A new lifestyle hub at *SCAPE is bringing together shopping, wellness and live experiences while helping local brands to emerge and grow through a new retail accelerator programme.

Called L^IFE, the two-storey space officially opened on May 26 alongside the launch of the Retail Accelerator at L^IFE by Innovate360, a two-year incubator programme supported by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) and developed with the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA).

Located across Levels 1 and 2 of *SCAPE near Somerset MRT, the hub is intended to complement *SCAPE’s youth-focused ecosystem while contributing to ongoing rejuvenation efforts in the Somerset Belt area.

In her opening remarks at the launch event, Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling said the programme will bring together 16 local brands with “compelling brand stories and original products” at Level 1 of the space.

According to Low, participating brands will receive subsidised rental rates and shared resources, allowing them to test and refine their concepts without being overwhelmed by operational costs.

Mentorship and other support

Beyond retail space, participating brands will also receive mentorship, workshops and support in areas such as marketing, livestreaming, digital adoption and overseas expansion.

Low added that the initiative also aims to create a more experiential retail environment for shoppers.

“This space at *SCAPE will feature distinctive experiential retail concepts and a diverse range of products,” she said.

Featured brands include Koyoyu Studio, Nestbloom, Scentopia and Saint Avia, among others, CNA reported.

The space will also host wellness sessions, run clubs, workshops, business socials and brand-led activations aimed at building communities around participating brands.