Looking to spruce up your space? Drop by Supplies & Company to take a gander at furniture and homeware that are both timeless and understated. The store, which has been open for about a year now, inhabits the space previously occupied by the Raffles Hotel Museum. From clothing to cutlery, Supplies & Company showcases a carefully curated selection of products from international brands mostly from Japan, the US and UK. 'This is because the US and UK have lots of tradition and heritage in design and handmade crafts. Japan takes all those ideas and makes them their own, and what we love about Japan is their dedication to quality,' explains Ken Tan, one of the three co-owners of the store.
He and Danny Tan (no relation) often scout for new additions while abroad, either by talking to people and surfing the internet to find pieces that catch their eye, or hunting at flea markets for uncommon, vintage objects. Between their complementary artistic tastes, the products at Supplies & Company strike a balance between the off-kilter and the universally appealing. The popular fragrances and potpourris from French perfume house Mad et Len are packaged in black cast-iron containers, unlike their usually daintier counterparts, whereas the couch designed by Stephen Kenn, although created with repurposed WWII military fabric, exudes a modernism that the average consumer can appreciate.
These products are thoughtfully arranged around the space, which aims for a homely feel with soft lighting and quiet jazz playing in the background. However, the store also feels like an art gallery, thanks to the occasional not-for-sale artworks like the Rocking Machine by Herman Makkink, which film buffs will recognise as the phallic murder weapon from Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange. Expect to see more artistic oddities alongside new products adorning these walls in the future. Karen Gwee