8 Unique (and un-cliched) souvenirs from Singapore to gift your friends and family

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Tiong Bahru Art Deco Poster, from SGD 79
Whether you’re buying it for yourself as a leaving gift, or giving it away to friends and family, these retro-style prints of various neighborhoods in Singapore will spice up any room. From prints depicting Tiong Bahru and Holland Village, to those featuring the MRT map and the racial diversity of Singapore, these aesthetic posters are bound to become a fan-favorite of your overseas friends and family.
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Streets Canvas Bag (via Naiise), SGD 26.90
How many of these streets have you visited already? The Street Canvas Bag, produced and designed by local brand, LOVE SG, is a nostalgic yet functional gift for anyone who has spent time in Singapore!
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LavendarCraftingCorner Turquoise Peranakan Tiles Notebook (via Naiise), SGD 15
Peranakan tile designs are arguably some of the most beautiful patterns in the world! Buy these notebooks in bulk to pass to your friends, family, or colleagues, who’ll definitely appreciate the “exotic” tiled designs. Offered in two colours, this notebook is lined and in hardcover.
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Miniature Asian Chef Lapis Sagu Earring Studs, SGD 22
This one is perfect for that one friend who’s always searching for unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry. Made from high quality polymer clay, these studs are the perfect miniature replication of our favorite traditional Singaporean sweet. These earrings are also offered in kueh tutu, mooncake, pineapple tart, egg tart designs, o you and your girlfriends can have a whole collection of Singaporean sweet-inspired jewelry between you all!
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The Farm Store Tingkat Carrier, SGD 69.90
Comprising 3 separate compartments with individual lids, this ‘tingkat’, or Singaporean lunch box is perfect for bringing food out on a picnic or presenting goodies and snacks for visitors at home or in office. Another perk of getting this for your overseas work colleagues--this Singaporean lunch box is made from rice husks, so it’s free of harmful materials and is able to withstand high and low temperatures!
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Singapore Orchid Kebaya Cushion, SGD 19.90
Recognize this design from somewhere? It’s the exact same design as those worn by the cabin attendants of Singapore Airlines! Gift this to your loved ones to add a nice touch of traditional Singaporean design to your friends or family’s living room space.
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Ice Cream Sandwich Cushion (via Naiise), SGD 26.32
Get ready to take lots of Instaworthy pics with these cushions resembling quintessential Singapore snacks! From curry puffs to ice cream sandwiches, love letters to Wa Ko Kueh, these adorable cushions will certainly add a uniquely Singaporean touch to the living spaces of your overseas friends!
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Miniature Kopitiam Set, SGD 13.80
Now this is something you can truly get only in Singapore! Although you might need to explain why you brought your friends mini-sized plastic chairs as a gift from Singapore, these pocket-sized kopitiam chairs would be a cute and nostalgic decorative item for anyone who understands the importance of kopitiams in Singapore. Skeptical of how these chairs can work as decor? Make it into a makeshift jewelry stand for those Singaporean-sweet inspired earrings!

8 Unique (and not cheesy!) souvenirs from Singapore to gift your friends and family

Say goodbye to those tacky “I love Singapore” shirts and merlion chocolates! Ever since SG 50, the Singapore souvenir industry has been amping up their game, and we can’t be more excited. Although Singaporean sweets are always a fan-favorite, food isn’t always an option for long-distance travelers, and while we want to spend as much money as we can for our loved ones, sometimes we just can’t shell out for a vintage batik shirt or lacquerware.

Affordable yet uniquely one-of-a-kind, these souvenirs are bound to be a hit both with friends who have visited Singapore, and those who have not. From earrings and adorable cushions inspired by traditional Singaporean sweets like pineapple tarts and kueh tutu, to canvas bags and print posters celebrating our beloved neighborhoods, here are 8 untacky and unique gifts you can bring for your next overseas trip!

Kanako Sugawara

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