Still the store for cool fashion.
Still the store for cool fashion.
When you’re at Actually’s pared-down, industrial-style store at Orchard Central (#03- 18), take a closer look: you may recognise a few familiar elements from our HDB neighbourhoods. The wooden poles on which dozens of colourful Fjallraven bags hang are inspired by HDB laundry poles, and the fitting-room doors are actual refurbished kopitiam toilet doors.
This adventurous choice in store fixtures reflects founder Paul Khor’s unconventional edit of brands. In the generous 1,800 sq ft space is the quirky London-based label Lazy Oaf, experimental Shanghai-based label Tyakasha, cutesy Korean accessories and stationery maker Ooh La La, bold Turkish sock brand Ballonet, and even the nostalgic Bata Heritage label.
Before starting Actually in 2006, Khor spent more than 10 years at Sony Music. A desire for a career change made him take the leap of opening his first store at Seah Street. The store quickly became known for introducing quirky, under-the-radar brands from all over the world, and was the first to bring Freitag and Edwin here – brands that Khor liked but was unable to find here then.
Fans who miss the Seah Street outlet should keep a close eye the current Actually this month: It will be revamped to closely resemble the former to be “more contemporary”, and will take over and convert the neighbouring unit into a “fashionable outdoor” concept store named Outside.
