Reusable Masks

Phase 3 might be starting soon but until we get the all-clear, face masks are still a necessity. Want to help your colleague or party host be more eco-friendly or stylish in the coming year? Disposable face masks and government-issued masks begone, here are some pocket-friendly options that also give back to the community.

Face Wedge

Face Wedge offers a variety of mask designs, from silk ones for a luxe look to more understated ones for the workplace. The label’s charming cotton masks are ideal for the young-at-heart, with playful prints like spaceships, dinosaurs and sharks. Face Wedge also works with Seven Clean Seas, a Singapore-based beach clean-up community that runs monthly international coastal clean-ups and educational sessions for remote communities.

Every five masks sold (starting from $12.95 each) will help in pulling out 1kg of trash from our seas. 

Minor Miracles

Local fashion designer Dawn Bey’s print and textile label is known for its whimsical designs on scarves, skirts and kimonos. With her retail space at Funan opened just before the circuit breaker, Minor Miracles started producing masks instead.

Each mask ($12) is sewn by fresh fashion graduates whose current jobs prospects have been affected due to COVID-19. All proceeds from the masks are split into different funds to help Singapore’s migrant workers, through the COVID-19 Migrant Support Coalition and Migrant Workers' Assistance Fund.

LOOMS

Bubblewrap and textile off-cuts gain new life at LOOMS, repurposed into premium lifestyle goods such as pouches. These are handmade by a production team of stay-at-home mums who started making masks (from $29) during COVID-19.

If experiences are what you’re after, LOOMS provides hands-on corporate workshops where teams can make to make items such as folios and cup holders. An idea for the boss, perhaps?

Subscription Boxes

If you know your gift recipient's home address, a gift of subscription boxes over several months creates a prolonged gift experience.

At a party, you might have to show up without your gift in hand, but you can always write your well wishes in a card, with instructions to look out for a surprise to come.

Book Box Subscription

For BooksActually’s book recommendation box, the receiver gets two or more recommended books (from $42 for two books), or up to 30 books at once if you choose to splurge.

Other book subscription box services like Carpe Librum also include book-related gifts like candles and tea in their boxes, on top of two books – all for just $35.

Maker Boxes

For the colleague with children, or for anyone who loves to tinker using their hands, check out KiwiCo’s maker kits. They are designed in various tiers to be age-appropriate and engaging – babies aged 0 to 24 months can toy with items from the Panda Crate, while more advanced Maker and Eureka Crates are suitable for those aged 14 and above.

Each box comes with instructions and materials to turn “artistic visions into design realities” – these include functional music instruments and desk accessories like pencil sharpeners.

The subscription options range from a one-month subscription ($39.70) to a twelve-month subscription (about $33 per month).

Made With Passion in Singapore

This holiday season, as you rediscover local sites and attractions, why not support local designers too?

As part of the Made With Passion initiative, the Singapore Brand Office and the Singapore Tourism Board, supported by Enterprise Singapore, have come up with a brand mark and campaign to promote local lifestyle goods.

The initiative also includes partnerships with e-commerce platforms Shopee, so you can shop from home. Look out for the Made With Passion brand mark in the product categories of beauty and wellness, fashion and accessories, homeware and décor, and packaged F&B.

For an extra personal touch, tell your gift recipient to look out for videos of these local brands’ origin stories on Instagram and Facebook at @madewithpassionsg.

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