5 Quirky Local Must-Buys At The New Design Orchard To Gift This GSS

GSS promos at Design Orchard

Image adapted from: @axdelwen, @wetteeshirt

It’s safe to say that local designer brands are no longer on the sidelines. After all, there’s an entire space dedicated to home-grown brands at the modern fashion, lifestyle and arts hub Design Orchard.

If you’re looking for some quirky keepsakes, or if you’re buying gifts for visitors to bring back a unique piece of Singapore with them, head to Design Orchard this GSS and check out these 5 items that’ll surely spark conversations:

1. Old Seng Choong’s cookies in local flavours like Mala and Bak Kut Teh

Mala cookies ($19.80)
Image credit: @oldsengchoong

If there’s one thing we’re unabashedly proud of here in Singapore, it’s our food. Let’s face it: foodie trends like mala and salted egg yolk are here to stay. And now you can get them in cookie form at Old Seng Choong. It’ll be a good time to try these different flavours too, as all cookies are going for 15% off!

Bak Kut Teh cookies ($19.80)
Image credit: @oldsengchoong

You’ll find an array of savoury cookies in flavours that take on some of Singapore’s most famous dishes, from Satay ($18.80) to Laksa ($18.80) and Smokey Bakwa ($19.80) which takes on a twist of chicken flavour rather than the usual pork. Those who prefer cookies to be traditionally sweet can try their take on Goreng Pisang ($18.80) and Gula Melaka ($18.80).

2. Wet Tee Shirt’s “Prata Kosong” tee

Image credit: @axdelwen

At first glance, you may think you’re looking at a tee that’s branded with one of the world’s most famous luxury brands. But take a closer look and you’ll realise you’ve been trolled with the words, “Prata Kosong.”

A branded tee for Ban Mian lovers
Image credit: @wetteeshirt

Wet Tee Shirt didn’t make a lucky typo, of course. Their inventory is full of meme and parody shirts (from $33), tote bags, and even some outfits for the kiddos. You’ll find a bunch of designs that have their own spin on popular brands, local slang, and army memes, to name a few.

Be sure to pick up some of these limited edition tees while they’re in stock, as they’ll be going for up to 15% off this GSS season. Look out for a gold version of the Prata Kosong tee ($48.15), that’s exclusively sold at Design Orchard.

3. Singapore Memories locally-inspired scents

Orchids by the Bay (from $28)
Image credit: @singaporememories

Singapore’s local sights and sounds are pretty unique us, but it’s not often we give a thought about the smell of Singapore.

Enter Singapore Memories, which has a range of perfumes (from $28) inspired by all things Singaporean like Orchids by the Bay, a fresh, feminine fragrance that takes the national flower centre stage. There’s also the unisex Peranakan Oud which softens the deep, woody scents of oud with tonka bean, praline and green tobacco.

This room serum emulates the smell of amber from mahjong tiles and antique wood from the table
Image credit: @singaporememories

Get a whiff of what local attractions would smell like with their 50ml room fragrances. They have scents like Sentosa Breeze ($45) which emulates the feeling of the salty ocean breeze with a hint of floral notes. Not to mention, scents that take a spin on what Botanical Gardens, Singapore Sling cocktails and Mahjong would smell like.

All 100ml EDTs usually go for $148, and you’ll be able to get them at 50% off during the sale.

4. Pew Pew Patches’ flaming Merlion on a skateboard

Cool Merlion ($7.90)
Image credit: Pew Pew Patches

If there’s one way to amp up the famous Merlion statue, it’s definitely by having it spew flames while riding a skateboard. Pew Pew Patches has a tonne of these adorable patches, and its Singapore collection follows suit with options like a Milo Dinosaur ($7.90), an Ah Meng Orangutan ($7.90) and an array of fighter jets (all $7.90).

Image credit: @pewpewpatches

It doesn’t end there – you can find lots of gems among their collections, from robots and doggos to desserts and flowers. They’ve got sticker patches for your notebooks and phone cases, as well as iron-on patches which can go on your denim, shoes, hats and bags.

5. PERA Skincare’s Bedak Sejuk Fusion Mask

Image credit: @peraskincare

In case you didn’t know, bedak sejuk was traditionally used in Malay and Peranakan communities to promote healthy skin by reducing oiliness, and producing smooth skin. A form of cooling talcum powder made of rice starch, it traditionally forms a thick white paste that’s used as a mask.

PERA Skincare, however, has modernised this kampung beauty secret in its Bedak Sejuk Fusion Mask (Dual Jar) ($148), and it now comes in a peel-off gel form. The formula has natural whitening properties and prevents pimples and clogged pores.

With 15% off PERA Skincare products, try bedak sejuk for a non-chemical skin treatment that our grandmas would’ve easily sworn by.

Design Orchard’s home-grown brands

Featuring over 60 local brands, Design Orchard has no shortage of locally-inspired fashion, lifestyle, beauty and food items to browse through. As GSS is right around the corner, head over for discounts on your favourite home-grown designer items.

Be sure to look out for Design Orchard’s many ever-changing themes, events and workshops run by local designers and artists throughout the year. Look out for quirky finds within, so you can be sure you’ll walk away with something unique this season.