If you’re clothes shopping in Singapore, there’s an expanding pool of super talented expat and local fashion brands and designers who are creating beautiful, versatile and practical pieces. From chic fashion to cool jewellery, here are seven local brands and fashion designers in Singapore we love!
Juliette C
This French women’s fashion and jewellery brand launched in Singapore in 2016, and has an effortlessly chic collection featuring the unlikely blend of glamour and rock as part of a free-spirited Parisian allure. If you’re clothes shopping in Singapore for assorted pieces, you can express your multifaceted personality with Juliette C.
French fashion designer Juliette’s creations are sleek and always adorned with feminine details. These are elegant items that are easy to wear anywhere. Stylish signature pieces include the Bomber jacket, along with the jumpsuits and lace numbers.
Inspired by women and nature, this local brand in Singapore is centred on timeless and conscious pieces, created to resist passing fads. So you don’t have to worry about getting out of fashion. Juliette also travels the world in search of additional inspirations, which means her pieces are ever-changing. Each season offers new prints exclusive to the label. And you can also be sure that they keep to ethical and responsible commitments.
The brand currently has boutiques in Shanghai and Singapore’s Tanglin Mall. There, you’ll find the brand’s full range of French-chic clothing and accessories, from jewellery to candles and sandals. There is also a range of finely curated French brands offering handbags, shoes, lingerie and more, so you’ll be spoilt for choice!
#02-146 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Rd
juliettec.com | IG @juliettecofficial & @juliettefromparistotheworld
Forbidden Hill
Bringing together style and versatility, Forbidden Hill artfully blends its chic modern Asian aesthetic with the thrill of customisation in its distinctive jewellery collections. From its popular Silk Bangles and Silk Cuffs to its recently added Silk Earrings and Silk Pendants, there is untold pleasure in styling these pieces with an array of gorgeous silk colours to match your outfit.
The collections range from understated pieces such as the Lotus Silk Pendant, to statement pieces such as the Orchid Garden Earrings, customisable with interchangeable gems.
Behind this local jewellery brand in Singapore are husband-and-wife team David and Ruth. They were inspired by Ruth’s multicultural Straits ancestry to create Forbidden Hill. Their jewellery and homeware accessories draw design cues from the rich tapestry of Southeast Asian cultures and are made by carefully selected, family-owned production partners in the region.
23 Bukit Pasoh Road, Level 2 (Open for walk-in on weekday afternoons, by appointment other times)
WhatsApp 6909 5160 | forbiddenhill.com | IG @forbiddenhill
Lustre Jewellery
Self-taught jewellery designer Anaita Thakkar launched Lustre Jewellery in 2014 and it has quickly gained a loyal following among Singapore’s expats and locals alike. Collection after collection features bold, distinctive artisanal jewellery in limited pieces, crafted in fine materials and all natural gemstones. Each one draws inspiration from far and wide and complements the multifaceted roles that today’s modern women embody.
Case in point? The jewellery brand’s latest jewellery collection, Secret Passages, inspired by the free-spirited designer’s recent trip to Rome. There, high up on Aventine Hill, is the famous tiny keyhole that perfectly frames the dome of St Peter’s Basilica. Despite Anaita’s many visits, this enchanting keyhole never fails to offer a fresh perspective.
The Secret Passages collection is a tribute to this charming architectural detail. Combining a sense of mystery, beauty of geometrical shapes, as well as a lifelong love for doors, floors and patterns, each piece reflects the elegance and intricacy of this historic spot. You’ll find delicate cuff bangles, chokers, rings and earrings crafted in quality brass and accented with keyhole-inspired details and beautiful gemstones. With it, you’ll get to carry a piece of Rome with you wherever you go.
235 Arcadia Road (by appointment only)
9366 9755 | shoplustre.com | IG @shoplustre
Jasper Living
Behind local fashion brand Jasper Living is Danish expat Louise Jasper, who designs and creates the brand’s one-of-a-kind garments that have stolen the hearts of many in Singapore. Louise has a background as a textile and fashion buyer in Copenhagen. Upon moving to Singapore in 2011 (where she lives with husband Kristian and children Mie, 16, and Konrad, 12), she was immediately taken by the city’s multicultural environment. Just a year later, Louise launched her first Jasper Living collection, inspired by the Arabian keffiyeh scarf.
The collection became a favourite among expats in Singapore. Since 2013, the JL collection has expanded into lots of new designs for clothes shopping in Singapore. The beloved Kerry Ann and Joan dresses remain staples, always available in fresh prints and colours.
In 2017, the Army jacket was born. Louise was missing a khaki green jacket in her wardrobe, found a vintage one online and added some fun sparkling patches. And the Army jacket became (and still is) a darling of the JL collection. “I love to customise the jackets for customers, and I have never made two of the same in the last seven years! That’s the whole idea behind your own personal jacket,” says the Louise.
With a focus on sustainability, all Jasper Living garments are limited editions. Louise also works exclusively with leftover or “dead” fabrics from bigger fashion companies to avoid printing and fabric waste. She has also worked with the same two suppliers in India for 18 years. Find this local fashion brand in Singapore at Tanglin Mall’s Badger & Fox, Joo Chiat Road’s Latienda (from mid-August) and online.
byjasperliving.com | IG @ jasper_living
White Ginger
White Ginger by Emma Femminile has been an expat favourite for clothes shopping in Singapore for many years. And while easy-to-wear feminine pieces are at the heart of the collection, this local fashion brand in Singapore is now a treasure trove of gifts, homeware and accessories too.
Having relocated to the UK in 2017 and opened a store there, Emma continues to design styles and prints which are then produced in Bali. She says that supporting Indonesian communities has never been more important to White Ginger. Each purchase helps to improve livelihoods through charitable initiatives.
Bright, cheerful patterns have been at the forefront of recent collections. “Brighter colours can elicit a more positive mood, so we have focused on cheerful shades,” says Emma, who especially loves blue. “Blue is fresh and timeless and lifts all skin tones!” Visit the flagship store in Tanglin Mall and you can also go to the website to check out the latest styles.
#03-103 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road
9093 0093 | white-ginger.com | IG @whitegingersingapore
Embrace Jewellery
Designed with love in Singapore, Embrace Jewellery’s new collections aim to capture the essence of Asian culture. Their Zen Garden collection reflects nature’s serene beauty, while the Singapore Story collection, a collaboration with YeoMama Batik, features playful pieces that embody the vibrant spirit of the Lion City. The Modern Jade Luxe collection, infused with Asian elegance, showcases solid gold pieces with grade A Burmese Jade, perfect as treasured heirlooms.
For the past 16 years, this homegrown jewellery brand has been a go-to for gifts and treasures. It offers a diverse range of styles, from understated everyday pieces to stunning modern heirlooms.
According to the Embrace Jewellery team, what sets it apart is a commitment to accessibility and affordability, without compromising on quality. Besides curating collections from top designers worldwide, they collaborate with trusted manufacturers and skilled artisans to ensure every piece inspires and captivates while still being affordable. Discover these collections online and in all Embrace Jewellery stores.
• #02-103 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road
• #02-40 One Holland Village, 7 Holland Village Way
embracejewellery.com
Maison Wu
At this Singapore fashion brand founded by sisters Liz and Dom Goh, less is definitely more. With a focus on relaxed tailoring, quality fabrics and flattering silhouettes, Maison Wu’s curated collection is compact yet incredibly versatile, offering all the timeless staples a modern woman needs to see her through occasions to come.
Inspired by the ‘French capsule wardrobe’, the fashion designers’ pieces are all about understated sophistication, with feminine charm blended with a touch of masculinity. Take the signature button-down shirts and effortlessly chic shirt dresses that can easily take you from day to night, for example. For laid-back days, pair the polished basic t-shirt with the mid-high-waisted, straight-leg jeans in luxurious Japanese denim. Heading to a dressed-up affair? We love the midi-length pleated skirt, which elongates your frame and flatters all body shapes.
You’ll find thoughtful details like genuine shell and mother-of-pearl buttons, and close seam stitching to keep each piece looking sturdy for years. Ensuring that the clothes are not only unique but sustainable, the sisters personally handpick the high-quality, end-of-roll fabrics they use in their pieces that would otherwise go to waste. Not to mention, each piece from these Singapore fashion designers is produced in limited quantities with no reproductions. Shop these clothes in Singapore on Maison Wu’s website.
maisonwu.com | customerservice@maisonwu.com
For more features on fashion designers, jewellery brands and clothes shopping in Singapore, see our Style section.
This article on fashion designers and local brands in Singapore first appeared in the August 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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