Skip to main content
Hamburger Menu Close

Advertisement

Obsessions

From handbags to furniture: Singapore’s best-kept secret shopping spots

You don't need to hop on a plane – or go online – to enjoy world-class shopping: Singapore has some of the finest bespoke shopping haunts on the planet.

From handbags to furniture: Singapore’s best-kept secret shopping spots

At Ethan K's secret Singapore atelier, clients can customise the handbag of their dreams. (Photo: Ethan K)

One of the things we enjoy most when going on vacation is indulging in a bit of shopping. Meandering down Rue St Honore in Paris, Madison Avenue in New York, or Via Monte Napoleone in Milan. The thrill comes in discovering unique finds that hold special memories from our time abroad.

We know the drill by now. Travel plans have to be shelved for the foreseeable future, but there’s still fun to be had in rediscovering Singapore – and her off-the-beaten track shopping gems.

If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind items – say, a specially-designed handbag, a customised watch strap, or a handcrafted dining table – these purveyors are able and willing to manifest your dream designs. 

READ> Experiencing cabin fever? Here are the best staycation deals in Singapore

SON OF A GAN BESPOKE

Son Of A Gan Bespoke makes only seven suits or jackets in a month. (Photo: Son Of A Gan)

You may not be able to make a trip to London’s Savile Row for a bespoke suit these days, but you can still get a well-tailored ensemble here in Singapore. Established in 2014, Son of A Gan Bespoke carries a wide selection of cloths, carefully handpicked from Europe. Each suit is given utmost attention to detail, which is why the atelier makes no more than seven suits or jackets a month. Son of a Gan operates strictly by appointment only, with only three sessions a day.

For more information, click here

MAISON 21G

Create your own personalised scent at Maison 21G. (Photo: Maison 21G)

At Parisian haute perfumery Maison 21G, you can create your very own personalised scent, tailored to your preferences. The process of creating your signature scent starts off with an online personality quiz, which shortlists the two essences that suit you best. You can then select your two preferred ingredients, and personalise your bottle label with the design of your choice.  

For more information, click here 

READ> Smells like a holiday: Spritz on these perfumes to evoke your favourite destinations

B P DE SILVA

B P de Silva's Monument Trilogy Ring. (Photo: B P de Silva)

Local jeweller B P de Silva was founded in 1872 by Sri Lankan immigrant, Balage Porolis de Silva. The jeweller’s clientele included a list of royals, namely King Chulalongkorn of Siam, Sultan Ibrahim of Johore, the Duke of Connaught, King Edward VII and Queen Victoria of Great Britain. Today, clients look to B P de Silva to customise extraordinary engagement rings, made from the finest and rarest gemstones on the market.

For more information, click here

AN ORDER OF BLING

The He Loves Me ring. (Photo: Alvin Teo)

Singaporean designer Sara Tan has an unconventional approach to creating jewellery. Creations from Tan’s homegrown brand, An Order of Bling, include a ring with petals that can be plucked off, dangle earrings filled with tsavorites resembling cloth, and a pair of rings shaped like pagodas. Clients can even commission Tan to turn their handwriting into diamond jewellery.

For more information, click here

JOSH LEONG SHOES

(Photo: Josh Leong)

There’s a saying that goes "good shoes take you to great places", which makes finding the perfect fit all the more important. Singaporean bespoke shoemaker Josh Leong moved to Florence, Italy, to learn the art of making leather shoes. In 2015, he founded his eponymous label back in Singapore. Every pair of bespoke shoes that Leong creates is hand-welted, with the outsoles stitched by hand.

For more information, click here

ROGER & SONS

Custom liquor cabinet by Roger & Sons. (Photo: Roger & Sons)

If you’re looking to spruce up your home, local carpentry firm Roger & Sons specialises in bespoke fine furniture. The firm is run by three brothers, who took over the company when their father passed away in 2014.

Roger & Sons makes everything from dining tables, study desks and even custom liquor cabinets. In their work, the Yeo brothers also salvage trees that have been cut down for urban redevelopment, and rehabilitate them to make various forms of furniture.  

For more information, click here

HUGHES LOW

(Photo: Hughes Low)

Looking for a custom watch strap for your prized timepiece? Hughes Low, who runs leather craft company Hughes Handcrafted, will design one-of-a-kind watch straps that can jazz up your prized ticker. Low can also customise matching leather wallets, cardholders and bags.

For more information, click here

ETHAN K

Materials such as crocodile and calfskin are combined in Ethan K's Mystical Landscapes collection. (Photo: Ethan K)

For those in the know, Singapore’s very own Ethan K is the go-to bespoke bag maker. Clients used to have to travel to his private atelier in London to meet him, but the designer has since opened a new atelier in Singapore. Still, access to the Ethan K gallery is strictly by-appointment-only and the address is kept secret until details are confirmed. The only hint – it’s located in a heritage building in River Valley.

For more information, click here

JESSICACINDY

Jessicacindy is the go-to gown designer for local celebrities. (Photo: Jessicacindy)

Renowned gown-maker Jessicacindy Hartono has garnered a reputation amongst the society set for her dreamy, ethereal wedding dresses. She’s also a seamstress to the stars, having dressed local celebrities for the red carpet, including Liv Lo and Fiona Xie for the premiere of Crazy Rich Asians in Singapore and Los Angeles respectively. Hartano has a penchant for feathers, tulle and lace, giving her designs an air of romantic femininity.

For more information, click here

READ> Customising a suit or gown? How bespoke services will change in Phase 2

Source: CNA/st(ds)

Advertisement

RECOMMENDED

Advertisement