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| Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre (Phnom Penh) - Photo Source: TripAdvisor |
Whether you're hunting for gifts for your family or a memento of your time spent here, there are a few special places it might pay to check out.
On Street 13 is Friend's 'n' Stuff, a funky little store specializing bags, clothing, jewelry and accessories. All the products in-store are made by local families who come from a variety of difficult circumstances. Their creations feature bold colors and quirky designs, and are often crafted using recycled materials. Every purchase you make helps to secure a future for the children of these families.
A little further along Street 13 you'll find the Artisans d'Angkor Boutique showroom. Artisans d'Angkor is a social enterprise founded in the hope of providing training and employment to rural Cambodians. It now employs over 1300 people, and over 900 of these are artisans. The Phnom Penh boutique store showcases beautiful gifts, decorations, artworks and garments crafted by talented Cambodian artisans from around the country.
A few steps from the Russian Market, on the corner of streets 450 and 155, is the Rajana Association store. Rajana's mission is to reignite the creative spark doused by the Khmer Rouge regime. This Cambodian-run not-for-profit organization provides training and employment opportunities for local people, pairing traditional skills with contemporary design. With unique jewelry pieces, bags and other accessories, fellas might struggle to drag their partners away from this one.
On street 178 is Daughters of Cambodia's boutique store and visitor center. Stocking a variety of interesting and attractive products including jewelry, scarves and bags, children's toys, men's products, T-shirts, and home decor items, you're sure to find something with your name on it. All the products in-store are handcrafted by young women and men who have overcome their former lives as victims of trafficking in Cambodia's sex industry.
Take a short stroll down the riverside from the Night Market and you'll find the Tonlé, on the corner of Street 110 and Sisowath Quay. And ethical fashion label based right here in Phnom Penh, Tonlé is all about paying workers fair wages, with decent benefits, while using ethically and environmentally friendly sourced material so you can feel good about looking great. With everything from youthful prints to sophisticated dresses and funking accessories, you'd be forgiven for splurging a little here.
On the corner of Streets 51 and 360 is the Tabitha store. This store features a gorgeous range of beautiful, handcrafted silk products. From bedding, to tablecloths, to bags and shawls, all crafted from the finest Cambodian silk. These products are all designed and produced locally by Cambodian artisans through Tabitha's program. Through this project, participants learn valuable skill including craftsmanship and management of personal finances.
Across the road from the Toul Sleng Museum on Street 133 is Cambodian Creations. This social enterprise aims to generate income for at-risk Cambodian workers in an ethical, fair-trade environment. The proceeds generated by this initiative provide the workers with dependable, meaningful employment that allows them to make plans and lay the groundwork for a brighter future. They stock a fabulous range of jewelry, handicrafts and knitted toys, sourced from number socially responsible producers across Cambodia. Word to the wise, their knitted elephants are truly adorable; if you've got a kids or younger siblings in your life, you'll definitely struggle to leave without buying one to send home.
Have a wander down Street 144, near Kandal Market, and you'll come across the Made store. The ethos of this transformative project is all about providing sustainable, viable employment as a way to aid healing, restoration, and reintegration for survivors of sex trafficking or sexual exploitations, Everything in-store is carefully handmade to the highest quality in their employment center just outside of Phnom Penh. Made provides these survivors with financial security, training and most importantly, a life of stability away from the world they've left behind. Featuring a variety of cool, casual apparel, bags, wallets and other accessories, Made is well worth a visit.
Source: PocketGuideCambodia
