Shopping in Kampong Glam!

There are various shops and secret hideouts in Kampong Glam that sell items unique to its shop, though mainly cloth (such as batik), aromatic oils and collectibles!

The Heritage Shop

One shop that I chanced upon was The Heritage Shop. It can be found in one of Kampong Glam’s Shophouses. It sells beautiful antiques and collectibles such as artwork, posters and books from the 1930s to 1960s Singapore.

Toko Aljunied

Another that sold batik was Toko Alujinied, one of the oldest batik stores in Singapore, which specializes in Arab perfumes, Peranakan costumes and batik clothing. Having been around for decades, it has a rich heritage.

  

Early Kampong Glam,

Olden Kampong Glam

In Malay, the word "Kampung" means "village or settlement" and "Glam" is the name of a particular tree, which was abundant there during early Singapore. Kampong Glam was originally a fishing village situated at the mouth of Rochor River.  It became more populated and grew into prominence. It was an ethnic district with a strong Malay-Arab influence, where one will search for Arab-Muslim traditional foodstuff and items.

Now, Kampong Glam is a mix of rich heritage passed down through generations. It is the Chinatown for Muslims and is still a place where Muslim activities take place, where the Sultan Mosque remains a major landmark and congregation point for Singapore Muslims.

Let's explore the identity and common space in Kampong Glam, and appreciate its unique heritage.