The Ac

A multi-brand boutique in joo chiat selling furniture, apparel, jewellery and more.

byEliza Hamizah May 2017

A multi-brand boutique in joo chiat selling furniture, apparel, jewellery and more.

Claire ensures that the store’s products suit the local climate and lifestyles, while its brand ambassadors work well with each other too.

Claire Chahil, the founder of womenswear label Attaby, was a buyer for a UK department store before she relocated to Singapore. So it’s no surprise that she set up The AC, a shop in Joo Chiat that not only houses her summer-style apparel, but independent home decor and furniture labels as well. “The AC is like a boutique department store – though just the fun bits, and not so much the electricals,” she quips.

There are currently eight brands available in the shop, including Jakartabased furniture maker Elements Concept, whose modern rattan, teak, and bamboo pieces evoke a laid-back tropical atmosphere. Claire’s personal favourite is the Paul armchair, which was designed for the five-star Katamama Hotel in Seminyak.

You’ll also find vibrant and intricate art by Singapore-based artist Louise Hill. The creative Brit is trained in fine arts and graphic design, and creates her Peranakan-inspired digital collages using photographs of her personal collection of vintage artefacts and a mix of illustrations and patterns.

Other home accessories in The AC include Turkish peshtemals (traditional towels used in Turkish baths) and sofa throws from Tara’s World, as well as a range of artificial flowers by Silk Flowers Singapore – the hydrangeas, orchids and eucalyptus, among many others, look almost “indistinguishable from the real thing and need only a light brush to keep them clean,” says Claire.

And don’t worry if you’re unsure about floral arrangements or picking out suitable furniture for your space. Each brand representative, whether they are selling shoes, art or furniture, has been trained on the products in the store and can recommend what you need.

VISIT THE AC AT 420 JOO CHIAT ROAD, WWW.THEAC.NET.