The economy may be heading south, but this has not deterred some retailers from setting up shop in the upcoming Ion Orchard.

The swish mall in Orchard Turn has confirmed another three brands that are setting up their first Singapore standalone stores: luxury Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe, Italian designer Roberto Cavalli's diffusion line Just Cavalli and French label Paule Ka.

They join at least 12 other labels that are making their home within the eight-storey mall, including American masstige brands such as Hilfiger Denim, Lucky Jeans and Steve Madden shoes and designer labels Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Tam.

Global Retail Inc (GRI), which brings in Steve Madden, says it picked Ion Orchard for its 'premium' image and 'fantastic location'.

Shoppers will be spoilt for choice when the Ion Orchard opens in the middle of next year. Labels they can look forward to include Vivienne Tam (top picture), Custo Barcelonar (above) and Marc Jacobs.

Adds Nancy Chen, GRI's country retail director: 'It should be one of the most exciting new malls to open in Singapore in the next few years.'

American brand BCBG Max Azria is also in talks to set up a new boutique to add to its two standalone stores here in Paragon and Wisma Atria.

Shrugging off the weakening market, Regina C. Lesslar, senior vice-president of Gamut Marketing which handles the BCBG Max Azria brand for the C.K. Tang group, says: 'It's cyclical. Even if the market is down at the moment, you want to get into a mall like that now, otherwise you won't be able to next time.'

Fashionistas here can get their hands on American designer Marc Jacobs' vintage-inspired creations from his spring/summer 2009 collection when the mall is completed in the middle of next year.

The 1,400 sq ft Marc Jacobs boutique, run by the Club 21 retail group, will carry the full collection except homeware.

Another new-to-Singapore brand, Harry Winston - the jeweller of choice at the Oscars - will also have a 1,400 sq ft space within.

China-born, New York-based designer Vivienne Tam, who showed a spring/summer 2009 collection of poetic, Zen-like florals and signature reds at the recent New York Fashion Week, will open a 1,000 sq ft boutique.

Home-grown multi-label boutique Tyan's managing director Tan Beng Yan, who is setting up the new flagship, says it has been carrying Vivienne Tam for nine years and 'it is about time' to have a standalone shop in Singapore too.

Spanish mid-priced label Custo Barcelona, which is well-known for its colourful, graphically inclined apparel for men and women, will also make its Singapore debut with a 1,100 sq ft store.

Ann Leong, chief executive of ImaginAsia Group, a retail and services company that also brings in French brand Petit Bateau, says: 'Our strategy is to focus on European fashion brands that are already established and successful. Custo Barcelona has the potential to become a global brand and we can do it justice by bringing it into Asia.'

Ion Orchard is about 50 per cent leased and remains upbeat despite the economic downturn.

Orchard Turn Developments chief executive Soon Su Lin tells Urban: 'We are confident that Ion Orchard, when it opens next year with its carefully selected stable of tenants...will be a natural magnet.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Sep 26, 2008.