Places to buy Malaysian fine crafts

Old Sep 13th, 2014, 10:05 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Places to buy Malaysian fine crafts

I will be in Kuala Lumpur and Penang in November, and would like to visit stores/studios, etc. that sell authentic Malaysian crafts. I like to buy things of high quality that won't be seen in every store. Are there any places that you'd recommend? I'm interested in textiles, but am open to any crafts that aren't produced in mass quantities.

Thanks in advance.
internetwiz is offline  
Old Sep 13th, 2014, 10:25 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's been a few years, but there used to be a speciality textiles shop on the upper level of the Central Market in KL. The textiles there are very high quality. The shops on the main level of Central Market are not as good.

Sorry, I didn't shop for crafts in Penang, so I don't have a recommendation. The other place I found fabulous textiles was in Kuching, but it sounds like you won't be in Sabah/Sarawak this trip.
Kathie is offline  
Old Oct 2nd, 2014, 05:00 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you, Kathie. And it doesn't necessarily have to be textiles. I'd like to find some places that specialize in beautiful local crafts; I have a sizable list of wedding and birthday presents that I'd like to buy during my travels (so any places in Myanmar, Chiang Mai and Singapore would be good, too.)
internetwiz is offline  
Old Oct 2nd, 2014, 06:04 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Singapore is not the best place to buy crafts. Chiang Mai has excellent crafts. Do you have the Nancy Chandler map of CM? The little booklet that comes with it has a list of fair trade craft sources. These shops tend to have the highest quality crafts in my experience.

In Myanmar, here are where I found the best crafts:

at Inle lake there is a weaving collective on the water that is the only place dive ever seen extraction and weaving of lotus fiber. The lotus fiber items are pricy, but you won't see them anywhere else. At InDien on Inle Lake, the walkway up to the temple atop the hill has stalls on both side of the covered walkway with some of the best crafts we saw.

In Mandalay and in Pwin U Lwin a man named Soe Moe has a shop in each city called Pacific World Curio. This is a heat source for interesting crafts, some old, some new. We spent an hour or so talking with the owner and with his son.

In Yangon, I found mostly mass produced crafts at Scott's Market, with the exception of the famed textile place on the second floor, Yoyamay Ethnographic Textile Gallery. This is a fabulous place for textiles! The owners are very knowledgeable and we spent a long time talking with them. We also found that the shops in the Strand had some superb crafts, as did the shop at the Governor's Residence. The shop at the Savoy also had some very nice things. Clearly, the best hotels have the contacts to get the best crafts. If you only choose one hotel to visit, choose the Strand as they had the most shops and the most variety.

I hope this is helpful. I'm also a collector of fine crafts. Happy shopping!
Kathie is offline  
Old Oct 2nd, 2014, 04:43 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, Kathie. I have all those places earmarked to visit. Hopefully the places you visited, and loved, are still as nice as you've described.

I do have Nancy Chandler's map of Chiang Mai, and found some beautiful things (scarves and jewelry) when I was there last year. We're debating whether to explore Baan Tawai this time (we spent about 15 minutes there around closing time) or head back over to Charoenrat or Nimmanhaemin Roads, which were fun to explore.
internetwiz is offline  
Old Oct 2nd, 2014, 05:56 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Another place in Yangon is Pomelo, just down the road from a great restaurant - Monsoon.

http://www.pomeloyangon.com/about-us/
sartoric is offline  
Old Oct 3rd, 2014, 05:03 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Perfect. Thanks, Santoric. I wish I had more time in Yangon, but I will try my best to make it there (and Monsoon).
internetwiz is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
debnyc
Asia
12
Jan 12th, 2013 05:42 AM
VitaO
Asia
10
Dec 2nd, 2012 01:31 PM
bahiye
Asia
32
Sep 29th, 2012 01:42 PM
Suzie_Provo1
Asia
5
Jul 20th, 2012 01:38 PM
Dianne Coppola
Asia
6
Jan 24th, 2003 07:49 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -