In a recent survey by Shop Small Research by American Express, it was unveiled that local Baby Boomers are particularly loyal to local businesses with 95% shopping often at local establishments.
With more than half of consumers concerned that Singapore’s heritage businesses will disappear in the next decade, it’s important to give them all the love and support they deserve. Here, we turn a spotlight on homegrown heroes by celebrating their craftsmanship, culture and stories that reflect the unique spirit of this tiny nation we proudly call home
Supermama
Launched in December 2010 by husband-wife team Edwin Low and Mei Ling, Supermama pays tribute to Mei Ling’s sacrifices and hard work in raising a family and grooming a proudly local souvenir brand.
In 2013, Supermama’s signature cobalt blue and white porcelain collection titled “Singapore Icons” was awarded the President’s Design Award. It has since made inroads into the global design scene, working with Disney to create a Star Wars homeware collection and partnering Japanese porcelain specialist Kihara.
Stocked at the National Museum of Singapore and the Asian Civilisations Museum, Supermama offers some of Singapore’s most exquisite pottery, porcelain pieces, and one-of-a-kind gifts. Think porcelain tableware, glassware, tote bags, key chains and coasters inspired by modern Singapore culture.
See also: A celebration of taste and technology: Why V-ZUG is the choice for the festive kitchen
Supermama has launched the One Singapore 2023 Edition featuring porcelain plates that bear all of Singapore’s unique icons and trademarks to herald in the National Day festivities. Available in three diameters from a standard 15cm and 24cm to gold-rimmed 24cm.
Charles & Keith
See also: Pascal Raffy
A beloved Singapore brand that has achieved international recognition for its trendy and stylish footwear, bags, and accessories, Charles & Keith was founded in 1996 by siblings Charles and Keith Wong, who dreamed of creating affordable fashion-forward footwear and accessories for the masses.
The brand achieved global recognition when LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) acquired 20% of Charles & Keith’s shares. This partnership solidified the brand’s position in fashion and helped it gain support and expertise from the major industry giant.
Since taking full control of the brand, Charles & Keith has ramped up its digital presence to support offline and online stores. As Singapore’s most successful fashion export, it operates more than 600 stores worldwide across 37 countries.
For its current Fall 2023 Pixie collection, Charles & Keith references the minimal and monolithic sculptures of Constantin Brancusi. Platform heels are translated into three silhouettes: An ankle boot, a sculptural mule, and Mary-Jane pumps. All three styles are formed based on the foot’s natural shape, with platforms and chunky heels that add a sense of quiet authority and dramatic presence. Designed with a succinct approach, devoid of details, seams and embellishments, the padded uppers are fully lasted over the heels and platforms, leaving behind an austere and definitive silhouette.
Bags like the Petra Curved Shoulder Bag take on the same dramatic approach. Presented in a colour palette to match the Pixie shoes, the two products are styled together, solidifying them as the quintessential fashion pairing for the season.
Faire Collective
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Men’s leather goods brand Faire Collective was founded in Singapore by Tocco Toscano’s Joseph Lor and Ryan Choy to create functional luxury at a fair price. Its first two designs were crowd-funded on Kickstarter, raising over US$400,000 ($531,242) — more than 10 times its target. It achieved its two-year goal of $1 million in under 10 months.
Tapping on traditional know-how from decades of experience and real-time feedback and data, Faire designs stylish products for maximum functionality. Its bestseller is the Bond All-Purpose Briefcase, available in leather and vegan leather. It features a business card compartment, a slip pocket with a pull tab designed to fit your wallet, a trolley slot strap that fits perfectly onto your carry-on luggage, a pocket that is sized for passports and sleeves to organise and protect mobile phone pins, SD and SIM cards. It also has compartments for tech products of all sizes, such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones and portable chargers. Talk about stylishly utilitarian!
Ginlee Studio
Founded in 2011 by husband-wife team Gin Lee and Tamir Niv, Ginlee Studio strives to achieve the perfect marriage between aesthetically pleasing and functional design by “making fashion that matters”.
Beyond their undeniable talent and sartorial prowess, Ginlee advocates sustainability and ethical fashion practices. Embracing eco-conscious materials and responsible sourcing, they serve as a beacon of inspiration in the fashion industry, championing the importance of mindful creation and consumption.
Their latest design-led circular initiative is _/\/\/\ake O (short for MAKE in Shop), which aims to encourage customers to reduce waste by transforming unused fabrics into uniquely re-designed products to close the loop of excess production. Being one of the first few homegrown studios to promote circularity in Singapore, the experience reuses and refurbishes raw materials to extend the lifespan and preserve the value of these resources, which is especially important in a time of overconsumption.
_/\/\/\ake O artfully harnesses the power of off-cuts, repair and upcycling techniques to introduce several hands-on experiences that embody a more responsible and conscientious approach to fashion. During these paid sessions, one will learn how to transform old unwanted t-shirts into a chic Tee Bag or discover how to repurpose unused pocket pieces into wearable lanyards, keyholders and bags.
The _/\/\/\ake O experience is now available at Raffles City and National Design Centre by appointment. For more details, visit www.ginleestudio.com/collections/make-o.
In Good Company
Established in 2013, In Good Company has gained recognition for its minimalist and sophisticated designs that cater to modern men and women seeking chic and versatile wardrobe essentials.
Founders Sven Tan and Kane Tan bring their extensive experience in the fashion industry to create a brand emphasising clean lines, impeccable tailoring, and timeless silhouettes.
Their design philosophy buck season trends in favour of capsule collections that are fashionable and functional, allowing women to mix and match their pieces to suit the occasion effortlessly.
Throughout the years, In Good Company has garnered a loyal following in Singapore and internationally. Their boutique stores and online presence serve as platforms for customers to access the brand’s beautifully curated collections.
The model seen here is wearing the latest Paper Poplin dress and carrying the mini Pouf Bag.
Jah Life
Founded in 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Jah Tech — a local technology research company — Jah Life is dedicated to promoting health and wellness through the integration of its proprietary technologies.
To address the widespread concern for lower back pain, Jah Life recently introduced the Papilio Waist & Back Therapeutic Belt, embedded with a Unitatem Primis technology that creates a butterfly effect to aid recovery across the lower back.
The belt holds ceramic-alloy chips that emit a safe and naturally occurring wave frequency which offers therapeutic relief for strains, inflammations and discomfort coupled with the promotion of blood circulation and the boosting of strength and flexibility. Supposedly, the nano-pores on the surface of the ceramic alloy, when integrated into skin beauty applicators or creams, can also offer a host of skincare benefits such as exfoliation and skin renewal. For more information, visit www.naturidgelab.com/shop.
Benjamin Barker
A modern-day gentlemen’s outfitter, Benjamin Barker was founded locally in 2009, offering customers heritage-inspired apparel with a high degree of craftsmanship. It gets our vote for its dapper collection of dress shirts, suits, custom-made leather brogues, and handsome accessories with a sartorial edge.
Drawing from the strength of quiet confidence amidst a vast unending sea, Benjamin Barker presents the latest Benjamin Barker Yacht Club (BBYC) capsule collection. From breathable cotton T-shirts to lightweight jackets, well-tailored chinos and pants, each piece will feature unique nautical accents such as classic sailor stripes, anchor motifs, and rope details.
Phunk
As a founding member of groundbreaking design and art collective Phunk, Jackson Tan has been an inspiration to countless creatives since its establishment in 1994.
Tan’s creative genius also left a lasting mark on Singapore’s visual identity with his design of the SG50 logo in 2015. The logo, featuring a distinctive red dot and bold Gotham Typeface font, has evolved into the current Brand SG logo, becoming a symbol of unity and spirit.
His visionary spirit continued to shine through his next project, Art-Zoo, an inflatable playground that showcased Singapore’s ability to create its own version of Sesame Street. Art-Zoo, which also retailed exclusive merchandise, not only brought joy and playfulness but also evoked curiosity, creativity, and empathy in its visitors.
Today, Tan’s career is reaching new heights as he takes on the role of lead curator for Singapore Design Week. The DesignSingapore Council has tasked him to bring the theme “Better by Design” to life in the Bras Basah-Bugis district during the festival.
Poh Heng Jewellery
With a remarkable 75-year legacy, Poh Heng Jewellery has firmly established itself as a reputable and reliable jeweller and gold specialist. Its extensive selection of pieces has garnered the prestigious Singapore Assay Office certification, assuring customers of their purity. Over the years, Poh Heng has consistently been the top choice for numerous patrons. As the wedding season commences, Poh Heng is delighted to present the Si Dian Jin and Si Dian Zuan collections, exuding a captivating blend of contemporary and traditional designs that will redefine bridal elegance. These collections promise to enhance the charm and allure of every bride-to-be.
Liht Organics
Launched in 2019 by financial advisor Nerissa Low, Liht Organics is a homegrown luxury cosmetic brand that is infused with up to 90% certified-organic ingredients; contains no nano-particles, parabens or synthetic chemicals; and is vegan and cruelty-free.
Liht’s makeup is also free of talc and waxes commonly found in conventional pressed makeup, which exaggerate the fine lines on your face instead of concealing them. Each product is packed with herbal and fruit extracts that culminate into a delicious scent that makes you just want to eat it.
Its foundations feel amazing on the skin. Try the latest compact powder foundation created with a blend of natural minerals that offer high buildable coverage whilst providing effective natural sun protection. Light reflective minerals minimise the appearance of fine lines and pores. The powder also contains ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties.
Anothersole
Founded by Benny Chee and Phoebe Charn in 2016, Anothersole is a socially conscious lifestyle brand that creates timeless, sustainable footwear and accessories while doing good. Offering a colourful array of leather flats, the footwear is re-imagined to have the elegance of an oxford and the comfort of a sneaker in buttery soft leathers in cow, goat or pig lining.
Today, this shoe silhouette has sold more than 500,000 pairs worldwide and is featured in publications like Harpers’ Bazaar, Goodhousekeeping and more. In addition to men’s and women’s footwear, you can find bags made of recycled materials.
Big on prints, the brand’s latest Hakuchou collection adds a touch of playful charm to your style. Adorned with ruffled ribbon laces and swan prints, Hakuchou’s shoes are offered in pink and blue hues and are made with 100% Italian bovine leather.
Tanglin Gin
Born from the desire to pioneer and experiment, Tanglin Gin created its very first batch of Singapore gins back in 2018. Since then, the brand has gone on to add the award-winning Black Powder Gin to its portfolio, which became Singapore’s very first Double Gold Winner at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
In its quest to make the Singapore Sling truly Singaporean, the distillery embarked on a journey to create an artisanal orange liqueur with mandarin orange, calamansi, and kaffir lime leaves. Launched this year, the Triple Tangerine Mandarin Orange Liqueur is a sweet, citrus-forward digestif that can be enjoyed on its own with ice.
Designed to be used by professional and home bartenders, the Triple Tangerine can be used in a range of cocktails, such as the Margarita or Cosmopolitan. Alternatively, if you are new to mixing drinks but want to try your hand at it, add 20 ml of the Triple Tangerine to your regular G&T for some local flair.
Carrie K. Atelier
A local jewellery brand founded in 2009 by Carolyn Kan, Carrie K. Atelier showcases a collection of stunning creations. The Star Mini Pearl Bracelet is among the latest offerings, featuring mini Akoya pearls and a star-shaped gold pendant. This piece adds a unique twist to the timeless allure of pearls, and it’s designed to be worn every day, seamlessly transitioning from work to play with you. If you want to add a touch of subtle luxury to your style, look no further than the Lotus Ear Studs. These elegant studs are adorned with dazzling diamonds, providing a discreet yet opulent touch. They’re incredibly versatile and can be effortlessly mixed and matched with other beautiful pieces from Carrie K.’s earring bar, allowing you to elevate any outfit easily.
The Blessings Mother of Pearl Pendant Necklace is the perfect choice for a truly enchanting piece. It boasts a mesmerising iridescence, complemented by five round brilliant diamonds. Wear it on its sleek gold side for a hint of everyday luxury, or flip it over to showcase the diamond-studded side, sparkling brightly on special occasions.
Porcelain
Launched in 2009, Porcelain Spa and Porcelain Skincare was born from the visionary collaboration of veteran aesthetician Jenny Teng and her daughter, Pauline Ng.
Anchored by Teng’s expertise, the brand has gained renown for its meticulously crafted manual extraction method — a technique perfected over three decades to effectively and safely eliminate impurities. Embodying its homegrown roots, Porcelain remains dedicated to innovation and consistently seeks to integrate progressive new technologies into its offerings, ensuring its products and services remain at the cutting edge of skincare excellence.
Its star product is the Botanical Sensitive Care Toner, an ideal post-dermatological procedure tonic suited for skin sensitivity triggered by acne or eczema. This soothing elixir features a reparative fusion of medicinal herbs, including Korean Mint and Honeysuckle Flower extract, carefully curated to alleviate redness and imbue the skin with potent antioxidants, combating impurities and free-radical damage.
The Powder Shampoo
Created by beauty veteran Lynn Tan in 2022, The Powder Shampoo believes that there is a more sustainable way to care for your hair, body, and the Earth.
This local beauty brand addresses the climate crisis by going plastic- and water-free using recyclable, refillable and biodegradable aluminium for its packaging. Each lightweight bottle is filled with nourishing botanical-rich powder formulas that smell simply amazing.
Doing its bit for the environment, the brand plants a tree with every purchase of a full-sized bottle. To date, it has planted 20,000 trees, reforested 15 hectares, and captured 2,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide since 2022.
The Powder Shampoo’s powder-to-foam shampoos come in four scalp-specific variants to tackle different scalp and hair concerns like thinning and ageing hair, normal and sensitive scalps, oily scalps and limp hair, and dandruff-prone scalps. The brand’s power-to-foam body wash comes in two variants: one for energising your morning and one for relaxing your evening.
Travel in style with its latest minis which contain all the nature-derived benefits of its full-sized counterparts, but in a fun, compact size for maximum portability. Each 20g bottle is good for more than 20 washes.
Razer
Founded in Singapore in 2005 by gaming enthusiasts Min-Liang Tan and Robert Krakoff, Razer has emerged as a global gaming lifestyle brand, redefining the way gamers interact with technology.
With a relentless commitment to innovation, Razer has produced cutting-edge gaming peripherals, laptops, and software, all meticulously crafted to enhance gaming experiences. Today, the brand carries a complete lifestyle range of smartphones, gaming chairs, bags, apparel and other merchandise.
From the gamer’s battlefield to esports arenas worldwide, Razer continues to push the boundaries, captivating millions of players with the power of its technological marvels. Its iconic green logo has become synonymous with top-tier performance and style.
Empower your play with a centrepiece that elevates your entire setup. The latest BlackWidow V4 has all the hallmark features you’ve come to love from a Razer keyboard: premium design, vibrant Razer Chroma RGB lighting, customisable six dedicated macro keys, a multi-function roller and Magnetic Plush Leatherette Wrist Rest, guaranteeing comfort for extended gaming sessions.
Hegen
Founded in 2015, Hegen is the brainchild of couple Yvon and Leon Bock, whose parenting journey with four children motivated them to design high-quality, sustainable baby-feeding products to complement a mother’s breastfeeding journey.
Its award-winning, revolutionary Express-Store-Feed system reimagines the milk bottle in a stylish Sqround (square-round) design with snap-on lids that are equal parts efficient, simple and functional. From electric breast pumps, milk bottles, and baby sippy cups to newborn gift sets, Hegen’s revolutionary products are designed to grow with your child. Today, the brand is available in 24 international markets worldwide and has a dedicated lactation centre with certified consultants who can make house calls.
To commemorate National Day, the latest Hegen PCTO Floral Collection pays homage to Southeast Asian heritage with prints of popular tropical flowers, butterfly peas, orchids and bougainvillea. Also debuting in this collection is the Hegen PCTO All-Rounder Cup PPSU — ideal for a baby who is transitioning from bottle to cup — in a limited edition colour and size.
Melati
This booze-free aperitif comes at the perfect time when low or no-alcohol consumption has been on the rise of late. Created by former venture capitalist Lorin Winata, homegrown brand Melati Drinks is a drink inspired by traditional Asian remedies. In fact some might consider it a great-tasting daily tonic that’s infused with 26 healing botanicals such as goji berries, hibiscus, raw cacao, ginger, fresh lemon, star anise, sencha, red Kampot pepper and cinnamon. Supposedly, the vitamin- and antioxidant-rich concoction works together to detoxify the liver, increase blood flow and support general wellbeing. On its own, the cherry-hued drink tastes refreshingly fruity with some slight bitter hints. I also tried a Negroni-inspired mocktail with some Melati, and that completely won me over!
Compendium Spirits
Formerly known as Rachelle the Rabbit Meadery, Compendium Spirits is the brainchild of craft distiller Simon Zhao who started to commercialise mead in 2016 by fermenting wine with different locally-sourced herbs and spices.
Today, he’s gone beyond mead to a whole spectrum of spirits to create distinctly Southeast Asian whiskies, gins, rums, soju, vodka, arrack and liqueurs. Zhao is most proud of his single grain whiskey — a Singapore first — made from Thai Hom Mali rice.
Compendium Spirits also offers a bespoke barrel-ageing programme that lets consumers create their own whisky and rum and age them in American oak barrels (from Casknolia). For casual drinkers, arrack is a good starting point for a barrel-ageing project as its intensely-sweet flavours become more nuanced over time. The rice-based whiskey, which Zhao says smells like freshly-cooked rice, is ideal for more seasoned drinkers who wish for something deeper and darker.
To view the complete collection, head to Compendium Spirits’ newly-opened flagship experiential store called Anthology. The three-storey heritage shophouse at Boat Quay offers a retail corner, cocktails, tasting flights, barrel-ageing, curated learning experiences, and more.
Mr. Bucket
Launched in November 2020, Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie is a Singapore-based chocolate lifestyle brand that specialises in artisanal chocolate bon bons and treats from cacao sourced only within Asia.
It has its very own chocolate factory at Dempsey featuring Singapore’s first build-your-own chocolate slab station, an indoor and outdoor dining experience, and a new chocolate dispensary where guests can buy their favourite chocolate treats sustainably using their own containers.
This Mid-Autumn, Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie has ventured beyond our imagination to offer a delicious and fun alternative to the classic mooncakes with the first ever Mooncake Chocolate Bon Bons. Approximately a quarter the size of a regular mooncake, these sweet delights feature a thin crisp Single Origin Asian chocolate shell with layers of housemade ganache fillings such as the classic Salted Egg Yolk, Yuzu Pumpkin, Honey Oolong and Pandan Macadamia.
