Singapore Writers Festival + BAGGU bags

We are the official TOTE Sponsor for the Singapore Writers Festival! The one and only festival in Singapore that focuses on the written word, we are very proud to be sponsoring the authors and SWF volunteers a BAGGU each. We're also stocking the re-usables at the official SWF bookstore (see above).

Are you aware of the travelling Musee d'Orsay Paris collection at the National Museum? We haven't been there ourselves, but definitely plan to.

The Singapore Writers Festival collaborated with the National Museum on a very special programme: Enjoy the spoken word and visual beauty as SWF authors bring you readings inspired by the art pieces. The next round happens this Saturday, 29 Nov. For more SWF programmes, click here!

// CLOSE UP series 3 //: Rocking classics over and over

Remember back when we did the most fun CLOSE UP programme on travel? We finally found a topic we feel strongly enough for! This time, we're zooming in on the idea of Classics: A word we see and hear so much of in the media, in marketing jargon, from every celebrity, maker, designer.

Classics to us are memorable, elegant, ever-lasting and have good reasons to exist. They have stood and weathered all storms -- designs, ideas, people, even fabrics -- to still be loved by the world today.

This month, we want to celebrate believable Classic products. We've ushered in all the great things our store has ever seen: From 19th century Mills Canvas, ever entertaining Sherlock Holmes novels, to never-old colours like Navy and Khaki.

Beautifully waxed Mills Canvas bags in the latest vintage series: These waxed versions are water-repellent, and just like leather, they age beautifully with time. If you are looking for canvas bags, these are the real deal. If you aren't looking for a bag, there's always reading (an evergreen leisure activity!) you can do, and you will really like the very special Sherlock Holmes series we picked out for you. There are also the new styles from local menswear label, Drifters Crafts. To us, they epitomise what classic menswear is all about.

And see if you can resist (because we really can't) these beautiful covers from the Penguin Threads Deluxe Classics. Find out about the behind-the-scenes process of the very intensely embroidered book covers here!

How can we miss out on music? We've even got a book on The Beatles, because we believe in knowing where our music comes from. When you do drop by, we hope you'll be nodding and tapping along to the beats playing in our store: We've selected just about the greatest songs of our time from Motown Records. Yes -- we mean the tunes you love from The Jackson Five, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations.

All of these are happening right now in store!

Exclusively at Rockstar : Pointer collaborates

#1 Pointer once again teams up with Porter (Japan). This time round, the reputable Japanese label combines trademark silhouettes and craftwork of Porter, with the heavy-duty myrtle canvas used in Pointer shoes. We're sure you will like this capsule collection as much as the previous one.

You will see a three-way Bag, a grooming Pouch, and an oversized canvas fold-over Wallet. The highlight for us has got to be the iconic Porter three-way Bag: It triples as a backpack, a shoulder bag and a briefcase, with straps that are inter-changeable all around.

Other details include,

- Heavy Weight Canvas Outer
- Two Way Zip Closure Main Compartment
- Stowaway Shoulder Straps
- Padded Carrying Handle
- Larger Internal Zip Closure Front Pockets
- Contrast Coloured Canvas & Mesh Pocket

#2 Pointer invited belt-making masters Anderson to produce a limited series of premium leather belts. Since they threw open their doors in 1966, the Italian belt company has been making belts with some of Europe's best tanneries. This collaborative series is based on their classic woven belts featuring premium leather detailing and waxed cotton weaving, and manufactured entirely in Italy.

The colour schemes look great and can be pulled off with ease. Take a closer look at the belts (or our photographs here): You will see the effort put into Anderson-style weaving, resulting in textures and patterns that will make that difference to an outfit.

BRIXTON Hats: For the ladies

BRIXTON Apparels & Hats: For the gentlemen

SIFR Clothing: Expect the unexpected

Newest in store are pieces we've handpicked from - our good friend, homegrown label - Sifr's latest drop.

This time round, they looked to the colours of the Earth and the Sky, and referred to the rich textures of South Asia to come up with a winning warm colour palette: You will see breathable jersey knits, dressy shirts with fabrics that have gone through micro-sand finishing (to give unusually soft textures), and an interesting crinkle resin finish. As always, the details are refined, thoughtful, and innovative.

We have come to really enjoy expecting this kind of unexpected from them.

A good range of shirts, knit tops and jersey pants are now available at Rockstar. Have a try and tell us your thoughts.

Visual credit: Matt Shelley, via All The Mountains.

BAGGU: This is the last week!

To catch our BAGGU re-usables at their most glorious, and the very rare duo-price of "2 for $26" on selected styles/sizes. See you at the store!