast Asian art. The shop sells art, books, stationary, products for children, as well as goods related to the art in the gallery. The store also includes a café, which offers coffee and a variety of other drinks, as well as salads and sandwiches. The store carries products from local designers and brands difficult to find in Singapore. Gallery & Co positions itself as a unique platform spanning art, design, culture, dining and retail. Location: Gallery & Co, #0-17 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrews Road, Singapore 178957. Choo Yilin Atelier [caption id="attachment_89002" align="aligncenter" width="676"] Source: chooyilin.com[/caption]   Choo Yilin is a jewelry designer and her brand is known for creating unique fine jewelry pieces using vibrant contrasts of colors, metal work and customization of each piece. The brand started in 2009. The luxe Choo Yilin Atelier occupies 1,800 square feet across two floors, creating an intimate experience. The main feature of the Atelier is the Jade Bar – an interactive bangle bar. Jade experts will walk customers through an introduction to jade and the different types of jade pieces, the customers can then design their own jewelry, can pick the translucency of the jade as well as shade. The cost of the jade bangle can go from $900 to $100,000. On the second floor is a workshop where jewelry is made and for jade appreciation classes. Customers can watch artisans working on the jade, polishing and embellishing. Location: Choo Yilin Atelier, 260 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427514. In Good Company [caption id="attachment_89003" align="aligncenter" width="716"] Source: ingoodcompany.asia[/caption]   In Good Company has locations in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. In Good Company’s Singapore store in ION Orchard spreads across 3,300 square feet. The interior of the store is inspired by the neo- modern and minimalist movement, an abundance of light fills the store and creates a bright and open atmosphere. In Good Company offers a full range of clothes and accessories at the store, including accessories and necklaces made from recycled materials. The store also carries labels not easily available in Singapore, such as Hoiming and Magpie. An in-store café managed by Plain Vanilla Bakery features geometric communal tables and hanging plants, selling coffee, cakes and sandwiches. Location: In Good Company, #B1-06, ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801. Benjamin Barker [caption id="attachment_89004" align="aligncenter" width="567"] Source: Benjaminbarker.co[/caption]   Benjamin Barker is known for menswear, including suits, shoes and handcrafted accessories. The store in Orchard Cineleisure is the company’s newest flagship store. The interior is reminiscent of a walk-in wardrobe and encourages customers to mix and match pieces. The store carries tailored and classic collections, as well as accessories and shoes that are hand crafted by artisans. Benjamin Barker created a womenswear collection, consisting of suits, blazers, dresses and shirts. The store includes a 60-seat café, with walls covered in vinyl records, music posters and fixtures. The Benjamin Barker café offers food such as southern fried chicken, truffle carbonara and crab cake benedict, as well a variety of coffees. Location: Benjamin Barker, 8 Garage Road, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard #01-01/02, Singapore 239695. Habitat by Honestbee [caption id="attachment_89005" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Source: habitat.honestbee.sg[/caption]   Habitat by Honestbee is a tech-enabled food and grocery concept. The flagship store is 60,000 square feet and stocks 20,000 essentials and variety of other products. The interior seeks to create the comfort shoppers would find at home – with cozy settings integrated into the store. Habitat by Honestbee has leveraged technology to remove the checkout line: Customers use the Habitat by Honestbee app to scan, pay and go. Location: Habitat by Honestbee, 34 Boon Leat Terrace, #01-01, Singapore 119866. The Social Space [caption id="attachment_89006" align="aligncenter" width="671"] Source: thesocialspace.co[/caption]   The Social Space is a socially conscious hybrid of retailer, tea bar, florist and nail salon. The aim of the store is to promote awareness of sustainability, and the shop encourages customers to be more socially conscious in daily life. The Tea Bar & Café provides wholesome food and beverages sourced from fair trade and eco-friendly producers. The florist by Lush Woods has loose stalks of dried flowers or pre-arranged flower bouquets. There is also the Nail Social – a socially-conscious nail salon that uses non-toxic and cruelty free products. The Social Space also holds workshops run by artisans. Location: The Social Space, #01-14, 333 Kreta Ayer Road, Singapore 080333. Monument Lifestyle [caption id="attachment_89007" align="aligncenter" width="461"] Source: monumentlifestyle.com[/caption]   Monument Lifestyle was started by Dustin Ramos and Iris Sangaland, a couple wanting to create a store in celebration of the simple things in life. The couple had lived together in London, Japan, California and New York. After moving to Singapore, the couple opened Monument Lifestyle in 2016. They took inspiration from the California lifestyle and merged retail with a café. The store is in Duxton Hill and is a one-stop shop to purchase menswear, homeware an grab a cup of coffee or a beer. The café also offers light bites such as avocado toast and granola cups. Location: Monument Lifestyle, 75 Duxton Street, Singapore 089534. Swee Lee Social Club [caption id="attachment_89008" align="aligncenter" width="541"] Source: sweeleesocialclub.com[/caption]   Swee Lee Social Club at The Star Vista spans over 5,000 square feet and is a music lover’s heaven. The store has a large variety of musical instruments, DJ equipment, audio equipment, music accessories, an apparel line, a music “academy” consisting of five rooms for instruction and a coffee shop. The Swee Lee Social Club café menu rotates and the shop claims it to be “secret,” meaning customers have to ask for it. Location: Swee Lee Social Club, The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 01-07/10, Singapore, 138617. Must See Street: Haji Lane Haji Lane is in the Kampong Glam neighborhood of Singapore. Shoppers can find independent fashion boutiques and vintage stores on Haji Lane, along with hip cafés, cool bars and unique restaurants. Here are a few examples.

1. Crafune: Craft your own wallets, passport holders, keychains, money chips and cardholders.
2. HYGEE: A café converted into a lifestyle store, customers can find home décor, accessories, apparel and bags.
3. Grammah: A quaint boutique stocking a wide variety of vintage womenswear.
4. Chic Fever: Chic Fever stocks accessories and knick-knacks.
5. Bella Kini: A swimwear boutique