The designer furniture retailer opens its first ‘bricks and mortar’ store in the busy Chinatown district today
2 minLovers of interior design now have a new destination with Australian designer furniture retailer Cult opening its first store in Singapore today.
The store at 48 Club Street, Singapore represents Cult’s first foray into a ‘bricks and mortar’ retail environment in Asia, following on from six years of B2B activity in Asia.
Founded in Sydney by Richard Munao in 1997 as Corporate Culture, the Singapore Cult store located in the heart of the busy Chinatown district will stock familiar Australian brands such as Nau, Tait and Coco Flip, as well as Danish design houses including HAY, Gubi, Vipp and &Tradition.
Cult has been active in Singapore since 2017, with the team completing projects across Asia in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Thailand, among others.
Much like the evolution from a trade-only business in Australia to a popular retail environment with stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, Mr Munao said the opening of the store in Chinatown is in response to repeated demand from clients to be able to experience and access the products for themselves.
“Our first six years in Singapore were dedicated to relationship building with key clients and increasing the Cult brand awareness within the regional design community,” he said.
“During the pandemic the rising demand for well-designed furniture for the home also led to a sharp increase in retail enquiries, sales and repeated requests from retail clients for us to have a physical store to visit.”
Business development manager for Cult Singapore, Ravi Shankar, said now was the right time to launch the business to the wider public with an eye for design.
“Affluent Singaporeans are willing to spend more to furnish their homes and businesses now than 10 years ago, when only the wealthiest individuals and corporations would consider ‘designer’ furniture,” he said. “Singapore also remains a gateway to South East Asia, with some of the best design work for the region being undertaken by firms in Singapore.
“This is likely to continue with the steady influx of talent and organisations from areas such as Hong Kong and Shanghai.”
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There was a time — not so long ago — when the idea of an indulgent spa day was simply about relaxing massages and therapeutic facials, followed by a five-star lunch and perhaps a dip in a mineral pool. But the health and wellness industry has evolved rapidly, bringing with it an explosion of cutting-edge treatments designed to slow ageing, boost vitality, and extend healthspan.
Cold-water plunge pools, infrared saunas, and float tanks have taken over as the staples of health spas, wellness centres, and high-end gyms. Even real estate developments are tapping into this trend. But now, high-tech longevity treatments — from cryotherapy and IV infusions to genetic testing and advanced cellular therapies — are taking the wellness scene in Australia to unprecedented levels.
A burgeoning market globally, the health and wellness industry is estimated to have been worth more than US$5.6 trillion in 2022. Projections suggest this figure will grow to a staggering $13 trillion by 2031, with Australia steadily catching up to the US and Europe, where longevity treatments are thriving. High-profile figures like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Chris Hemsworth, and even Tom Brady are among the faces championing biohacking and experimental therapies, from stem cell infusions to blood transfusions.
The Rise of Longevity Clinics in Australia
One of the key players in Australia’s emerging longevity scene is Tristan Sternson, founder of Super Young. Sternson’s foray into the world of longevity treatments began as he approached 40 — a milestone that made him reflect on his health. As a former elite athlete, the transition from feeling invincible to feeling vulnerable led him to explore solutions that would help him reclaim vitality.
Initially frustrated by the lack of accessible health data locally, Sternson turned to overseas clinics for tests and treatments that painted a clearer picture of his biological needs. His experience inspired him to create Super Young, a Melbourne-based clinic offering evidence-based therapies tailored to individual needs. Services include cryotherapy, IV infusions, genetic testing, and biological age assessments. Memberships range from $85–$289 per week, while one-off tests start at $899.
Sternson emphasises the importance of personalised treatments. “I want people to start with the evidence side of it so they can really understand their own body and what treatments will work for them,” he says.
The Science of Longevity Medicine
Dr Karen Coates, an integrative medical doctor and a presenter for The Longevity Project at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, echoes Sternson’s emphasis on personalisation. She explains that longevity isn’t just about living longer but about living better — optimising health today while securing vitality for the future.
“One-size-fits-all approaches don’t apply when it comes to longevity,” says Dr Coates. “It’s about understanding your body’s genetic makeup and adopting personalised strategies to support health and longevity.”
At Gwinganna’s four-night Longevity Project retreat, guests can undergo gene testing, biological age assessments, and learn strategies to bridge the gap between chronological and biological age. Packages for the retreat range from $2915 to $5460.
Biohacking for All Budgets
Not all longevity treatments come with hefty price tags. Health coach Camilla Thompson points out that simple lifestyle adjustments — like cold showers to stimulate circulation or adding Celtic sea salt to water for better hydration — can supplement advanced therapies.
While advanced treatments like stem cell and peptide therapies are yet to gain widespread regulatory approval in Australia, Sternson is optimistic about their future. He envisions a time when longevity centres will be as common as gyms, giving clients the tools to monitor and manage their health with precision.
“What I’d love to see is health insurance companies get on board,” Sternson adds. “If they can give discounts for safe driving based on car data, why not for healthy habits based on glucose monitoring or other health indicators?”
As Australia continues to embrace longevity medicine, it’s clear the industry is poised to reshape not just health and wellness but how Australians approach ageing itself.
