After the longggggggggg wait, Christmas is finally approaching! 🎄
To us, it isn’t the presents that make the season special, but the gift of love that we get to give through our actions. This year, we’re encouraging our community to “Shop Small, Give Big” - where supporting small businesses can have a BIG impact. Here are some ideas on how that gift of love may look like to you this year.
(Psst…check out our previous post on our time at Boutique Fairs, where we first launched our theme for the season! )
👕 DRESS YOUR BEST 👗
Santa doesn’t have to be the only one glammed up.
Of course, we wouldn’t be able to create this list without including our friends from Zerrin! Tired of scavenging for unique and sustainable fashion brands? Zerrin’s founder and ex-fashion editor, Susannah has got you covered with her amazing curation of under-the-radar sustainable brands and designers from around the region.
Zerrin’s pop-up lounge at our Marina One space closes on 18th December 2022 - hurry down and find your perfect style for the season!
📍 Location: 01-03 Marina One Residences, Garden Tower, 5 Straits View, Upstairs at The Social Space cafe, S018935
🕙 Opening hours: 11am-6pm on Tues-Sat
Out of sight, but not out of mind! They may not be our neighbour anymore, but The Fashion Pulpit will always be our go-to for sustainable pre-loved fashion! A safe haven for those looking to revamp their wardrobe without breaking the bank, their points system allows you to swap your pre-loved clothes for others’ at a significantly lower price.
📍 Location: 6A Shenton Way, OUE Downtown Gallery, #02-08 The Fashion Pulpit, S068815
🕙 Opening hours: 11am-7pm, closed on Mon
Can’t bear to let go of your current wardrobe, but want to switch things up? Reduce textile waste and ‘refashion’ or upcycle your old clothes by turning them into something new and uniquely-yours! Check out Alt.native’s website to connect with expert ‘Refashioners’ with the right skills to bring your ideas to life
📍Location: https://www.altnative.co
🍖 FILL YOUR TUMMY 🍰
Santa doesn’t have to be the only one with a food baby.
Planning to dine out with your family this Christmas? At just $88/pax, you get a sumptuous meal, a tour of an inclusive kitchen with simulated vision impairment glasses and the opportunity to interact with differently-abled chefs! 👓👨🍳 Help Fortitude Culina fundraise for their very first cafe with your presence at their Christmas dinner here.
(Fun fact: Fortitude Culina hosted their first-ever meal service with a pop-up dinner at our Kreta Ayer outlet in October this year! Prior to them fulfilling their cafe dreams, their team spent years honing their skills at an experimental kitchen at Jurong Launchpad. A huge leap from those days, they now get to serve customers face-to-face at their cafe. We are so glad to have been a part of their journey. 💗)
📍 Location: Kunyah Cafe Food Kiosk, 90 Stamford Road #01-76 School of Economics (SMU), S178903
🕙 Opening hours: 1-30 Dec, 6.30-8.30pm on weekdays
If you’re planning to host a Christmas dinner in the comfort of your own at home, we’ve got you too. Check out S17 Community Kitchen’s succulent Roast Turkey with signature buah keluak rice stuffing for a Western tradition with a Peranakan twist. Opt for their set meal with soup, salad and dessert and you’re all set! Click here to pre-order for self-pick up at least 5 days in advance, latest by 19th December. Your purchase contributes towards providing free meals to rental flat seniors in that neighbourhood!
📍 Location: 57 Lengkok Bahru, #01-489, S(151057)
🕙 Opening hours: 11am-9pm daily, closed on Sundays
What’s a Christmas meal without all the sweets and goodies? From the adorable gingerbread cookie to the classic chocolate log cake, Dignity Kitchen has your Christmas goodies needs covered! All goodies are made by their differently-abled chefs and are certified halal. Order them here today 🍪
Shoutout to the masterchefs: they also offer a cooking course on a Christmas 4-course meal!
📍 Location: 69 Boon Keng Road, S339772
🕙 Opening hours: 8am-4.30pm on weekdays, 8am-2pm on weekends
🧺 SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS MARKETS 🎠
Get out and about to soak in all the festive vibes.
Before one of Singapore’s last few nature sanctuaries is redeveloped for residential use, seize the precious opportunity to savour this gift of nature with your children! Apart from making creative crafts out of natural materials and other exciting activities, there will also be a Christmas dinner to end off the fun day.
📍 Location: Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) 91 Lorong Chencharu, S769201
🕙 Duration: 17 Dec, 4-8pm
💵 Admission: $88-188 (You may also sponsor a less-privileged child)
Looking for a place that has everything? I mean, everything. From fresh flowers to Christmas decorations to craft kits and more, this market has them all! A part of sale proceeds will go to Extra•Ordinary People, a charity that empowers children and individuals with special needs.
📍 Location: 7500A Beach Rd The Plaza Level 1 Atrium 7500A Beach Road, S199591
🕙 Duration: 13-15 Dec, 10.30am-4.30pm
💵 Admission: Free
For the blessed Westies, head down to your community centre’s basketball court for exciting hands-on activities and the sale of fresh local produce, gardening related and eco-friendly items! 🥬 Parenting tip: This is the chance to get your young veggie-haters to love their greens.
🕙 Duration: 18 Dec, 10.30am-2.30pm
💵 Admission: Free
🌍 SANTA’S REINDEER RIDE ✈️
Santa doesn’t have to be the only one gifting while travelling overseas!
With travel restrictions lifted, take the opportunity to escape the heat by heading for a winter wonderland holiday in Europe. With Ecobnb, you can find eco-friendly accommodations within the region - ranging from amazing tree houses, bed & breakfast on the beaches, guesthouses in old villages, organic farmhouses surrounded by nature, castles in the clouds, no-emissions mountain retreats, and much more. All accommodations listed are graded against 10 fundamental eco-sustainability parameters, recognized by the main environmental certifications for tourism in Europe, so you know you’re in great hands
📍 Location: Europe
Planning your next beach getaway to Bali? Why not head to Sumba, an untouched island paradise, just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Bali? Enjoy the sun, sand and sea while embarking on a life-altering journey by volunteering at Sumba Hospitality Foundation, and help create a better future for the youths of one of the poorest regions in Indonesia.
📍Location: Sumba, Indonesia
Looking for your next adventure? Head off the beaten path and visit Nepal, touted as South Asia’s happiest country by the United Nations! Experience genuine local hospitality and immerse in real Nepali life while leaving behind a positive impact with Nepal’s Community Homestay Network. With this initiative, local host Nepali families get the opportunity to share their culture and landscapes with the world while gaining access to a sustainable source of income through tourism.
📍Location: Nepal
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If you’ve made it to the end of this article, here’s an additional giving idea as your reward - if you’re looking for a more convenient option to give back, why not donate to the TSS Tree of Wishes? It’s part of our collaboration with Make-A-Wish Singapore to fulfil the wishes of local children aged 3 to 18 years old with critical illnesses. 🪄 Donate S$50 or more and our gift to you will be a FREE SPECIALTY COFFEE*!
Still looking for other gifts? No worries, our online and physical retail stores have many more options available for you to choose from. You may also check out our X’mas 22 highlight on Instagram for festive gift ideas! 💡 With these many “gifting big” ideas, go ahead and enjoy your BIGGEST Christmas ever. ❤️
Written by Jesselyn Nah, Retail & Marketing Intern (December 2022)
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