Rumah Bebe

Housed in a uniquely teal storefront, Rumah Bebe is renowned for its preservation of Peranakan culture. The building it resides in was built all the way back in 1928, and blends in well with the timeless look of the Katong streets.

The owner, Bebe Seet, takes pride in the art of beading. Using tiny glass beads imported all the way from Venice, she produces a wide range of handmade bead products and shares her skills with visitors through beading workshops. Shoes and kebayas made by Bebe Seet can be found in the shop. Taking great pride in her heritage, Bebe Seet's works through Rumah Bebe represent one of few remaining efforts to encapsulate the traditional Peranakan lifestyle, which has seemingly lost its place in modern Singapore over time.

Interestingly, Bebe Seet admits that she had little exposure to Peranakan culture as a child, but picked up beading as a hobby first in 1995 as she could not find herself a pair of kasut manik in Singapore. That led her to realise how Nyonyas were not passing on the art form to their children. In 1999, the Bebe's Niche boutique was set up to run what are now popular classes by Bebe Seet herself. After two location changes in 2000 and 2003, Rumah Bebe still stands strong along the streets of Katong.