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our story
Design Orchard is an integrated retail and incubation space that aims to groom and profile new and emerging designers in the lifestyle and fashion sector, and prepare to take them overseas.
Whether you’re a local or tourist, shopper or design aficionado, visitors to Design Orchard can access authentic Singapore brands. Meanwhile, budding designers have a dedicated space to hone and showcase their talents.
Design Orchard is a multi-government agency effort spearheaded by Enterprise Singapore , JTC and Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
introduction
Design Orchard is designed by local award-winning architecture firm WOHA Architects.
The building is tiered away from the vibrant Cairnhill-Orchard Road junction to form a public rooftop public space and garden. This comprises an urban amphitheatre and event space, along with a shaded pocket park, that is set against the backdrop of Singapore’s iconic Orchard Road.
With a clean and modern palette of concrete, glass, timber and landscape elements, the concrete off-form walls feature circular openings which allow light and ventilation to permeate throughout the structure.
architecture
concept
Built to nurture emerging local designers, Design Orchard is a 2.5-story development that integrates a retail showcase on the ground floor, incubation and co-working spaces on the upper floors, and an event space on the rooftop. This gives designers the resources to conceptualise, produce, and testbed their products all under one roof.
Shoppers can indulge in retail therapy to their hearts’ content on the first floor. Operated by the Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) - formerly known as Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore), shoppers can browse a selection of goods from over 100 local brands that include fashion and accessories, home furnishings, beauty products, and souvenirs. Featuring new, emerging, and established brands along the likes of Little Match Girl, Cocoonese, Thomas Wee and many others, this retail showcase is a definite must-visit if you’re looking for unique gifts to call your own. Look out for regular events involving these designers and other local brands – visitors may just get a chance to rub shoulders with some of the industry’s brightest stars, and even try their hand at craft-making workshops. SFC will also be running mentorship programmes, covering areas such as marketing, merchandising and expansion plans, for the brands in the retail showcase.
On the floors above, local designers will have an exclusive co-working space to call home. The Cocoon Space, a 10,000 sq ft incubation and co-working space managed by Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) - formerly known as Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore). Members of the lifestyle and design community can utilise the space to network and collaborate with industry stakeholders while making use of resources like a photography studio, a Fabric Library, and various business development and digital services. The Cocoon Space will also host The Bridge Fashion Incubator (TBFI), an incubation programme aimed at nurturing local fashion talent and giving developing designers the opportunity to expand internationally.
Watch out for an exciting slew of lifestyle events and workshops in the Innovation Studio and public amphitheatre on the rooftop. For the latest updates, be sure to sign up for our mailing list.