MERLION HEAD PLASTIC BAG : THE MAMA SHOP AND HAWKER CENTRE STAPLE

Image courtesy of Wheniwasfour
Image courtesy of Wheniwasfour
Image courtesy of Hanstanstudio
Footage courtesy of Hanstanstudio
Image courtesy of The Straits Times

The Merlion symbol was created in 1964 by Alec Fraser-Brunner, a British zoologist and curator, as a logo for the Singapore Tourism Board. Separately, Singapore’s iconic red Lion Head symbol was designed by Michael Lee, who won a national emblem competition in 1986.

The origins of the Merlion prints on the humble plastic bag remain unknown. No one can say for certain who first produced them, yet these bags have become an unmistakable part of everyday life in Singapore, used for decades to carry food and groceries, and now an iconic local statement in their own right.

Designers such as Wheniwasfour and Hans Tan Studio have since reinterpreted this familiar motif, transforming it into reusable bags and fashion pieces that bridge everyday nostalgia with contemporary design.

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