Are you tired of going to the same cafes in Singapore? Are you running out of hipster food and latte art to post on Instagram? Not enough “natural landscapes” to take pictures of in this concrete jungle? Or more realistically, are you running out of money to fund your hipster facade? Then you should pay a visit to our friendly neighbour, JB!

 

1. First of all, it’s Johor Bahru.

Located in suburban Malaysia aka in the Middle of Nowhere, JB really can’t get anymore obscure than that.

 

2. Thrifting and Independent Clothing Brands

Hipsters loath big corporations, capitalism and are very environmentally conscious. They apply the 3 Rs (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) in many aspects of their lives and this includes the clothes they wear. In JB, there are many thrift shops called “bundles” which sell really cheap second hand clothes (RM5 jumpers!). There is also the “JB Bazaar” that sell used clothes at very cheap prices. Authentic old Adidas/ Nike/ Reebok could cost you as low as RM40.

Big Bundle

A chain thrift store, bundles are the cheapest way to thrift. There are a lot of clothes to choose from and you have to dig around for gems, but so totally worth it.

Big Bundle has many outlets but I could only manage to find an address for this one: No. 16 Jalan Jening 81200, Johor Bahru.

There are many, many more bundle shops in JB, but because they’re so hipster, you can’t find their addresses on the internet! Tip: Make friends with locals and ask them where you can find a bundle.

I’m sure, based on personal experience, that there will be a bundle shop in every other corner in JB.

All the clothes in this outfit was purchased from a bundle shop:

 

The Scandalist

A vintage shop who go through the trouble to “curate” (lol #hipsterjargon) clothes from Bundles so you don’t have to rummage through smelly old clothes!

The Scandalist is located at: No. 27 Jalan Dhoby 8000, Johor Bahru!

 

We Will Wear Whatever We Want (W6)

Although the founder is Johorean, W6 only sells through different markets throughout Malaysia. They have participated in Melbourne and once, in Singapore last year. Like the Scandalist, W6 travels throughout Malaysia and scour through thousands of clothes to bring together interesting and unique pieces.

Follow W6’s whereabouts on instagram here and Facebook here 

 

JB Bazaar

 

@rk.sn bought his authentic, second hand for RM40!!

JB Bazaar, or “Pasar Karat” as the locals call it is JB’s biggest flea market, where you can find a whole variety of second hand clothes at one place. If you’re lucky, you may even find old Doctor Marten’s, analog cameras and vinyl players. JB Bazaar also have a resident aura reader. He will read your aura for rm10! I repeat. AN AURA READING FOR RM10!

I can hear the voices of broke new-age hipsters planning their trips to JB on their little vintage bicycles. Cute.

Oh and they also sell beard oil.

 

Around the JB Bazaar area, there are also many independent boutiques offering unique pieces, for those of you hipster types who have anti-capitalist and Marxist tendencies. Who needs HnM and Topshop when you’ve got boutiques that offer clothes like these:

TGND (The Girl Next Door)

TGND is located at: 8A, Jalan Dhoby, 8000, Johor Bahru!

 

Bev C

Bev C is located at 54 Jalan Hiok Nee 8000, Johor Bahru!

 

Ireen Handmade

8A, Jalan Dhoby, 8000, Johor Bahru! (yes, it is located in the same unit as TGND!)

 

3. Hipster Cafes

Let’s not forgot the “quaint” cafes. They basically offer great coffee and dessert, but in RINGGIT! !

Faculty of Caffeine

Faculty of Caffeine offers a great brunch menu that includes “Bana-nuts”: a peanut butter, banana, croissant and ice cream dessert dish and great coffee.

Faulty of Caffeine is located at 106, Jalan Trus, 8000 Johor Bahru!

 

Bev C Cafe

Wonderful pies and lots of fancy coffee concoctions, Bev C cafe has probably one of the more unique selections including truffle pies and wild mushroom soup. !

Bev C Cafe is located at 54 Jalan Hiok Nee 8000, Johor Bahru!

 

Pots

Pots give hipster culture a Johorean twist, with local food such as Nasi Lemak!!

Pots is located at: No. 8 Pahang Road and No. 29C Skudai Road, Johor Bahru!

All of these cafes sell yummy pastries and “artisan” (lol #morehipsterjargon) coffee for your Instagram timelines. !

 

4. Nature

Johor is also home to lots of flora and fauna. If you are a broke hipster who can’t afford a trip to the wilderness of Canada, than JB would suffice with it’s beaches and waterfalls.

Kota Tinggi Waterfalls

 

Desaru Beach

So there you go, my Singaporean hipsters. Those are the reasons why you should go over to JB to improve your hipster cred and your Instagram feeds! Clothes, Coffee, Nature and BEARD OIL... all super affordable and just right across the Causeway!

 

Top photo via gardennom

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