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Shopping is a serious business in Singapore. Designer fashions, handcrafted jewelry, Khmer objets d‘art, cutting-edge electronics, Indian spices—the variety of goods sold in Singapore is likely to impress even the most seasoned shopper.
Here you’ll find an island well suited to full-day retail expeditions, from the mile-long strip of shoulder-to-shoulder mega-malls along dizzying Orchard Road to clusters of boutiques housed in the renovated shophouses in ethnic enclaves such as Chinatown and Kampong Glam. A growing number of independent shops are popping up within hip neighborhoods like Tiong Bahru and Little India, adding some welcome variety. Dempsey Hill, best known for its wining and dining, is also home to warehouse-like galleries filled with Southeast Asian antiques, artwork, furnishings, and housewares.
Bargain hunters should mark their calendars for the Great Singapore Sale, an annual eight-week extravaganza held from late May through July. At this time all of Singapore’s shopping centers and many independent stores slash prices by up to 80%. It pays to come early, though, as the biggest bargains are quickly snapped up by hawkeyed locals and zealous shoppers from around the region who flock to the island specially for the event.
Owned by the Shanghai-born art dealer and author Marjorie Chu, Art Forum is a beautiful contemporary art gallery with a focus on Southeast Asia. Paintings and sculptures from more than 150 local and international artists are on display within this restored, whitewashed terrace house, and Chu herself is a wonderful resource for learning about the region's evolving arts scene.
Given its somewhat hidden location on the second level of the aging and nondescript Bras Basah Complex, there's a good chance you'd miss this indie-minded boutique if you didn't know it was there; it's well worth seeking out. Low-res Lomography and 35mm cameras, stylish camera bags, vintage postcards and stationery, handbags from thhe Singaporean designers Uyii, and a small-but-thoughtful selection of books, music, and journals highlight the mix of goods here.
Head to Gajah Gallery to browse an eclectic collection of contemporary works from Vietnamese, Singaporean, Indonesian, and other regional artists.
Magnificent Persian carpets and rugs fill the Orientalist Carpet Gallery's large showroom. Custom-made carpets can be arranged, and you can learn more about the history of Persian carpets and how they're made by attending a "carpet appreciation" workshop.
This bi-level indie fashion boutique, run by a Singaporean couple and around the corner from the like-minded shops of Haji Lane, carries an eclectic selection of local and international labels. It's a great place to seriously upgrade your wardrobe's style factor, though be careful what you fall for—sticker shock is likely. Expect dashing designer clothing and sundry accessories, mostly for women.
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