Journal

Samantha Colbert is deeply fascinated by the way places shape us. In her early career she managed arts, cultural, and community spaces, designing ways for people to experience belonging, connection, and well-being through third spaces. Her approach to design, blending creativity with community, has been at the heart of everything she’s done, from running a bespoke stationery studio in Hong Kong to crafting her first candles under the brand Rue Colbert in Sydney in 2010.

At Strait Lights, we believe in the transformative power of stories. We are makers who use design to honor the connection and belonging we feel to a place. Our collections of handcrafted home fragrances and lifestyle goods capture the magic of Singapore’s neighborhoods and streetscapes, turning everyday moments into lasting keepsakes.

Blending craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, every piece is a tribute to the city’s rich cultural layers, its architecture, and the details of everyday life. Beyond products, Strait Lights is built with purpose, a business for good, committed to choosing only the best materials, operating with sustainability at the centre, running charity initiatives, and creating opportunities for disadvantaged women in Singapore to thrive.