Shopping on Orchard Road, Singapore: Singaporean brands and independent boutiques to check out

Orchard Road — which stretches across 2.2km — has been Singapore's most renowned shopping destination since the 1970s, and its malls stretch as far as the eye can see. The Little Red Dot's most fashionable street is chock-full of retail, dining and entertainment options, but, to the untrained eye, one might think that there were only major international brands to be found in this shopper's paradise. Where are the local brands and indie boutiques? Look no further, with our guide to the best of them along Orchard Road.

MANIFESTO

Manifesto founder Walid Zaazaa's French-Algerian heritage may be reflected in the custom-built decor of its Mandarin Gallery boutique (see image above), but Zaazaa's tastes in fashion, fragrance and homewares are geographically wide-ranging. Manifesto is the only Singaporean stockist of such blue-chip international brands as Lemaire and Mads Norgaard, an offers a directional range from the likes of Turkish label Les Benjamins, Uncles Beach Club from Japan, and more.

333A Orchard Rd, Mandarin Gallery #02-17, 6304 7948
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)

SURRENDER

If we had to sum up Surrender in two words for you, we would opt for: streetwear paradise. This locally-owned boutique sits at the vanguard of Singapore's retail scene, and a skim through any of its rails is guaranteed to result in the discovery of a designer you'd previously not heard of (but probably should have, although it's better late than never!).

268 Orchard Rd, #01-03, 6733 2130
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)

NAIISE

Are you familiar with the sensation of walking into a store, not needing anything, but then leaving with almost one of everything? That's Naiise for you. Stocked with a mind-boggling variety of locally-themed goodies, think of it as your one-stop shop for everything from homeware to stationery and clothing. It even sells a selection of snacks and condiments, perfect for introducing non-natives to the flavours of our nation's cuisine.

435 Orchard Road, Wisma Atria #03-24 to 29
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (11am to 10pm)

ACTUALLY

This Orchard Gateway multilabel/treasure trove trades in quirky names including Lazy Oaf, Dr Denim and environmentally-friendly accessories brand Freitag. Whether it's recycled tarp bags or Hello Kitty sweatshirts you're after, you'll probably find it at Actually (with the help of its impeccably-trained staff).

277 Orchard Road, #03-18 Orchard Gateway, 6735 3118
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9:30pm)

IN GOOD COMPANY

In Good Company's Ion Orchard boutique has become a haven for shoppers seeking minimalist-yet-striking wardrobe staples. Their sparsely decorated space (complete with play area for kids!) and widely-spaced racks sorted by colours makes it that much easier to zero in on the perfect piece. And that's not all; IGC shares its home with Plain Vanilla Bakery — we can taste the cupcakes already...

2 Orchard Turn, Ion Orchard #B1-06, 6509 4786
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (10am to 9.30pm)

OCD

Damir Doma, Rick Owens and Helmut Lang are just some of the polished-but-edgy brands stocked by this streetwear purveyor. A scroll through OCD's Instagram feed reveals appealingly retro, '90s leanings.

6 Scotts Rd, Scotts Square #01-04/05
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (11am to 9pm)

BEYOND THE VINES

Local brand Beyond The Vine's boutique is a multi-sensory experience. Soft pink interiors are enhanced by the brand's custom store scent and terrarium installations by local botanical artist Charles Loh, calming your desire as you browse their clean-cut basics.

333 Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery #02-21, 8157 0577 
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (10am to 9pm)

SOCIETYA

SocietyA specialises in Asia-based labels and designers of Asian descent, and is the prime destination for those curious about what the fashion scenes in nations including Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand have to offer.

391A Orchard Rd, Ngee Ann City #03-14A, 6331 4848
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (10am to 9:30pm)

TANGS

Legendary department store Tangs was the first of its kind on Orchard Road, and has a lengthy history of supporting local talent. Here, you'll find local names like Ginlee Studio, Elohim, and Aijek mixed with regional peers like Malaysian jeweller Wanderlust & Co.

310 Orchard Road, 6737 5500
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday (10.30am to 9.30pm) and Sunday (11.00am to 8.30pm)

DESIGN ORCHARD

The newly-launched Design Orchard aims to be a hub for up-and-coming Singaporean designers. Although some of their clothes and accessories are a smidge raw in comparison to their seasoned peers, they provide a fascinating — and heartening — insight into the local startup culture.

250 Orchard Rd
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday (10:30am-9:30pm)
Operating hours: Sunday to Thursday (11am to 10pm) and Friday to Saturday (12pm to 11pm)