Adding a bit of indie to Orchard Road, Hook & Union is the collaborative pop-up effort from Kampong Glam-area indie boutiques DH Sunglass (on Haji Lane) and Threadbare & Squirrel (Bali Lane). ‘We’ve always had plans to set up a shop here [on Orchard Road], but of course, it’s risky,’ explains T&S’s Val Ng. ‘While chatting with Eric Low [DH’s head honcho], we realised we could go into this together.’
Set in a fishbowl-like unit on Orchard Central’s serene (if a little bit quiet) second floor, Hook & Union – so named to reinforce the shared approach to the brand – proudly displays elements from both retailers: T&S’s local-loving sentiments are evidenced on the raw wood and metal hangers with established and newish brands like max.tan, Ober.Blunck Denim and Youyou, while DH’s international edit of sunglasses by makers like Retrosuperfuture, House of Holland and Ksubi are laid out on the store’s centrepiece of packing crates.
As with all pop-ups, Hook & Union has limited time in the space, though if the reception to their local-dominant product mix is well-received, they may be able to extend their lease at the end of the year. Vote with your wallet.