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Top Shops
the top buys from around the destinations
STYLE CENTRAL
Kou, the brainchild of designer Louise Kou, is a sprawling boutique-cum-department store in Hong Kong where customers can buy everything from lingerie to an original painting by Picasso. Special items to buy as a souvenir of your visit are the fabulous Chinese jackets, cheongsams and shawls from Kou’s collection. These outfits, available in a range of colours, are made of silk, wool, mink and/or velvet, plain or embroidered. MG 22/F, Fung House, 19-20 Connaught Road, Central, tel +852 2530-2234
THE PLAZA TO BE
For shopaholics in Phuket, The Plaza Surin is a glitzy upmarket boutique shopping destination (close to Surin Beach) with two floors of decor, antiques, art, collectibles and fashion. For unique and exciting wardrobe additions, don’t miss Lola Boutique. For more information, visit www.theplazasurin.com. KH
TEXTILE TIMES
Weaving is synonymous with Lao culture. To see an extensive range of high-quality fabrics, head down to OckPopTok Gallery in the heart of Luang Prabang’s Old Quarter. This treasure trove boasts a variety of textile designs – from antique traditional to modern contemporary – encompassing weavings, homewares, clothing and more. The staff are friendly, helpful and ready to explain the various motifs and weaving techniques. JH 73-5 Ban Vat Nong, Old Quarter, tel + 856 (0)71 253219
HOT POTS
A wide range of excellent contemporary ceramics of all shapes and sizes can be found at the new RNG boutique in Bangkok. Hitherto the pots were only sold at the city’s weekend Chatuchak market. CW Shop 420, 4th floor, Silom Complex, Silom Road, tel +66 (0)2 313269
OFF THE WALL
Those in the market for Chinese paintings should check out Calligraphy Street just inside the east side of 
the south gate of Xi’an’s city walls (in Chinese: Shu Yuan Men). Here, you can purchase classic Chinese scroll paintings or calligraphy direct from the artists. The street has a great cultural atmosphere too; giant brushes hang in storefront windows, while hidden nooks hold artists’ studios. ML
MARKET DAYS
Carvings and Thai ceramics are plentiful in Koh Samui’s markets, but for coconut-wood carvings unique to the island check out the stalls at Hin Ta and Hin Yai or around the Big Buddha temple. Bargain hard but friendly for stall purchases. JQ
Discover a few of the best homeware and jewellery boutiques in the north by following this shopping itinerary around Chiang Mai’s Nimanhaemin Road. Provided by those in the know at LUXE City Guides, the recommendations even include where to put down your bags and refuel during the day.
Grab a streetmap and make your way across the road from the Amari-Rin-come Hotel (handy for a quick bathroom stop too). First up, at 6/12 Nimanhaemin Road you’ll find Laan Pailin, which is full of heady, infused oils, candles, soaps, and ready-made Thai herbal compresses. Carry on along to 6/9-10, where you’ll find lovely ethnic jewellery, stones, and silver-work at Kaew Kor. Next to that, Sipsongpanna has silver from Hmong, Lisu, and other hill tribes, while Nandakwang at 6/1-5 sells Thai country-style linen, cotton, napkins and candles – but only a small selection of what’s on offer at their Bangkok store.
Cross the small lane to the Hong Tauw Inn at 95/17-18 for some tasty and cheap home-style Thai food, before heading a few doors down to 6/23-24 to peruse Gerard Collection’s bamboo furniture and table-ware, alongside other mod-Thai homewares. Further on, Kasama at 8/1 has some pretty, glazed celadon ceramics, but be warned – there’s also some tacky wares to avoid. A few more steps along is the Niman Promenade, the teeniest of malls, where you’ll find In Bloom at 14/27, with bright seashell-inspired and freeform silk lanterns and woven vinyl beach bags. Lim’s Collectibles at 14/5 has Mae Fah Luang hill tribe carpets and fabrics, and hand-wrought jewellery wiThethnic flair.
Now cross the road and head back towards the Amari-Rincome, but just before the hotel, turn right into Soi 1 of Nimanhaemin Road.
The whole lane is only a five-minute walk. First up on the left side, think about going bespoke at the contemporary oriental teak and bamboo furniture depot, Design One. Water hyacinth homewares can be found a few doors up at Ayodhya, and then, on a few doors again, you’ll find the standout Wit’s Collection with its beautiful, unique, modern cloisonné vases, burnished bowls and jars. Cross to the other side of the road to look at Sino-style lacquerware of all sizes at Gong Dee Gallery. Hungry? Back on the main drag directly across Soi 1 is the Hong Tauw Inn, or zip to nearby Khun Mor for beef noodles or to Wawee
Coffee for muffins and snacks.
STANDOUT STORES
Ginger (199 Moonmuang Road, tel +66 (0)53 419011, open daily 10am-10.30pm) is a technicolour jewel of shopping indulgence, with shimmery dresses, glittery beaded slippers, velvety notebooks and cushions, gleaming capiz shell vases, woven carry bags and a host of other homewares and decorative items.
Living Space (276 Thapae Road, tel +66 (0)53 874299, www.livingspacedesigns.com, open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm) has some of Asia’s best modern lacquerware in a handsome restored teak house. Luscious, fruity colours and finishes, unique shapes and designs and meticulous craft smanship are all to be found here. The store also stocks a selection of celadon ceramics, silks, bags and homewares.
Prempracha’s Collection (224 Moo 3 Chiangmai-Sankampaeng Road, tel +66
(0)53 338540, open daily 8am-5pm) offers a staggering selection of quality ceramics – pots, vases, urns, crockery, platters, bowls, dinner- and tableware – with plain or crackled glazing, rough matt finishes or playful patterns. Available in almost every shape, design, colour and finish you could wish for.
AKA (35 Rattanakosin Road, tel +66
(0)53 260514, www.aka-aka.com) is an imposing, restored concrete-and-glass 1960s bungalow that houses an urbane collection of Thai and oriental furniture, ceramics and jewellery. All have been given a modern, high-style make-over and all are customisable.
For more hot tips, see LUXE City Guide: Chiang Mai. Email info@luxecityguides.com or buy online at www.luxecityguides.com
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