PICK up any item and chances are it comes with a ‘Made in China’ label, because production costs there can be kept low. But what if it said ‘Made in Singapore’ instead?

Not many may know, but Singapore has its own manufacturing industry too, producing items such as Energizer lithium batteries and Dyson’s motors for its vacuum cleaners and hairdryers. But these are considered higher value products and are made more for international brands. On the other hand, while there are products designed by Singaporeans, they tend to be produced overseas due to the lower costs as well.

But local designers Timo Wong and Priscilla Lui of Studio Juju wonder if it has to be this way. Having worked with international manufacturers such as Italian brand Living Divani to produce homeware and furniture., they know only too well that it makes better financial sense to outsource production to foreign manufacturers.