recently, i passed through ION Orchard – the giant designer complex that houses only haute, runway brands. i didnt really have a chance to peek into the shops above B1 – the likes of Prada, LV and D&G, which are probably frequented by wives of multi-millionaires for whom a haircut should cost about $500 – but from the frequency of human activity within, it was clear that little can come in the way of singaporeans and shopping.
the fact that the ION had opened smack in the middle of what has been termed a very rough patch in our economic history raised several eyebrows. i mean, if you take the newspapers to heart about their predictions of how we have all become that much poorer, the mall should have been a ghost town, with mannequins looking out sadly through the designer window displays.
but singaporeans proved the theory all wrong by descending on ION once it opened, creating yet another mall-crush as we see in all other shopping spots around the island. what was even more startling was that people were getting all excited about its opening – not in a ‘oh-i-wanna-go-look’ way, but in a ‘man-i-gotta-use-my card-more’ kinda way. and ION has taken its pride of place in orchard’s line of malls – move over Taka.
it makes me wonder if the recession is nothing more than a crazy hoax that just got blown up in the press.
sure, freddie mac and fannie mae are suffering, loads of companies are closing down, and many companies here have cancelled bonuses and pay-rises citing it as a reason. did i mention finding a job is doubly-hard now because of the recession – the worst to hit us since the great depression of the 1920s?
but everywhere i go – from bugis to mustafa to orchard, i see people shopping away like there’s no tomorrow. make-up, clothes, bags, shoes – there really is no dearth of shoppers at all these counters. i have seen women literally clawing at each other during sales, with no one seeming eager to hold on to their wallets. restaurants and cafes keep coming up – folks are now even more willing to support establishments that pin their appeal on gourmet ingredients and impeccable plating. i see champagne brunches and offers for weekend hotel stays being advertised with gusto.
so, where was the recession-talk again?
maybe there were some hidden reserves that nobody knew about, that all these shoppers tapped into; maybe they all shopped away until they met a rich banker ala shopaholic series – or maybe they are shopping away in the hopes of meeting a rich banker; maybe they took warren buffet’s advice to heart – the one about being adventurous while others are fearful (or something like that); maybe there is no recession and we are all just kidding ourselves.
whatever may be the case, i would be more than happy to uncover the basis of this oxymoronic phenomenon – and if it might help me gain some credit to go shopping, all the better!
the world in my eyes 