CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel at Kampong Glam offers affordable stays near Sultan Mosque

The CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel at
Kampong Glam is along Bussorah Street.

The CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel at Kampong Glam adds another 56 beds to RB Hospitality's capsule portfolio, which offers affordable, restored heritage accommodation located in popular conservation and cultural enclaves. The company has another successful capsule hotel in Chinatown, Singapore.

RB Hospitality's Co-Founders CEO Benedict Choa and COO Sonia Anya Tay decided to invest in capsule hotels after noticing that there were few affordable single-room options for family stays.

“Kampong Glam is chosen for its vibrancy, charm and rich heritage culture. In addition to the Sultan Mosque and the Malay Heritage Centre, there are a number of shops, cafes, restaurants and other bustling sites such as the hip Haji Lane (nearby). The Bugis MRT Station is only a five-minute walk away,” said Tay. 

The CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel at Kampong Glam is along the Kampong Glam Heritage Trail and targets digitally-inclined travellers. A number of Muslim guests have chosen the hotel for its proximity to Sultan Mosque. CUBE has also attracted business travellers who appreciate convenient, affordable capsule accommodation. For an extra level of security and privacy, female travellers can choose to stay in the women-only rooms. 

“Our guests are typically 18-35 years old global explorers including founders of new generation businesses and special interest groups. The positive interest shown in our properties has inspired us to create a new CUBE Capsule concept which we aim to open before the end of this year. This is very much in line with our vision to grow the number of CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotels to eight in Singapore in the next few years,” added Tay. 

Named after the neighbouring streets, room configurations vary between two and 18 capsules. Measuring 6 ft x 3 ft x 4ft for a single and 6 ft x 5 ft x 4 ft for a queen with plush mattresses and linen, each capsule is designed to enable easy moderation of its own temperature and airflow; and is insulated to reduce ambient noise. 

The shared bathrooms offer standing showers, a hairdryer and bath toiletries. Guests are provided with a dental kit, slippers and one towel upon check-in and this is exchangeable daily. A washing machine with complimentary detergent is also available for guests while work desks are also provided for guests’ use. 

Besides complimentary Wi-Fi, guests can also enjoy a daily breakfast showcasing local flavours in a relaxed communal dining area. There are a wide range of halal food & beverage outlets nearby. Guests can also log onto the Dining Butler, a smartphone tech solution, for food orders and delivery. 

The Singapore Visitor Centre is located in the hotel lobby, allowing easy booking of tours to popular locations. Reception staff are available 24x7.

Sunset view of Sultan Mosque, taken outside the hotel.

Details:

Each capsule stay can range between S$50 and S$120 per night. All units come with a universal electrical outlet, safe, mirror/vanity area, bedside light, a space for hanging garments and a locker drawer with digital security for personal storage.

Explore:

Watch the video introducing the CUBE capsule concept

View pictures of the hotel

Patricia Rox brings its handcrafted luxury womenswear and accessories to Asia

Patricia Rox, the luxury womenswear brand that debuted in Europe in 2013, has set foot in Asia through the official launch of its brand and its Spring/Summer 2015 The  Fantasy Capsule in Singapore.

The luxury womenswear company creates globally inspired, traditionally handcrafted pieces. With exotic, intricate prints and bright, bold colours at the forefront of its designs, Patricia Rox brings one-of-a-kind ready-to-wear and accessories to discerning, sophisticated women. 

The latest Spring/Summer The Fantasy Capsule of silk dresses with floral-inspired prints; vibrant, circus-inspired scarves; as well as buffalo horn and enamel jewellery transports the Patricia Rox woman back to her whimsical childhood fantasies. The collection is luxurious yet effortlessly chic, and is versatile enough for a resort, travelling or attending a soiree. 

Patricia Rox is the brainchild of fashion lawyer Patricia Haywood. Gathering inspiration from her love of travel, Patricia has created a brand that brings together traditional techniques and modern ideas to create unique, handmade pieces, and a brand with a mission to make well-crafted pieces available to women everywhere. 

"At Patricia Rox, we go to great lengths to bring women unique and well-made clothing and accessories. Our vision is to bring together some of the most creative people from different regions to create something special, and to make the art of traditional craftsmanship accessible to women worldwide," says Haywood, Founder and Creative Director, Patricia Rox. 

Every piece of ready-to-wear, jewellery and scarf is handcrafted by skilled and passionate craftspeople. Patricia Rox works with artisans who are the best at their craft and who are skilled at preserving the integrity of the materials used in each piece created. 

Each print is painstakingly hand-drawn by one artist, with some prints taking 200-300 hours to complete. These one-of-a-kind prints are viewed as works of art. This traditional technique translates to smaller runs and limited editions of each design and ensures that each and every piece will be unique and exquisitely crafted. 

With a mission to find the best natural materials like silk, cotton, linen, horn, enamel and pearl from around the world to create unique pieces that are just as unique as the Patricia Rox woman, all materials are ethically and sustainably sourced from only the best suppliers from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

Currently, the collection of Patricia Rox scarves is available online at www.gnossem.com, a Singapore based online shopping site for unique and quality fashion from top, independent designers. Outside of Singapore, Patricia Rox is available in Asia at Aman Resorts in Bali, and www.shopzaozao.com in Hong Kong. 

An e-commerce site and physical flagship store are in the works.

*All images from Patricia Rox.

Melinda Looi launches Baju Raya 2014 collection with touches from Diana Danielle

Socially conscious fashion initiative emel by Melinda Looi has launched its Baju Raya (clothes for Eid) 2014 collection this month, including a capsule collection co-created by actress Diana Danielle.

Melinda Looi with Diana Danielle. Looi's emel by Melinda Looi has partnered with Volkswagen Group Malaysia to launch a “Safe and Stylish Balik Kampung” contest from 10 June – 10 July 2014. One lucky person stands to win a Volkswagen Polo Sedan in time for their balik kampung (return home) journey this Ramadhan. To participate, log on to http://bit.ly/emelxVW and fill out a survey. Contest forms are also available at all emel by Melinda Looi retail points of sale and selected Volkswagen dealers in Malaysia. The winner will be selected via random draw. No purchase is necessary to enter.

The brainchild of designer Melinda Looi, emel collaborates with local celebrities to promote the spirit of giving during Ramadhan. Looi invited Malaysian actress, model, TV host Diana Danielle to co-design "Diana Danielle x emel" (Diana Danielle for emel), a capsule collection of ladies’ Baju Raya inspired by the celebrity’s personal style of youthful, feminine elegance. A portion of sales proceeds from both collections will be channelled to the Institut Jantung Negara (IHN) Foundation, as nominated by Diana Danielle, to help needy heart patients. 

"Children are our future. I believe it is our responsibility to care for them, even if they’re not our own. Diana and I are both mothers, so we feel strongly about contributing to a cause that provides assistance to children, especially because they cannot help themselves,” said Looi.

The design elements found in both collections are inspired by the Islamic art and architecture of the Alhambra, a UNESCO world heritage site in Spain. Reflecting traditional Islamic motifs of geometric patterns in bright colours, a key highlight of the emel by Melinda Looi 2014 and Diana Danielle x emel collections are several exclusively designed prints which were inspired by Islamic tiles, softened by floral illustrations and cut in fluid garment styles. There is also prominent use of embroidered lace, sparkling embellishments, and unusual trimmings to achieve a bold and structured yet feminine look. 

Both collections are available in a variety of colours, cuts, designs and patterns in quality fabrics including crepe, cotton, and linen, duchess satin and jacquard.
Emel by Melinda Looi 2014 features a day to night range of Baju Raya for ladies as well as Baju Melayu outfits for couples and families seeking co-ordinating outfits for Raya. 

The two collections are sold online at ZALORA Malaysia, ZALORA Singapore, Fashion Valet, and emel by Melinda Looi’s official webstore. The clothes will be available in stores at the Melinda Looi Showroom, Parkson Pavilion and KLCC, as well as ShoesShoesShoes boutiques as well. Retail prices range from RM280 to RM480.

*All images from emel by Melinda Looi.