Celebrate National Day in style

Dress yourself up and decorate your home with these 10 uniquely Singaporean items

Swimming Merlion Ice Cube Tray. PHOTO: LOVE SG

It is that time of the year to bust out your red-and-white pride.

Whether you are headed to the National Day Parade tomorrow or throwing a party to watch the fireworks with your friends, we have recommendations for stylish gear and homeware accessories to wear, decorate your house with or carry around while you celebrate Singapore's 51st birthday.


1 SWIMMING MERLION ICE CUBE TRAY

What: Dunk an icy Merlion into your drink at your party or use the silicone mould to make other treats such as agar agar or chocolates. Price: $19.90 Where: Love SG, go to www.lovesg.sg

2 DURIAN SOCKS

Durian-Print Socks. PHOTO: CRAFT ASSEMBLY

What: Wear the King of Fruits on your feet. These durian-print socks are designed by Singapore label Craft Assembly. There are also other local food-themed cotton socks for you to choose from.

Washi Tapes. PHOTO: CRAFT ASSEMBLY

Also, check out its range of washi tapes. One features coffee and eggs found in coffee shops and another has durians. Price: $11.90 for a pair of socks and $4.50 for a 10m roll of washi tape Where: Craft Assembly, 61 Haji Lane, open noon to 8pm daily

3 MY HOME CUSHION COVERS AND STOOLS

My Home Cushion Covers And Stools. PHOTO: ONLEWO

What: Clean lines and geometric patterns of Housing Board flats were the inspiration for Onlewo owner Mike Tay's latest collection.

He came up with four patterns for cushion and stool covers, titled simply BLK1, BLK2, BLK3, BLK4. The cushions come in three sizes: from 45cm by 45cm to 65cm by 65cm.

Next month, Mr Tay will launch cement tiles and wallpaper bearing the four patterns. Price: $315 for a teak stool and $45 to $85 for cushion covers Where: Onlewo, 129 Jalan Besar, viewing by appointment, tel: 9112-4685; Commune, Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, 04-06, open 10.30am to 9pm daily, tel: 6338-7789

4 MERLION PLASTIC BAG PEN HOLDER

Merlion Plastic Bag Pen Holder. PHOTO: MEYKRS

What: Hold your stationery in this 11cm-tall resin pen holder, modelled after the ubiquitous local plastic bag. It is designed and made by Meykrs, which also has a coin dish shaped like an open durian. Price: $19.90 for the pen holder and $29.90 for the coin dish Where: Meykrs, go to www.meykrsstore.com

5 ANG KU KUEH COASTERS

Ang Ku Kueh Coasters. PHOTO: SOUVENIRS FROM SINGAPORE

What: Do not chomp on these sticky-and-sweet tortoise-shell cakes - place your cups on these coasters which come in a set of two. Part of the Souvenirs From Singapore series, they were designed by design studio Stuck and produced with Meykrs. Lifestyle store Supermama retails the products from the series. Price: $12.90 Where: Supermama Flagship Store, 265 Beach Road, open 11am to 8pm (Monday to Thursday and Sunday) and 11am to 10pm (Friday and Saturday), tel: 6291-1946; Supermama Design Mart, Esplanade Festival Village, Esplanade Waterfront, 1 Esplanade Drive, 3 to 10pm (today) and noon to 10pm (tomorrow)

6 CURRY PUFF CUSHION

Curry Puff Cushion. PHOTO: NAIISE

What: Paying homage to one of Singapore's favourite snacks, Nom Nom Plush, Old Chang Kee and Naiise teamed up to put out this delicious-looking plush cushion.

It is exclusively available at all Naiise stores, including its Clarke Quay and The Cathay outlets. Get a 10 per cent discount on every Nom Nom Plush x Old Chang Kee cushion purchased when you present an Old Chang Kee receipt from now until Oct 31. Price: $29.90 for the small cushion and $34.90 for the large cushion Where: Naiise, go to www.naiise. com or Naiise @The Cathay, 2 Handy Road, The Cathay, B1-08, open noon to 10pm daily; Naiise @ Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Central, 02-23, open 11am to 10pm daily

7 BINARY STYLE SINGAPORE-INSPIRED SCARVES

Binary Style Singapore-Inspired Scarves. PHOTO: BINARY STYLE

What: Adorn yourself in these bright chiffon polyester scarves, designed by twin sisters Santhi and Sari Tunas, who started their scarf company Binary Style last year.

For National Day, Binary Style has released three designs, featuring graphic prints of Singapore icons. The Merah Puteh (red-white) scarf has the Merlion, orchids and tembusu tree. The other two scarves are Bumboats on Singapore River and Blooms and Butterflies. Price: $65 for a 95cm-by-95cm scarf Where: Binary Style, go to www.binary style.co; Tangs Plaza Orchard, 310 Orchard Road, Level 2, open 10.30am to 9.30pm (Monday to Saturday) and 11am to 8.30pm (Sunday), tel: 6737-5500; Keepers, National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, 02-03, open noon to 7pm (Monday to Saturday), tel: 6352-2559

8 TWWW KAMPONG UMBRELLA

Twwwkampong Umbrella. PHOTO: NAIISE

What: This printed umbrella will get you feeling nostalgic about the good old days. Its images of children playing in the rain and around a well were common sights in the kampung days.

Other products in the range include plates, cushion covers and pouches. Some of them are printed with illustrations of street hawkers and market scenes. Price: $35 for an umbrella Where: Naiise, go to naiise.com or Naiise @ Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Central, 02-23, open 11am to 10pm daily

9 TREASURES OF SINGAPORE EARRING - CALENDAR + CALENDAR

Treasures Of Singapore Earring - Calendar + Calendar. PHOTO: THE FARM STORE

What: Just in case anyone forgets, these pint-size earrings are a good reminder of Singapore's birthday on Aug 9. It is from the Treasures of Singapore series, which contains 36 different designs to mix and match. Other designs include an ice-cream sandwich and an HDB flat. Price: Mix and match any two designs for $19.90 or choose three designs at $25.90 Where: The Little Drom Store, 1 Zubir Said Drive, School of the Arts, 02-01, open noon to 8pm (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday), noon to 7pm (Thursday) and 1 to 7 pm (Sunday), closed on Monday, tel: 6884-4651; or go to shop.thelittledrom store.com; The Farm Store, go to www.thefarmstore.sg

10 SAY WHAT? LEARN SINGLISH PLAYING CARDS

Say What? Learn Singlish Playing Cards. PHOTO: SAYWHAT

What: Pit your command of Singlish against your friends' with this card game. Players have to guess the Singlish phrases another player is describing and acting out. There are 50 Singlish playing cards. Price: $25 Where: Say What?, go to www.saywhatwithfriends.com; all Naiise stores, including Naiise @ The Cathay, 2 Handy Road, The Cathay, B1-08, open noon to 10pm daily; The Farm Store, go to www.thefarmstore.sg

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 08, 2016, with the headline Celebrate National Day in style. Subscribe