On the lookout for the perfect five-star hotel? Singapore has an awful lot to offer. Rich in history and in urban cool, Singapore’s reputation as one of the world’s most livable cities is certainly well earned. There is something for everyone here, and it’s easy to find. Excellent shopping in a globally-connected village, fantastic restaurants in one of the world’s most multicultural cities, and beautiful views of city scape and water, all combine to make a very heady and pleasant experience.
One of the coolest places for fresh urban fashion gear is Singapore’s Flesh Imp. The name is two interesting ideas: Flesh refers to the depth beneath the layer of clothes, that it is more than skin deep. Imp is the devilish spirit that they want to invoke as being a sensibility that runs counter to the conservative traditional culture. This store, with a few locations in Singapore, caters to the young and the hip. They sell women’s and men’s clothing, and very stylishly too. They’re not an outlet, they are also their own independent clothing label, so you can be sure that the clothes you’re buying are original and well-constructed. The designs are often collaborations between their own designers and other internationally-known designers. It’s a very sophisticated strategy that insures them a place on the global stage. Not that they need the insurance. The quality of the design speaks for itself, and will certainly strike the window-shopper here.
One of their goals is to really speak to street culture in Singapore, as well as connect with the fashion world at large. This also shouldn’t be a problem. With collaborations with Bigfoot, DevilRobots, and Sam Flores, the designers at Flesh Imp have already made an impact on culture. But speaking to the locals in Singapore really is the focus. It’s a small country, but its technological savvy puts it in an interesting space. If so much of global culture is influenced by the internet, it might not be the size of the city, but its capacities for connectivity, that will determine its place in cultural change. Singapore has already made itself known as a place for interesting and cutting edge design, so this might be just another step toward taking its rightful place in the world. Style-wise, the future looks bright.