In Singapore, shopping is a sport, and from the practiced glide through haute couture boutiques to skillful back-alley bargaining to win the best prices on Asian treasures, it's always exciting, with something to satiate every pro shopper's appetite.
The focal point of shopping in Singapore is Orchard Road, a very long stretch of glitzy shopping malls packed with Western clothing stores, from designer apparel to cheap chic, and many other mostly imported finds. Singaporeans have a love-hate relationship with Orchard Road. As the shopping malls developed, they brought hip styles into the reach of everyday Singaporeans, adding a cosmopolitan sheen to Singapore style. But Orchard Road also ushered in a new culture of obsessive consumerism.
Even to outsiders, Orchard Road is a drug; however, most of the clothing and accessories shops sell Western imports, and although the prices may be bargain-basement for Japanese visitors, the rest of us will find that the prices of Western brand-name fashions are no less expensive than at home. And it's all the same stuff you can get at home, too.
Another myth about shopping in Asia is that consumer electronics, cameras, and computer hardware and software are a steal. Although some good bargains can be found if you hunt well, be careful if the offer sounds too good to be true -- it usually is. By and large, prices here are comparable to those of the West.
For shopping with a local flavor, there are still some nifty shopping areas -- Little India, Arab Street, and Chinatown -- where shopping for unusual handicrafts is as much a main attraction as the sights. Anybody who's been around Singapore long enough will tell you that most of the really juicy bargains went the way of the dodo when the huge shopping malls came to town, but if you know the value of certain items that you'd like, some comparison shopping may save you a little money. I'll give you some tips on where to find the better merchandise, competitive prices, and memorable shopping experiences.
Take note: I am an expert shopper and have shopped just about everywhere in Singapore, with the help of my mother, also a shopping expert. The shops that I have singled out for this guide are the best of the best; my family and I have purchased goods and services from virtually every one of them. We know you will find the same satisfaction that we have.
