By SGN | 30 Nov 2020
The year-end period is a meaningful time to reconnect with our family and loved ones – and this year is no different even as we remain at ground zero. Whether it is having a virtual get together or sending secret Santa presents halfway across the globe, there’s nothing that will stop us from spreading some Christmas joy!
This year, we’ve handpicked products from homegrown, Singaporean brands in the spirit of supporting local. Whether you’re based in Singapore or overseas, be sure to check out this list for ideas on how you can pack the perfect present!
For Him, For Her, For the Fam
By Invite Only is a local jewellery brand started in 2009 by its founder, Trixie Khong. We love how each of their individually designed pieces are the perfect, precious gift for the ladies. Our picks from them are: the Initial Cubic Necklace for a touch of personality, the elegant Hailey Opal Earrings which comes in rose gold, gold and silver, and their Malachite collection which comes as a necklace, bracelet and earring huggies!
P.S. Malachite is a healing crystal known to have properties that absorb negative energies and pollutants and opens the heart to unconditional love!
The Mindful Company creates jewellery through ethical practices, production and is committed to social and environmental responsibility. Check out their Silver Begin Again in Sage bracelet that is in a pretty, pastel shade of sage green for a unisex gift option!
Faculty is a menswear brand founded in 2015 by President’s Design Award 2014 winner, Larry Peh, together with Singapore artist-turned-entrepreneur Lyn She. The brand was conceived and designed with a functional and refined approach.
Lyn, who is stationed in Shanghai since 2008, shares: “We want to produce clothing that men are comfortable in, and products that reflect a sense of style, intelligence and sophistication. Working only with the best manufacturers and tailors, Faculty has been designed to co-exist with any style or wardrobe, a busy yet functional wardrobe that is for majority. This fits into Singapore’s fast paced metropolitan city and any intelligent man.”
“Singapore is a well-connected city to the world,” Lyn adds. “Looking beyond Singapore market is a decision come easy with online buying as a new trend in recent years, there is no reason just to market a brand within Singapore.”
Our picks are the Deepest Drives 02 T-Shirt and the BUAISOU. × Faculty Inked Deep Indigo Bag – the perfect addition to any style or functional wardrobe of the metropolitan man.
Read more about local sustainable brands who have ventured beyond our shores here.
Leave it to local brand Beyond The Vines to reimagine the iconic green and red hues of Christmas as a perfectly chic and versatile Reversible Relaxed Bag. If your secret Santee is obsessed with the 90s-fashion (like we are), check out their statement, colour block Mini Crunch Carrier series!
Oo La Lab is a Singaporean brand with a growing presence in the Middle East! This fragrance brand sports a unique Asian flavour that plays on our “instinctual and emotional reaction to scents”, says Founder and CEO Dan Terry. If you’re located in Singapore or Dubai, check out their craft fragrance workshops to create your own unique blend!
Terry, who’s been in the industry for over a decade, realised that the brands he’s worked with typically had very little fragrance knowledge. “It’s a very human thing to smell,” he says, “there was an instinctual and emotional reaction to scents as a whole”. This realisation inspired Terry to create a community-orientated platform where anyone could learn more about fragrances, how they are made, and how they could make their very own fragrance.
Not in town for the fun? No worries – you can now draft your own fragrance with their Fragrance Mixology Kit (you can watch Terry unbox it here) or experiment with their 7-fragrance Layering Kit!
Janice Wong is the dessert genius behind 2am: dessertbar and the Janice Wong official shop where she carefully curates her indulgent goodies to enjoy at home. If you’re out on the hunt for a gift for the Singapore-based fam, you must check this out:
The Christmas Mini Hamper is a great option for the family and includes cookies, chocolate and a mini bottle of wine. For a luxe option, go with the Chocolate Gem Christmas Flower Hamper that comes with 14 gemstone chocolates in a glass box. If you’re sending a gift for the little ones, our pick is the Art Jam Mini Hamper which comes complete with edible chocolate crayons and paint!
Beat the Hustle Life with These Self-Care Gifts
Rooki Beauty is a Singapore-based, ingredients-focused skincare brand that are one of the few with a blend that uses uniquely South East Asian products like starfruit, centella, seaweed and rice. Being in Singapore, Rooki tells us, has been a great litmus test for their brand as Singaporean consumers are highly discerning and knowledgeable of the products they use!
Founder Hayley Teo said: “Singapore is a great litmus test for a beauty brand. Singaporean consumers are cosmopolitan, discerning and highly knowledgeable – which means that if your brand succeeds in Singapore, it is likely to succeed anywhere. The reception to Rooki Beauty has been wonderful and this is what gave us the courage to expand into indie beauty stores overseas.”
Our picks from them to pamper the city-folk are the Sleep Heroes Set which recovers tired skin during a night’s rest, and the bestselling Superfood Starter Kit which helps to rest, recharge and replenish persistently dull skin!
How do you know that OASIS: is a truly Singaporean brand? The fact that they make all their products right out of their production space and warehouse called Beauty Kitchen, located in Lavender Street! They are also partnered with many other local brands – such as a local chocolatier to co-create cocoa butter self-care products made with the same cocoa butter used in the chocolate bonbons.
“OASIS: started as an e-commerce company selling only online and we did a lot of pop-up markets to allow people to try out our products. Today, Beauty Kitchen also operates as our retail store, and we have a stockist in Brunei,” shares Founder Hildra Gwee. “Our retail concept exists not just to allow people to test our products, but also allows for full transparency on how we make the products. We welcome customers to watch the making process to better understand what goes into the products!”
If you’re picking a gift for a plant-based loved one, we highly recommend going for the Vegan Beauty Starter Kit, which comes in a few varieties to cater to each skin type. For those in dire need to kick back and relax, go for the OASIS: X Baliza Self-care Staycay Set!
Pressies That Pack A Little Nostalgia of Home
Onlewo is a homegrown brand that features designs inspired by art, heritage, places, and the culture of Singapore, as well as the founder’s experience growing up here. “Our goal is to connect our community through a shared identity as Singaporeans as we believe that this is important in guiding us forward,” says Co-founder Mike Tay.
Mike was self-taught in design and studied from graphic and textile design brands, and founded his own Singapore stories to create these one-of-a-kind patterns. Like Lyn, he says “Singapore is very connected with the rest of the world, making it a great place to start a business. We have not ventured into overseas market yet, but it is in our future plan.”
Our favourite picks are the ONLEWO Suede Notebook that features designs from the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, the Peranakan Heritage gift set that comes complete with a table runner, plates and Kueh tile fabric coasters, and the Glorious Nyonya Print that will surely brighten up home away from home with a little nostalgia.
The year-end period is a meaningful time to reconnect with our family and loved ones – and this year is no different even as we remain at ground zero. Whether it is having a virtual get together or sending secret Santa presents halfway across the globe, there’s nothing that will stop us from spreading some Christmas joy!
This year, we’ve handpicked products from homegrown, Singaporean brands in the spirit of supporting local. Whether you’re based in Singapore or overseas, be sure to check out this list for ideas on how you can pack the perfect present!
As you think about getting presents for the people you cherish, especially those who may not be in town with us, We know some of you may miss home, or the ones you cherish could be many miles away, so as you go gift shopping this year, we hope you can remind them of Singapore with a little token