Brought to you by Singapore’s very own illustrators and artists, here are some of the quirkiest vinyl and die-cut stickers you can play around with...
Confession: I’ve yet to grow out of the sticker phase. As a twenty-something adult, I’m still checking out flea markets and art booths for quirky illustrative stickers to adorn my boring laptop, mood boards, or anything else with a flat surface, basically. And I’ll grab a couple of cool enamel pins and patches, as well as wacky and woke zines for my obsessive collection while at it. Besides getting to know Singapore’s brilliant illustrators, here are some of the city’s rad under-the-radar creatives who happen to have playful stickers up for grabs…
UltraaViolets
You gotta love UltraaViolets’ (aka Kimberly) eye-catching, playful illustrations. Besides creating uber rad ready-to-wear apparel and accessories that are available in limited quantities at Actually, the artist has a treasure trove of quirky sticker packs featuring kooky animals and fruits!
UltraaViolets, follow her on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the next pop-up and online sale
Tepi Curry
One look at Tepi Curry’s (aka Stephanie Cahyadi) Instagram profile, and you’ll be dying to want more of her colour-popping illustrations. Fantastic news: you can own a couple of her pastel-hued patches and stickers that totally reminds you of summer and fleeting youth — simply slid into her DMs for deets on how to get your hands on them!
Tepi Curry, available to shop via Instagram
Almost Asthma
If wacky, eccentric and slightly trippy is something you can get into, Almost Asthma (aka Honeycombers’ resident designer Bee Suan Toh) will be just your thing. This is a limited collection and her pins, kooky posters and artworks are worth a cop. We say her adult-baby stickers (which she calls her ‘Babies’) are weirdly cute. DM via Instagram or nudge via email to snap up her sticker packs and more!
Almost Asthma, available to shop via Instagram or email at [email protected]
The C Project
Can’t get enough of pop culture? Check out The C Project! This sister-duo is responsible for the collection of pins, earrings and stickers you see at FabCafe and Templaque @ JEM featuring music icons like the Spice Girls, Prince, Morrissey, Bob Dylan, Frank Ocean, as well as actress Drew Barrymore and artist Frida Kahlo.
The C Project, available to shop online and at available stockists including FabCafe and Templaque @ JEM
OIC x Supermama
It’s hard not to miss these hardcovers as you step into the bright space of Supermama! Teaming up with Organisation of Illustrators Council, these interactive sticker books pretty much tell stories of Singapore’s past and present. Besides peeling and pasting on a blank canvas, the stickers are included for you to play around within its pages. It’s good fun for kids, and bizarrely therapeutic for adults.
OIC x Supermama Sticker Books, available to shop at Supermama, 265 Beach Rd, Singapore 199544
Yell0w
You’ve probably seen Yell0w’s (aka Adelina Tan) Netflix mural or her electric art at Design District Dialogue’s House of Eye-Yah (her populated seabed illustration is also featured in EyeYah Magazine). She was also featured in Supermama’s collab with OIC for its line of sticker books. And if you’re a fan, you’ll definitely one a piece of her art planted onto your belongings like we do. Besides bagging her gorgeous prints, you can also snap up packs of intricate stickers and more — just keep a lookout on her next pop-up.
Yell0w, follow her on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the next pop-up
Barbarian Flower
Nothing but good vibes only, Singapore-based Malaysian illustrator Barbarian Flower’s creations are a great mix of fun and eccentric — think human bodies with animal heads or an odd fusion of a girl and a bunny (animorphs, anyone?). Her quirky wares, including prints, patches, and of course, sticker packs are hot sellers, having had them sold at pop-ups in Singapore and around the region including Taipei. Her zany stickers are also available at Cat Socrates!
Barbarian Flower, follow her on Instagram for updates on the next pop-up and sale
Bonus: Sam Lo (SKL0)
Alternatively known as the ‘Sticker Lady’, Sam Lo (aka SKL0) is no stranger to the sticker scene — namely street art. The brilliantly bold artist not only gained notoriety for decking the city with her Singlish stickers (she was also arrested for spray painting on a public road back in 2012!), but has made a mark at the totally ‘grammable Sentosa Bright Nights as well as the Design District Dialogue Holland Village where her stickers were up for grabs via a dispenser. Here’s us wishing for more sticker goodness from the Sticker Lady! In the meantime, check out our exclusive chat with Sam Lo...
Sam Lo/SKL0, check out her Instagram for updates and more
Where to DIY your very own
First off, get inspired and let those creative juices flow. Once you’re happy with your drafts, decide if you’re looking to produce them as die-cut stickers (following the outline of your art) or standard stickers (in shapes of circles or squares). You can also amp up the cool-factor by having it produced in waterproof vinyl, textured or embossed. For high-quality sticker printing services, look no further than Sticker Robot (with international shipping), Gumtoo (free Singapore shipping) and Sticker Mule (with free shipping to Singapore for orders above US$200). They also do sample stickers so you know what to expect!
But after an exchange of tips with some of the illustrators mentioned, most of them produce their very own stickers overseas in countries like China where production is cheaper without losing quality. If you’re new to the game, start off with small batches as testers to gauge quality. It’s also important to remain friendly with these printer companies as you will want to establish a long-term partnership and trust, especially if you’re looking to actually sell your creations.
Like this story? Check these out:
Pins and patches to pimp your denim and more
Local illustrators you need to know right now
Life-sized art for your ‘gram
Where to shop affordable art