5 Best Places to Shop in Singapore

Kevin Seah
He was only 17 when he started to sew, and today is possibly the foremost designer for bespoke men's suits in Singapore. He prefers English fabrics in his swatch books rather than the typical Italian and stocks a fun Japa&shynese brand of specta&shycles as well as Gaziano & Girling shoes. With hand-sewn seams and mother of pearl buttons on shirtfronts, your suit will be ready in three months or four, so you will need the luxury of a second vacation to collect. From S$4,000 for a suit, S$350 a shirt,55C Boat Quay, kevinseah.com

I am brilliant, too
Another one where you will need to return or book a long stay (8-12 weeks) to pick up your piece of one-and-only customised merchandise. Six brilliant local design&shyers&mdashJeremy, Pigeon, Karen, Lynette, Jimmy and Phyllis&mdashspecialise in diamonds, oh yes (from Facets Singa&shypore), but will work with any gemstones and also pearls from Golay Pearls. Price on request, 545 Orchard Road, by appointment, iambrillianttoo.com

Things your mother throw
Vintage and custom&shyised pretties for your pad are the busi&shyness of this cheek&shyily named store/service&mdashwhich is why we are dying for them to reopen. No wor&shyries, in the meantime, they are still taking orders for repur&shyposed pieces. They specialise in Mid-Century Modern, Art Deco, Machine Age and Industrial, especially good old teak and tubes of iron and steel. But for the tight baggage allow&shyance, the enamelware is especially worth watching for. tymt.net

Singapore Trading Post
Paying homage to the East India Company, this homeware store selects its wares from all along the old trad&shying routes. Yes, there are those Kashmiri Easter eggs, but also exquisite handmade Myanmar parasols and retro tin boxes, vintage furniture and contemporary linens. But it's their recycled goodies we love best a map cabinet (S$325), an alphabet chest of drawers, a Picadilly Line dresser, the Coors beer chair (S$120)... 102F Pasir Panjang Road, singaporetradingpost.com

Second Charm
Vintage, reproduc&shytions, custom-made and, of course, second-hand furniture is the forte of this fine joint. We particularly like their spindleback benches, pop-coloured kopitiam chairs, wood and metal modern pieces, freshly silked French period settees... Really, they have great taste. secondcharm.net