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Singapore - Kampong Glam - Haji Lane

Photo: Rainer Halama, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

Shopping

Local Brand & Boutique Guides

Support local: Singapore-made fashion, homeware and design, and the neighbourhoods to find them.

Looking for local brands in Singapore? This page covers Singapore-made fashion, jewellery, homeware and design, plus the neighbourhoods where small shops cluster. Any guides on the topic appear in the list below. Under the list, our full guide explains what to buy and where to find it.

Plan it with EatStays: Kampong Glam & Haji Lane.

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Shopping for local brands in Singapore

Shopping for local brands in Singapore is a good way to take home something you will not find elsewhere. Small labels make clothes for the hot climate, plus jewellery, prints, stationery, skincare and homeware. Many designs draw on local life, from shophouse fronts to hawker food. Buying from them also supports small businesses.

Some Singapore brands have grown into well-known names. Charles & Keith, the shoe and bag label, started in Singapore and now has stores in many countries. Love, Bonito is a Singapore womenswear brand with stores in local malls. TANGS, a long-running local department store on Orchard Road, is another good place to look.

Where to find local brands and boutiques

Kampong Glam and Haji Lane

Kampong Glam & Haji Lane is the best-known area for independent shops. Haji Lane is a narrow street of colourful shophouses with small fashion boutiques, street art and cafés. A shophouse is a narrow terrace building with a shop below and rooms above. Nearby Arab Street is known for fabrics, carpets and perfume shops. The golden dome of Sultan Mosque rises close by. If you visit the mosque, dress modestly and respect prayer times. See our Kampong Glam & Bugis topic.

Tiong Bahru

The Tiong Bahru Estate is a quiet area of low-rise Art Deco flats. Small independent shops and cafés sit on the ground floors. Start with breakfast at Tiong Bahru Bakery, a café in the area. Then follow Tiong Bahru Heritage Walk: A Self-Guided Route and browse as you go.

Katong and Joo Chiat

This eastern area is closely linked to Peranakan culture, which blends Chinese and Malay influences. Look for beaded slippers, embroidered kebaya blouses and patterned tiles. Walk past the colourful Koon Seng Road Shophouses. Then stop at Kim Choo Kueh Chang, a Peranakan spot in Katong. See our Katong & Joo Chiat topic.

Little India and Chinatown

These areas are better for traditional goods than new labels. In Little India, shops sell saris, gold jewellery, brassware and spices. Read Little India Arcade Guide: Shops, Snacks and Henna. In Chinatown, look for tea, ceramics and traditional Chinese medicine shops.

Museum shops and pop-up markets

Museum gift shops often stock local books, prints and design pieces. Try the shops at the Peranakan Museum and National Gallery Singapore. Some malls also host weekend pop-up markets for local makers.

What to buy from local makers

  • Clothing for the heat. Light linen and cotton pieces made for tropical weather.
  • Jewellery. Small studios make silver and gold pieces. Some take ideas from orchids, Singapore's national flower.
  • Prints and stationery. Illustrations of shophouses, hawker food and street scenes.
  • Peranakan pieces. Beaded slippers, kebaya and tiles in bright colours and patterns.
  • Food gifts. Local tea, coffee and kaya, a sweet coconut jam. See Souvenirs & Gifts.

Tips for shopping at independent boutiques

  • Check opening days. Many small shops open late in the morning, and some close one day a week.
  • Prices are fixed. Bargaining is not expected in boutiques.
  • Payment. Most shops take cards and mobile payment, but carry a little cash.
  • Ask about the maker. Staff are often happy to share the story behind a design.
  • Tax refunds. Small shops may not be in the Tourist Refund Scheme, so ask before you pay. See Tax-Free Shopping.
  • Timing. Haji Lane is busiest at weekends and in the evening. A weekday afternoon is quieter.

To stay close to the boutiques, browse Hotels in Bugis & Kampong Glam or Hotels in Katong & Joo Chiat.

FAQs about local brands in Singapore

What are some well-known Singapore brands?

Charles & Keith (shoes and bags) and Love, Bonito (womenswear) both began in Singapore. For food gifts, TWG Tea and Bengawan Solo, a cake and kueh shop, are popular. Kueh are small traditional cakes.

Where can I find indie boutiques in Singapore?

Haji Lane in Kampong Glam is the best-known spot. Tiong Bahru and Katong are quieter areas with independent shops.

Can I bargain in local boutiques?

No. Prices are fixed, as in most Singapore shops. Questions about the products are always welcome, though.

Are local brands more expensive?

Small-batch goods can cost more than mass-market brands. You pay for local design and small production runs.