With Chinese New Year right round the corner, preparations such as spring cleaning, home decorating and procuring new clothes and festive snacks add to our sprawling to-do list.
As a Co.mmunity manager at the Co., this list of impending tasks is a little daunting, on top of serving members of the community, ensuring a conducive and inspiring workspace and curating community programmes.
Fortunately, being a community aggregator means that I am in a coffee run's proximity to many of Duxton's charming retail and lifestyle establishments. From homeware to apparel to festive snacks and delicacies, our neighbourhood has much to offer.
Here's how I'm making preparations to usher in the Chinese New Year with #OurDuxton.
Picture from Flor Patisserie
Chinese New Year Home Design
Maison 21G
Picture from Maison 21G
This Parisian perfume house is no stranger to aficionados of the olfactory—being a major industry gamechanger with their specialisation in bespoke perfumes and workshops—but did you know that they also offer a range of home scent creations?
Personalisation and sustainability are at the heart of everything they do, so their scents are free of phthalates, NGO and CMR substances, making sure that your Maison 21G scent is safe for your guests and family, including children and pets.
Their packaging also contains no plastic and is completely recyclable. From scented candles to reed diffusers and oil burners, Maison 21G scents can all be customised so that you can curate your home scent to become an extension of your style and personality this Chinese New Year.
I personally enjoy woody scents with a hint of sweetness so I opted for an oil burner with sandalwood and fig notes, Nevertheless, there is an extensive range of scents you can choose from and combine.
Address: 77 Duxton Road, Singapore 089536.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 12nn to 8pm.
Monument Lifestyle
Picture from Monument Lifestyle
Not only do the good folks at Monument serve a mean cup of coffee with beans flown in from San Francisco, they carry thoughtful brands with empowering stories of sustainability.
You'll find a neat curation of home goods (I even spotted some really cool flavoured toothpicks from Daneson!) such as scents, glassware and pillows that are sure to elevate your home for the Chinese New Year festivities.
Chinese New Year Fashion
Monument Lifestyle
Picture from Duxton Kids
While I have you contemplating the homewares you can score at Monument Lifestyle, you should know that they carry apparel and accessories for all genders as well as children from sustainable labels such as wearable art label Ananda Soul and Brazilian apparel brand Uma & Leopold.
They also front homegrown brand DUXTON featuring luxurious resortwear, playful prints and soft and stretchy 100% cotton kidswear. Definitely drop by Monument Lifestyle for Chinese New Year clothes for children and grownups alike.
Address: 75 Duxton Road, Singapore 089534.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm.
PALEM
Picture from Palem
PALEM is a sustainability-conscious fashion brand born in Bali, Indonesia. Its ethos of designing feminine wear for those who want to feel good in their clothes and be comfortable in their movements guarantees a unique look with soft and warm colours, original prints, cut in natural fabrics. If you're looking for a Chinese New Year outfit that's breezy, flattering and showstopping, PALEM is the place to go. For myself, I copped a flowy yet weighted jacquard maxi dress in a subtle floral print and a prosperous brick colour.
Address: 78 Duxton Road, Singapore 089537.
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 11am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 8pm, Sunday: 12nn to 6pm.
The Prefecture
Picture from The Prefecture
Led by our enigmatic neighbour Mr Q, bespoke menswear label The Prefecture specialises in tropical tailoring. Mr Q believes that 3C's of the brand—Colour. Cut. Confidence.—are what lend personality to clothing and by extension, the wearer. Their staple lounge shirts and beach shorts are crisp yet breathable and lightweight—perfect for enjoying the festivities of Chinese New Year in.
Address: 100 Duxton Road, Singapore 089544.
Opening hours: Tuesday 11am to 7pm, Wednesday and Friday 12nn to 4pm, Saturday 11am to 4pm.
Chinese New Year Food
Flor Patisserie
Picture from Flor Patisserie
I know I can always count on one of my favourite Duxton bakeries for luxurious and delectable pastries as well as themed goodies during the festive season! This Chinese New Year Flor has not disappointed, with occasion-appropriate candies and bakes and even adorable mahjong-shaped cookie cutters for those who want to make their own.
Address: 2 Duxton Hill, #01-01, Singapore 089588.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 9pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm.
Restaurant Jag
Picture from Restaurant JAG
This one Michellin-starred restaurant is well-known for its French-inspired Yu Sheng platter created by chef-owner Jeremy Gillon who who hails from France. His version of this prosperity salad prides itself as a labyrinth of fresh textures and flavours with seasonable vegetables as the protagonist and proteins as the secondary lead, Gillon's philosophy.
Every ingredient, a symbol of abundance and prosperity, is framed by shades of green, purple and white radish alongside black, red and yellow carrots, fresh Japanese prawns, Hokkaido scallops and Scottish salmon slices symbolising luck, longevity and wealth.
Address: 76 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089535
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 6pm to 10.30pm with additional lunch hours on Friday and Saturday 12nn to 3pm.
Tea Chapter
Picture from Tea Chapter
Tea Chapter is a quaint Chinese tea house nestled in the heart of Chinatown with a humble dedication to share the beauty of traditional Chinese tea appreciation.
Besides delivering tea appreciation workshops, they also carry beautiful glassware, porcelain, purple clay teaware and Chinese tea that you can purchase for your home, so you can serve quality aromatic Chinese tea in intricate tea sets to friends and family this festive season. I recommend their beautiful tea set and your preferred tea—whether it's pu'er, oolong or otherwise, Tea Chapter will sort you out with ease.
Address: 9 Neil Rd, Singapore 088808.
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 10.30pm.
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