Walking around the busy hub of the Old Market area of Siem Reap in Cambodia, its not hard to see that fashion is very much alive in this part of the world with a vast range of clothes shops and boutiques in the area. Given that Siem Reap is the gateway to the magnificent Angkor Temples, the city has seen a large growth of visitors due to the thousands upon thousands of people coming to see the temples by day and enjoying themselves by night. This makes the Old Market area a prime spot for Cambodian clothes shops providing a great outlet to be able to expose talents of local upcoming designers as well as other shops set up by visitors who have fell in love with the beautiful country and its people – with the goal of selling locally made garments and accessories but also giving back to the needy people of Cambodia. Having spent a short time in Siem Reap, here are a few places which caught my attention:
Wanderlust
The Alley West, Old Market Area, Siem Reap, Cambodia
http://www.wanderlustcambodia.com
This very characteristic boutique is located in the bustling area of The Alley which is lined with many eateries. The moment you walk past, its not hard for this place to get your attention with its cool décor, fashionable garments and funky printed handbags. Set up by former fashion editor for Jane and US Marie Claire, Elizabeth Kiester’s garments and items are made locally and provides local Cambodians a fair wage and the ability to work from home to look after their family. So if you are looking for something cool and trendy without the ridiculous price tag and at the same time want to help support the locals, this is a must go place!
Cherry Blossom Boutique
Pub Street Alley, Old Market Area, Siem Reap, Cambodia
http://www.cherryblossomangkorboutique.com
This boutique is run by Siem Reap local Khorn Saren who designs all of the garments on display. She offers a made to measure service which means you will get a great fitting garment for a reasonable price. The selection ranges from elegant dresses, accessories as well as some more casual items like the relaxed floral pattern dress pictured above. Specialising in silk, the boutique sources natural Cambodian silk and aids in reviving the silk-making skills that have largely been lost in recent years, providing a livelihood for poor women from rural areas and allowing for the preservation of the art of traditional Cambodian silk-making. Another great reason to visit this place and support local talent and local communities.
Circle Boutique
The Alley West, Old Market Area, Siem Reap, Cambodia
http://circlecambodia.wordpress.com | http://www.keokjay.org | http://www.iidadesigns.com
A stones throw away from Wanderlust is the Circle Boutique; founded by Lauren Iida, a Seattle designer, and San Sambo, a young Khmer university student. This little boutique stocks two lines of clothing, Iida and KeoK’jay, both provide opportunities and support needy Cambodians:
Iida’s products are classically inspired and made from vintage and second hand fabrics. All of which are produced by Circle Cambodia who employ a small group of young women from impoverished rural areas of the country as custom tailors. They are provided with a fair salary, free on-site housing, food, and Khmer and English literacy classes.
KeoK’jay is a fair fashion social enterprise providing jobs for HIV positive women in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, to craft recycled t-shirts, skirts, bags, and other goodies – which is actually perfectly captured by its name as KeoK’jay means “bright green or fresh” in Khmer.
Whether its the more classic inspired Iida designs or the slightly more funky KeoK’jay garments which get your attention – with the choice of two very distinct styles available here, you shouldn’t have much problem in finding something you like without the ludicrous price tag.
Bubble Tea
Lower Pub Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Having guessed from the picture above, this is actually a good spot if you are after vintage and vintage inspired items with a price tag that is very easy on the bank account balance – the sign above states garments ranging from $4 USD – $8 USD! This is quite an unusual place as they actually serve bubble tea and other refreshments downstairs but have a large selection of vintage items upstairs…
If you want more information on any of the places featured, please visit their respective websites.
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