[Event, 17 to 19 Jan] Culture Cartel 2025 Lits Singapore EXPO with Food, Art, and Street Culture Icons

The final day of Culture Cartel 2025 is here, and if you have yet to hit the Singapore EXPO Hall 5 this weekend, you are missing out on the region’s largest street culture event. Moreover, ARTBOX 2025 is happening at the same time in the hall just next door and you can hit two iconic events on the same day.

Culture Cartel: ICONS Uprising, now in its fifth edition, has brought together over 250 brands, artists, and creators to celebrate art, fashion, music, tattoos, and toys in one showcase.

From exclusive merchandise to interactive activities, this year’s convention is a hub for creativity and innovation, with lots of things to see, do and shop for visitors.

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Selected Highlights

Retro Arcade Nostalgia at Suzuki Booth

The Suzuki booth is a retro gamer’s dream for me and my son as I introduced him to arcade games I used to play. Visitors relived their childhoods with classic arcade games like Street Fighter while checking out Suzuki’s new Swift Hybrid and legendary Jimny models. It was a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern design.

Battle of Minds at Aliwal Chess Club

Aliwal Chess Club, known for its unconventional street chess tournaments, brought a competitive yet laid-back vibe to the event. With chessboards scattered throughout their booth, attendees from casual players to seasoned strategists enjoyed a vibrant display of wit and skill. Win free Monster energy drinks when you compete and win their seeded chess players.

Street Basketball at SGP 3×3 League 2025

Basketball fans flocked to the inaugural SGP 3×3 League hosted by the Basketball Association of Singapore. The competition added sound and energy to the venue, with fast-paced matches showcasing athleticism and raw talent.

Culture Cartel Vault

The Vault was a fun visual spectacle, showcasing rare as well as quirky collectibles:

• Elim Chew’s Star Wars collection, featuring vintage Kenner action figures valued at over S$40,000.
• Ho Kien Meng’s curated G-SHOCK lineup, including the coveted Frogman Mastermind edition.

• Sofie Chandra’s extensive Hello Kitty collection, highlighted by a rare Hello Kitty x Louis Vuitton bag.
  These pieces offered a glimpse into the passions and obsessions that define street culture.

Initial D AE86 Trueno at Horizon Drivers Club

The Horizon Drivers Club had car enthusiasts buzzing with their display of supercars, classic vehicles, and, most notably, the iconic Trueno AE86 from the hit racing manga/anime series, Initial D.

Tattoo Artistry

The Tattoo Con was a highlight, gathering over 180 tattoo artists from around the world. We got to witness live tattoo sessions and competitions showcasing fine artistry. Award-winning artist Valentina Riabova drew crowds with her hyper-realistic designs.

David Huynh’s Dollar Bill Art

Canadian artist David Huynh’s hand-painted US dollar bills were a huge draw. His pop-culture-inspired designs, featuring characters from the likes of Dragon Ball, The Simpsons and Batman, were available as limited-edition collectibles.

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Nicky Diamond: A Streetwear Icon

One of the most anticipated appearances this year was Nicky Diamond, the founder of the globally recognised Diamond Supply Co.

His iconic streetwear brand has been a staple in skate culture and street fashion for decades, and his presence brought an extra layer of star power to Culture Cartel 2025. Fans lined up to meet the man behind some of the most sought-after collaborations with brands like Nike SB and Puma, and to purchase exclusive Diamond Supply Co. merchandise available only at the event.

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Merchandising Extravaganza

This year’s event featured a wide variety of merchandise, from exclusive streetwear to collectibles:

• ASICS SportStyle: Attendees had first access to the GEL-KINETIC FLUENT shoes, blending premium materials with sleek designs for ultimate comfort and style.

• CASETiFY: Limited-edition phone cases featuring designs by Aeropalmics, DAZE, and Yung Raja were on display, with only 50 pieces per design available.

• ToyQube: exclusive Astro Boy collectibles released in collaboration with Culture Cartel.
• MONSOON PATROL x ASICS: Limited to 150 pieces, these custom sneakers combined sleek designs with bold colourways

• Auchentoshan x An Autonomous Individual: Whisky lovers can shop for stylish streetwear while enjoying bespoke whisky cocktails.
• Oakley x Brain Dead: Exclusive eyewear collections and a sneak preview of their SS25 Apparel and Accessories collection.

• Marketspace: A curated flea market featured unique items from over 10 small businesses, including vintage cameras, streetwear, and accessories.

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Participating Artists and Brands

Some of the notable names in the industry were featured at Culture Cartel 2025:

• Phillip Leeds: The Creative Director behind Pharrell Williams’ Billionaire Boys Club presented Polaroid portraits of cultural icons like Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z.

• Tony Rapacioli (The Visual Dome): Showcased his retrofuturistic AI art exhibition, available for sale exclusively at the event.
• SBTG x Kanky x STAPLE: Their global collaboration launched limited-edition sneakers, blending influences from Singapore, Jakarta, and New York.

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Ticketing and Venue Information

• Ticket Prices:
  • General Sale: S$16
  • VIP Pass: S$50 (includes early access, raffle tickets, door gifts, and first dibs on limited-edition drops)
• Venue: Singapore EXPO, Hall 5, 1 Expo Drive, Singapore 486150
• Opening Hours:
  • 17 January 2025 (Friday): 2pm-10pm (VIP), 3pm-10pm (General)
  • 18-19 January 2025 (Saturday & Sunday): 10am-10pm (VIP), 11am-10pm (General)