Sgcarmart Explores: National Day Edition 2025
02 Aug 2025|330 views
It's that time of the year, where jets bluster through our skies and men willingly fall out of perfectly good airplanes, entrusting their lives to woven pieces of nylon. Where citizens adorn their houses and vehicles with the Singapore flag. (A quick aside - here's a friendly reminder that improperly displaying the flag is punishable by law, so unless you want to contribute towards the next round of GST vouchers, due diligence is advised.)
Here's a question for you: What comes to mind when you think of things that Singapore is famous for? Chilli crab comes to mind (seemingly K-pop idols' go-to food when visiting). And of course, architectural delights like the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, as well as the islandwide ban against chewing gum.
But what if we were to rephrase that question into something like this: What comes to mind when you think of things that are "Singapore-made"; in other words, things that originated from the increasingly confined spaces of this city state? How long would you need to contemplate your answer?
Allow us to offer some choices that you may or may not have already known about, in our chariot for the day: The made-in-Singapore Kia EV5.
In the spirit of Huggies' Baby Wipes, we did actually "chope" a table for lunch with this very packet
Oily fingers or sweaty brows? No problem
In the previous Sgcarmart Explores, we brought you around the bicycle town of Pasir Ris, but for our first stop today, we're literally going to the other end of Singapore, all the way to Tuas South Avenue 8, a literal journey to the West, where Kimberly-Clark's Asia-Pacific headquarters reside. T'was a long drive to Tuas, so to speak.
The name may ring a bell amongst those of us who have kids or regularly purchase sanitary products, but did you know that some of Kimberly-Clark's products are actually manufactured locally? That's right, the Huggies' Diapers and Diaper Pants, as well as the Huggies' Baby Wipes, all fall under the made-in-Singapore category.
Kimberly-Clark's Tuas mill also exports its products to markets across the Asia-Pacific region, including countries like Australia and China. So don't be too surprised to find a made-in-Singapore product overseas (those awful "Singapore flavoured" instant noodles don't count).
In hindsight, I guess it would only feel right to "chope" tables at coffee shops with a packet of Huggies' Baby Wipes. A Singapore-made product used for a uniquely Singaporean habit just feels right.
A little colour and whimsy never hurt nobody
Somewhere, Beyond The Vines
Next stop, we're heading over to New Bahru, where one of the more famous inclusions on our list can be found. Beyond The Vines is a Singaporean brand that was established in 2015 and caught the eye for their clean, simple designs and whimsical approach to fashion. Fast forward a decade, and besides its local outlets, the brand also has branches in the Philippines, Thailand, and Japan.
And while Beyond The Vines has multiple brick-and-mortar stores across Singapore, all of them have adopted a different concept. The one at New Bahru, dubbed a 'Design House', is said to offer customisation services and special product lines.
Stepping inside, we were immediately greeted with a bright palette of colours adorning the store and its products. At first glance, one might mistake the store as catering only to female customers, but head deeper in, and one can find an array of men's clothing hung from poles. This store even has an area dedicated for kids, in addition to offering kids-sized clothing and accessories.
All in all, we can definitely see the appeal in products, which my colleague remarked was in line with the current fashion trends. With my preferred outfit of choice being shorts and a football jersey top, I'll take her word for it.
Who knows, maybe one day Rolls-Royce might start offering bespoke choices for aeroplanes
Aerospace meets automotive
Our next destination is located in the North-East Region of Singapore. More specifically, within the vicinity of the Seletar Aerospace Park, where the Rolls-Royce Seletar Campus can be found.
What makes this place so unique is the fact that within the Campus lies the Fan Blade Singapore (FBSG), which is Rolls-Royce's lead facility that has been specifically designed to support the global production of its hollow titanium Wide Chord Fan Blades, and also the first of its kind in Asia.
And while a fan blade in itself may seem pretty insignificant, this particular Wide Chord Fan Blade is the very same one that helps propel the Trent aero engines on selected Airbus and Boeing planes. Indeed, this particular piece of technology powers most of the major airlines in the region, including our very own Singapore Airlines.
Perhaps this city state has more of an impact on the world than most are even aware of.
Now there's a new date idea for the couples out there. You heard it here first
From crabs to chips
With the late afternoon well upon us, the Sgcarmart team took this opportunity to have a little tea break at Rower's Bay Park and showcase the next item on our list: The IRVINS brand.
Singaporeans pride themselves on being a nation of foodies, so it came as no surprise that the salted egg flavour - an IRVINS creation that still continues to take our stomachs by storm - was cooked on our sunny shores.
Today, the Sgcarmart team brought along a packet of IRVINS salted egg fish skin, as well as two cup noodles (salted egg and salted egg mala flavour) birthed from NISSIN's collaboration with the brand. Courtesy of the Kia EV5's vehicle-to-load (V2L) port and an electric kettle, our noodles were soon cooked and put to the taste test.
Enjoying a brief respite amidst the hectic day, we dug in and began wolfing down both noodles and crispy snacks alike. While we were divided over which instant noodle flavour we preferred, the Sgcarmart team unanimously agreed that the salted egg fish skin made for a tasty snack. Alright IRVINS, you've got our approval.
Riding around Singapore in a made-in-Singapore car while blasting Home by Kit Chan really evokes the sense of patriotism within. Is it still too late to sign on?
Trailblazer, literally and figuratively
Alright, time for the last pick on our list, which has been with us from the very start: The made-in-Singapore Kia EV5.
While not the only model to be assembled on our sunny shores (Hyundai's Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models come to mind), the EV5 is Kia's first model to hold that honour and is assembled with the aforementioned Hyundai models at the HMGICS facility in Jurong.
And as expected from an SUV, it was spacious enough, allowing us to gratefully stretch our weary knees. The EV5's largely digital cockpit also retains an array of much-appreciated analog controls, so we didn't have to go tapping and swiping on the central touchscreen to perform the simplest of tasks.
The spaciousness also extends to the rear, where the EV5's large boot - which could've been extended further - allowed us an area flat enough to prepare our little meal conveniently. And of course, the very fact that it comes with handy V2L functionality meant it could power our water kettle in real-time, and bring our mini Singapore-made picnic to life.
Another typically Singaporean thing was the heat and humidity, which made us all the more grateful for the EV5's cool cabin
A cheer from yesteryear
Alas, this National Day Edition comes to an end. It was a rather fulfilling day for us all as we learned a little bit more about our nation and in true National Day spirit, blasted and sung along to Home by Kit Chan.
Check out more of our National Day-related features here:
Car-friendly or not? Rating NDP music videos over the past 10 years based on their car cameos
Here are five alternative carparks to watch the NDP fireworks
It's that time of the year, where jets bluster through our skies and men willingly fall out of perfectly good airplanes, entrusting their lives to woven pieces of nylon. Where citizens adorn their houses and vehicles with the Singapore flag. (A quick aside - here's a friendly reminder that improperly displaying the flag is punishable by law, so unless you want to contribute towards the next round of GST vouchers, due diligence is advised.)
Here's a question for you: What comes to mind when you think of things that Singapore is famous for? Chilli crab comes to mind (seemingly K-pop idols' go-to food when visiting). And of course, architectural delights like the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, as well as the islandwide ban against chewing gum.
But what if we were to rephrase that question into something like this: What comes to mind when you think of things that are "Singapore-made"; in other words, things that originated from the increasingly confined spaces of this city state? How long would you need to contemplate your answer?
Allow us to offer some choices that you may or may not have already known about, in our chariot for the day: The made-in-Singapore Kia EV5.
In the spirit of Huggies' Baby Wipes, we did actually "chope" a table for lunch with this very packet
Oily fingers or sweaty brows? No problem
In the previous Sgcarmart Explores, we brought you around the bicycle town of Pasir Ris, but for our first stop today, we're literally going to the other end of Singapore, all the way to Tuas South Avenue 8, a literal journey to the West, where Kimberly-Clark's Asia-Pacific headquarters reside. T'was a long drive to Tuas, so to speak.
The name may ring a bell amongst those of us who have kids or regularly purchase sanitary products, but did you know that some of Kimberly-Clark's products are actually manufactured locally? That's right, the Huggies' Diapers and Diaper Pants, as well as the Huggies' Baby Wipes, all fall under the made-in-Singapore category.
Kimberly-Clark's Tuas mill also exports its products to markets across the Asia-Pacific region, including countries like Australia and China. So don't be too surprised to find a made-in-Singapore product overseas (those awful "Singapore flavoured" instant noodles don't count).
In hindsight, I guess it would only feel right to "chope" tables at coffee shops with a packet of Huggies' Baby Wipes. A Singapore-made product used for a uniquely Singaporean habit just feels right.
A little colour and whimsy never hurt nobody
Somewhere, Beyond The Vines
Next stop, we're heading over to New Bahru, where one of the more famous inclusions on our list can be found. Beyond The Vines is a Singaporean brand that was established in 2015 and caught the eye for their clean, simple designs and whimsical approach to fashion. Fast forward a decade, and besides its local outlets, the brand also has branches in the Philippines, Thailand, and Japan.
And while Beyond The Vines has multiple brick-and-mortar stores across Singapore, all of them have adopted a different concept. The one at New Bahru, dubbed a 'Design House', is said to offer customisation services and special product lines.
Stepping inside, we were immediately greeted with a bright palette of colours adorning the store and its products. At first glance, one might mistake the store as catering only to female customers, but head deeper in, and one can find an array of men's clothing hung from poles. This store even has an area dedicated for kids, in addition to offering kids-sized clothing and accessories.
All in all, we can definitely see the appeal in products, which my colleague remarked was in line with the current fashion trends. With my preferred outfit of choice being shorts and a football jersey top, I'll take her word for it.
Who knows, maybe one day Rolls-Royce might start offering bespoke choices for aeroplanes
Aerospace meets automotive
Our next destination is located in the North-East Region of Singapore. More specifically, within the vicinity of the Seletar Aerospace Park, where the Rolls-Royce Seletar Campus can be found.
What makes this place so unique is the fact that within the Campus lies the Fan Blade Singapore (FBSG), which is Rolls-Royce's lead facility that has been specifically designed to support the global production of its hollow titanium Wide Chord Fan Blades, and also the first of its kind in Asia.
And while a fan blade in itself may seem pretty insignificant, this particular Wide Chord Fan Blade is the very same one that helps propel the Trent aero engines on selected Airbus and Boeing planes. Indeed, this particular piece of technology powers most of the major airlines in the region, including our very own Singapore Airlines.
Perhaps this city state has more of an impact on the world than most are even aware of.
Now there's a new date idea for the couples out there. You heard it here first
From crabs to chips
With the late afternoon well upon us, the Sgcarmart team took this opportunity to have a little tea break at Rower's Bay Park and showcase the next item on our list: The IRVINS brand.
Singaporeans pride themselves on being a nation of foodies, so it came as no surprise that the salted egg flavour - an IRVINS creation that still continues to take our stomachs by storm - was cooked on our sunny shores.
Today, the Sgcarmart team brought along a packet of IRVINS salted egg fish skin, as well as two cup noodles (salted egg and salted egg mala flavour) birthed from NISSIN's collaboration with the brand. Courtesy of the Kia EV5's vehicle-to-load (V2L) port and an electric kettle, our noodles were soon cooked and put to the taste test.
Enjoying a brief respite amidst the hectic day, we dug in and began wolfing down both noodles and crispy snacks alike. While we were divided over which instant noodle flavour we preferred, the Sgcarmart team unanimously agreed that the salted egg fish skin made for a tasty snack. Alright IRVINS, you've got our approval.
Riding around Singapore in a made-in-Singapore car while blasting Home by Kit Chan really evokes the sense of patriotism within. Is it still too late to sign on?
Trailblazer, literally and figuratively
Alright, time for the last pick on our list, which has been with us from the very start: The made-in-Singapore Kia EV5.
While not the only model to be assembled on our sunny shores (Hyundai's Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 models come to mind), the EV5 is Kia's first model to hold that honour and is assembled with the aforementioned Hyundai models at the HMGICS facility in Jurong.
And as expected from an SUV, it was spacious enough, allowing us to gratefully stretch our weary knees. The EV5's largely digital cockpit also retains an array of much-appreciated analog controls, so we didn't have to go tapping and swiping on the central touchscreen to perform the simplest of tasks.
The spaciousness also extends to the rear, where the EV5's large boot - which could've been extended further - allowed us an area flat enough to prepare our little meal conveniently. And of course, the very fact that it comes with handy V2L functionality meant it could power our water kettle in real-time, and bring our mini Singapore-made picnic to life.
Another typically Singaporean thing was the heat and humidity, which made us all the more grateful for the EV5's cool cabin
A cheer from yesteryear
Alas, this National Day Edition comes to an end. It was a rather fulfilling day for us all as we learned a little bit more about our nation and in true National Day spirit, blasted and sung along to Home by Kit Chan.
Check out more of our National Day-related features here:
Car-friendly or not? Rating NDP music videos over the past 10 years based on their car cameos
Here are five alternative carparks to watch the NDP fireworks
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