Saying goodbye to people at work or friends who have become like our family in Singapore is never easy but giving them a lovely memento or unique gifts from Singapore can soften the blow – for them, at least! Here are some gorgeous farewell gift ideas for colleagues or friends to help you bid them adieu.
Glam goodbye presents
Local brand Forbidden Hill creates stunning jewellery and home accessories that are perfect for gifting. Known for its customisable jewellery inspired by Southeast Asia, the brand pairs precious metals with interchangeable elements like silk and gemstones. With 30 silk colours to choose from, its range of bangles – including the Peranakan Grace and Iskandar – can be easily styled with your friend’s other favourites. Similarly, the gemstone earrings, such as the Jalan Besar, can be customised with a dazzling selection of stones, including moonstones, rubies and emeralds.
The brand also has a striking range of illustrated lacquerware in eye-catching colours. Drawing from the rich cultural tapestry of Southeast Asia, these distinctive collections make stylish farewell gifts with special meaning for friends leaving Singapore.
All Forbidden Hill collections are designed in Singapore and then brought to life by the brand’s production partners in Southeast Asia. Each piece also comes gift-ready in a beautiful green box.
Hand-painted farewell gift ideas
Bid farewell with a lasting impression! For those departing Singapore, capture cherished memories with By Fable’s exquisite ink illustration prints that offer a minimalist yet elegant portrayal of Singapore’s iconic landmarks.
These tasteful and unique artworks make wonderful farewell gifts for yourself, colleagues and friends as they beautifully distil the essence of the lion city. With their neutral aesthetic, they’ll go with any décor style, elevating any space. They’ll also act as a permanent reminder of your Singaporean adventure, wherever your journeys may lead.
Available unframed or framed at Badger & Fox, #02 -151 Tanglin Mall.
9724 9720 | badgerandfoxsingapore.com
Colourful farewell gifts for colleagues
Karenmade is an independent Singapore company founded by local photographer Karen J Fernandez. She has created a colourful collection of well-made and wallet- friendly Singapore-inspired farewell gifts for colleagues and friends. It all began when her search for keepsakes for friends visiting from abroad seemed to be limited to either the very tacky or the very expensive. Armed with her camera, Karen took her own photographs of Singapore and turned them into coasters and desk calendars. When her friends repeatedly asked where to buy them for their own loved ones, she started Karenmade.
Every product is created to encapsulate Singapore’s energy and rich heritage of culture and traditions. You’ll find gorgeous fine art photographic prints and canvases, umbrellas, reusable tote bags, cushion covers, notebooks, greeting cards and coasters. They’re all based on Karen’s colourful and eclectic collection of photographs which are also featured in her 72-page coffee table book, Singapore. My ABC of Favourite Things, which you just might want to purchase for yourself!
Unique gifts from Singapore
Lou Lauwerys makes limited-edition linocuts of flowers, palms and foliage. The design is cut into a traditional linoleum or rubber block, before rolling ink across the surface, all are individually is original and printed by hand on to cotton rag paper.
These are perfect for leaving presents and a lovely reminder of Singapore.
A Raft of Otters is at #03-102 Tanglin Mall.
8125 5725 | araftofotters.com
Farewell gifts of Singapore
The iconic Peranakan teapot on this Talking Textiles tea towel from Silk Walk is a quirky leaving gift. The Chinese characters are for herbal tea or cooling tea (凉茶, liang cha) when your friends use it they’ll always think of Singapore, and you!
Talking textiles also have some amazing artwork at Silk Walk for your home here, or as a leaving gift.
#03-101 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road
9230 1802 | silkwalk.com
Unique gifts from Singapore
These handpainted Peranakan ceramic tiles celebrate the love, joy and heritage of tea culture. The “Double Happiness” symbol in Chinese is great to have in your home too, wherever it is. There’s a big array of colours and stiles at Silk Walk in Tanglin Mall.
#03-101 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road
9230 1802 | silkwalk.com
Fun farewell gifts for colleagues
Get the party started with this Singapore bottle stopper designed by Lemongrass & Aubergine at Cluny Court. It’s a great farewell gift and conversation starter for any gathering! Available in four unique designs, each inspired by the Lion City, they’re crafted from durable materials to keep the fun and memories flowing long after the farewell party ends.
Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road
clunycourt.com
Memories in a candle
Looking for farewell gift ideas? Why not treat your colleagues or leaving friends to the soothing ambience created by Temple Candles, available at Sentosa boutique Cove Collection. It offers a range of delightful fragrances all inspired by Singapore, Southeast Asia and beyond. From silver travel candles to elegant diffusers, they’re all made locally in Singapore in elegant designs that are sure to evoke cherished memories.
Cove Collection, 2/F, W Singapore Hotel – Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way
covecollectionsg@gmail.com | IG @cove_collectionsg
Singapore-inspired décor and farewell gifts
Discover The Emporium Home, also at Cove Collection, with its colourful home décor and accessories. Specifically, each of its Singapore story prints pays tribute to something uniquely Singaporean. “They include Png Kuehs (Teochew rice cakes), Kasut Maneks (Peranakan beaded slippers), tuck shops, childhood games and the latest: paper planes origami! Another must-have series of our prints features Katong (my neighbourhood), Joo Chiat shophouses and HDB flats. They bring to mind picturesque scenescapes of our favourite neighbourhoods,” says founder Sylvia Lim.
Cove Collection, 2/F, W Singapore Hotel – Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way
covecollectionsg@gmail.com | IG @cove_collectionsg
Papercut unique gifts from Singapore
Looking for unique gifts in Singapore with that personal touch? The artist behind Dami, Beatrice Ng, crafts bespoke papercut artworks. Customers commission Beatrice to create an outline of a memorable Singapore sight and she can then papercut names or a meaningful quote into the scene.
Beatrice has always been fascinated with the older buildings of Singapore, and she felt that papercut was an unusual and uncommon technique here. She’s happy to work from photographs for these goodbye presents, and prices are according to size. (Prices also include the frame and delivery within Singapore.) An A5 piece is $45, A4 $75 and A3 $135.
damibybeatriceng@gmail.com | Dami Papercut
Cushion the blow!
Farewell gifts don’t have to cost a fortune! This plush velvet Lah cushion is just one of a larger collection of cushion covers from quirky Singapore-based design studio wheniwasfour. Other fun farewell gift ideas include Lor, Sia and Meh Meh covers. There’s also plenty of other pieces that combine functionality with a unique Singapore memorabilia-style that also make great leaving gifts.
hi@wheniwasfour.com | When I was Four
Eco-friendly farewell gifts for colleagues
These eco-friendly lunch boxes with a dash of local Singapore flavour make great kids’ leaving gifts. Not only do they look great but they’re reasonably priced. They’re also small and light (not much packing space needed!), dishwasher-safe and BPA-free.
This is just one of many Singapore-inspired pieces available at The Art Faculty, a social enterprise started by the Autism Resource Centre as a platform to celebrate the abilities of people with autism and related challenges. It’s the perfect spot to go shopping for farewell gift ideas. The range of products includes artwork and merchandise by talented students and alumni of Pathlight School, the first autism-focused school in Singapore. For every sale of artwork and products, the artists earn royalties and learn the value of work and financial independence.
Farewell gifts for colleagues or friends
Make it a little easier to say goodbye with one of these iconic ice buckets from Singapore Trading Post. (Filling it with bottles for your friends is optional!) The Singapore palm logo makes these a popular memento – a reminder of happy times in the tropics. Ranging from small to large sizes, the vessels can cater for intimate dinners and also larger soirees.
The silver tarnishes over time, giving it that vintage look. One great farewell gift idea, in particular, is the large gold-finish ice bucket. It can fit up to nine bottles in it. Perfect for sociable friends who love entertaining!
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