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Tresures
Of the Orient
Thailand
presents the shopper with unparalleled opportunities, offering
a wide selection of unique locally-made goods. The product
of time-honoured cottage industries or of modern technological
skills, all items are distinguished by superb Thai craftmanship.
Whether you are looking
for luxury buys, such as silks and gems, fashion items,
artworks, handicrafts or attractive souvenirs and gifts,
you'll discover an exceptional range of quality buys offering
excellent value.
The variety of what to
buy is fully matched by an exciting choice of where to
buy. From the ease of modern airconditioned shopping plazas
and department stores to the fascination of traditional
markets and street stalls, there is every scope for both
the browser and the dedicated bargain-hunter.
Royal
Crafts
Thailand is justly renowned for the quality and
variety of its traditional handicrafts. And no finer examples
can be found than those produced under royal patronage.
In 1976, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit sought a way both rural
Thais alternative sources of income and to revive some
of the Kingdom's time-honoured crafts. The result was
the establishment of the Foundation for the Promotion
of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques, popularly
known as SUPPORT. The project has flourished and today
craftmen working under SUPPORT guidance produce a wonderfully
rich collection of many kinds of traditional handicrafts.
Among items available are exquisite handwoven silks, including
the famous tie-dyed mat mee silks of the Northeast ; elegant
yan liphao woven handbags, Thai cottons and many other
reasonably-priced souvenirs. These SUPPORT crafts may
be purchased from the Foundation's chain of exclusive
outlets, known at Chitrlada Shops, and all proceeds go
to the on-going development of the project.
Five Chitrlada Shops are in Bangkok : at the Decorations
Pavilion in the Grand Palace : at the Oriental Plaza shopping
centre; at the Hilton International Bangkok Hotel ; in
the compound of Wimanmek Mansion, and at the Bangkok International
Airport. Other Chitrlada Shops are located at the Rose
Garden in Nakhon Pathom Proovince ; in Pattaya and at
Chiang Mai Airport.
Rattan and Wickerwork
Thailand has earned a fine reputation for its high-quality
rattan and and wicker furniture. Both elegant and durable
, items are available in a wide variety of designs and
atyles. Decorative objects in rattan and wickerwork again
display an excellent standard of workmanship, and are
ideal for lending a light tropical touch to any interior
decor.
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