Shopping is like the best kind of cardio – and Boutiques Singapore: The Gifting Edition is the main event I tell my family I’m training for all year. Luckily, you can break up your shopping spree over three days, and it’s perfectly timed to get plenty of Christmas present ideas and grab unique gifts all in one weekend. With the Boutique Fairs returning to the F1 Pit Building from 22 to 24 November, here’s a look at 10 new offerings to know about before you go!
#1 Choose to reuse
As delicious as Singapore’s takeaway options are, it always feels wrong at the end of the day when I have to throw out any single use plastics. This was the idea that led a Singapore-German husband-and-wife duo to create Kūpaa. In short, you can use your Kūpaa Bowl to store your takeaways. It’s reusable, health-conscious, collapsible, made with food-grade silicone, safe for hot food items, microwaveable, fine for the freezer and dishwasher-safe. It can also be purchased with a carrier – and at Boutiques they have a new pink bowl and carrier set that I’ll definitely be checking out!
So far, this product has kept an estimated 694,200 single-use plastic containers and bags out of landfill. What’s more, one percent of every purchase assists Handprint with cleanup projects in Bintan. This is one of the reasons why Kūpaa is a Boutiques Showcase Grant recipient – an initiative that seeks to support businesses for their original, creative and innovative work.
#2 Tasty Tipples
There’s an array of interesting beverages to shop at this year’s Boutiques. Does a blend of American sweet treats with the rich, smooth essence of fine Caribbean rum sound like the ideal afternoon refreshment? Then be sure to check out Razel’s Salted Caramel Rum, and the Peanut Butter, Choco Brownie and Banana Bread varieties too! How about a handcrafted pineapple drink from Big Kahuna Spirits that will make you wish you were on Waikiki beach? Try the Big Kahuna Gin, or opt for the non-alcoholic version, Big Kahuna 0.0.
#3 Make mine vanilla
What started as a family project in a Singapore backyard has now turned into the sustainable business Mireia Singapore Vanilla. In 2017, to support their children Zachary and Tokiyo’s curiosity for plants, Charles and his wife Juwita grew some vanilla. Now they run the only vanilla farm in Singapore! As a family business, their aim is to produce high-quality and sustainably sourced vanilla that is free from artificial additives and full of natural goodness. If you have a foodie or two in your life, check out this stall at Boutiques for these tasty and unique gifts from Singapore. Their products include vanilla beans, pure vanilla extract and a vanilla paste, each with a different vanilla flavour to suit your style of baking, cooking and infusing.
#4 Sustainable bags from Bali
After seeing the impact of trash pollution in Bali, Aggie Blanco went on a journey to figure out how to weave and crochet upcycled materials. Her brand Webeings connects with second-hand clothing traders, garment manufacturers and local trash-mongers collecting directly from beaches, rivers and fields in Bali. These items are then sanitised and processed in-house before female artisans weave it by hand into colourful bags. Since launching a year and a half ago, they have upcycled more than 28,000 plastic cups and the equivalent of 4,000 t-shirts. At Boutiques, you’ll find their redesigned collection with different handles, a new bag design and water bottle holders. Plus, all the products come with a polaroid of the weaver who made your item!
#5 Vinyl vibes
There’s a reason why records are still in demand: it’s because there’s nothing quite like curating a collection of your favourite artists and listening to them on vinyl. And they make great Christmas present ideas for any audiophiles and music lovers. Avant Culture Club is an eclectic, vinyl-focused independent record store for lovers of music and pop culture. At Boutiques, you can find some particularly interesting new records including Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department with a signed insert, a 20th anniversary repress of Radiohead’s OK Computer and Wong Kar Wai’s motion picture masterpiece Fallen Angels on a limited glow-in-the-dark edition (only 1,000 copies worldwide) – plus, many more from artists including Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX. ACC will also have a vinyl listening booth so you can soak up some tunes.
#6 Wake up and make-up
It can be overwhelming trying to understand which ingredients in makeup and skincare really matter, so I was interested to see a brand coming to Boutiques that takes an uncomplicated and transparent approach. ROMI Beauty was created by three women who have either suffered from sensitive skin that’s prone to rashes, are constantly travelling or are managing a busy life being a mum. They decided to create a fuss-free and multifunctional product with skincare benefits to suit them all. Their top-selling product is the Dream Skin Tint, a tinted moisturiser with SPF protection. At Boutiques, you can buy this in an exclusive set with their other best seller, the Our Glow Getter Treatment Mask.
#7 Double the fashion, double the fun
If you were to summarise the female-founded fashion brand Sette in two words, they would be dramatic and fun. Founder Monica Millington is a Dallas-born designer and she’ll have two collections at Boutiques. One is inspired by the English countryside and the style of Princess Di, and the other includes a range of pyjama sets with an ode to Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel. And you have the option to coordinate these outfits with your little ones! These pieces are created in small batches with ethical craftsmanship in Bali. They’re made with biodegradable fabrics, and trees are planted with the sale of every garment.
#8 Dress like it’s summer in Europe
Founded by two Greek women, Kióhne takes the beachy vibe of the Mediterranean and infuses it into elegant fashion designs. If you’re like me and on the hunt for something serving up a European summer feel, these lightweight pieces – created around the notion that less is more – are exactly that. And with Greece as the inspiration, of course the founders have also created a swimwear line that not only provides UV protection but is quick-drying. At Boutiques, you can also have a first look at their new ocean-themed sterling silver and gold-plated earrings. These are made in Greece and are lovely Christmas present ideas for that special someone.
#9 Fun meets kidsʼ fashion
Kids love wearing things that are fun and colourful and that they can customise. I remember my younger brother obsessing over the Jibbitz on his Crocs when he was little. If he’d seen the clothing line by Runrascals, he would have asked for plenty of their shirts at Christmas! Created by father-of-two John Teng, the brand’s signature item is called a Sticky Tee and is one of the most unique gifts from Singapore at the fair. It has a faux pocket designed to hold interchangeable patches that can be stuck on, repositioned or swapped easily. The shirts are comfortable and made from sustainable bamboo, organic cotton and spandex with a nylon pocket. And the patches range from empowering quotes to unicorns, ice cream and more fun ideas kids love.
#10 Big stories for little people
Books are a gateway to helping kids see the world in a different light and use their imagination. And that’s what independent publisher Cinnamon Art Stories facilitates through its picture books that specialise in stories about culture, sustainability and technology. These colourful books for kids also gently touch on the themes of friendship, family, courage and suffering. For example, the Exploring Art collection delves into the life of artists David Hockney, Wu Guanzhong, Louise Bourgeois, Nam June Paik, Gustav Klimt and Piet Mondrian. Other topics include musical instruments and kopitiam culture. There’s also the Digital Natives series, which breaks down the idea of blockchain, cryptocurrency and NFTs.
Searching for Christmas present ideas suited to youngsters asking about what’s on the news? At Boutiques, Cinnamon Art Stories is releasing its new book The Donkey Who Carried the War on Her Back. This story is about conflict in Gaza City, life, friendship, resilience and hope from a donkey’s perspective – one of the unsung war heroes.
The Boutique Fairs Singapore Gifting Edition
Boutique Fairs is one of Southeast Asia’s most anticipated shopping events. This November, there’s a whopping 300 brands and designers, including 80 new ones and 200 exclusive launches spread across two floors. Boutique Fairs has also partnered with DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) to showcase three local brands: Studio Kallang, I Am Not David Lee, and Studio Gin&G. You’ll find loads of unique gifts from Singapore and beyond, from women’s and men’s fashion, home décor and art to lifestyle products, things for kids and food and drinks.
The details
When: Friday 22 November and Saturday 23 November, 10am to 8pm and Sunday 24 November, 10am to 6pm.
Where: Boutiques is located at the F1 Pit Building. There’s a free shuttle bus service to and from Millenia Walk throughout the event.
Tickets: On a single $6 ticket, you can enjoy unlimited entry to all three days. Children under 12 enter for free. Each ticket includes one complimentary goodie to redeem, while stocks last. Grab your tickets from Boutique Fairs here!
Website: Find out more about the fair here.
Tips from a shopaholic
- Go for a lap first to see what catches your eye. A revisit can help you decide if it’s right!
- Stay refreshed by taking breaks. There’s coffee in every room and cafés on level 3 where you can sit, refuel and also catch up with friends.
- If you’ve brought kids along, either use your three days or the shuttle for a break. It’s likely youngsters will get a bit wriggly after a while, so take the shuttle into town for a bite to eat before you go back for more shopping. Alternatively, this is a great opportunity to get some Christmas present ideas by watching your friends and family. Then come back the next day to grab the items that caught their eye!
- If it’s love at first sight, don’t wait and regret you never bought it! Make it love at first purchase.
Find out more Boutique Fairs and the brands behind these Christmas present ideas and unique gifts from Singapore here!
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