Our 2015 travels brought us back to Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Turkey. All countries where we have made purchases in the past; it was nice to know our way around!
One of our favourite new finds was ‘Finest Lacquer’ in Hanoi. They produce lacquer with a very different feel and texture; the base of the product is fiberglass with a lacquered finish. The quality is very good and the material quite strong. They design everything themselves and specialize in very unique colours. They produce most of the product in their Hanoi factory and source some of the product in a local village that specializes in ceramics.
The shop is now run by Dat and her brother Hoang Anh Nguyen. With regular supervision and help of their mother. The family’s history is an incredible story that mirrors the past 60 years of Hanoi.
The business was founded 30 years ago by the mother, with the help of her 4 son’s. The father was a tailor who had gone blind and passed away. The mother started the business as a single mother when the children were very small. She learned French, Russian and German as the country moved through different phases of international visitors. Initially she started as a tailor equipment supply store, and then added one service after another to the point where now they have 4 businesses around the world.
The youngest son Hoang Anh runs the Lacquer shop with his sister Dat, the oldest son lives in London and operates an art gallery, the second son runs the factory, sadly the third son passed away, but his wife is running one of the businesses. Five years ago Mother adopted Dat and welcomed her into the family as a sister to her boys. It was obvious from how they operated together that this was a very successful business and family, they operate in both spheres very well.
We hope you will enjoy their products and consider the road they have taken to make it for us.
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As this was our first time travelling to Turkey for business we knew it would be a bit tricky. Investigating new markets is always exciting and a bit nerve raking.
After some initial confusion with shippers and product vendors, we found our grove in the Grand Bazaar. Every country has a different way of doing business and nations that are going through rapid changes like Turkey can be especially challenging. Big factories and high volume shippers are not for us, the charm, personality and variety of the Istanbul Bazaar is timeless and suits our buying needs very well. It took us a while, but once we found a shipper that understood this, things worked out well.
We were able to source some very attractive Turkish towels, Iznik ceramics and silk scarves, among other beautiful products. Just a small sampling of the wonderful handiwork of Turkey. Of course the negotiations were interesting, fun and required copious amounts of very good tea.
We were also able to spend some time on the Turquoise coast on the Mediterranean Sea. The water colour is spectacular and the history seeps from the shoreline, as it does throughout the country. We will certainly be back to Turkey in the future, now that we have discovered how to do business there.
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Peggy and I had visited Morocco as tourists 20 years ago but this was our first time as buyers. Traveling as business people is certainly an interesting way to experience the Berber-Arabic culture of the Atlas Mountains.
We traveled by train from Casablanca to the ancient capitals of Fes and Marrakech, with side excursions by horse, bus and taxi to the historic coastal port of Essaouira and the Middle Atlas Kilim production centre of Azrou.
The old Medinas of these towns have a Biblical feel. Clay and stone buildings crowd the streets and alleys, causing them to twist and turn in wonderful ways. Horses and donkeys seem to be everywhere, and all the people seem to know one another. After spending just two days in one place they come to know us as well, and are quick to help. Never did we feel threatened or nervous, and were always coming across interesting sights and smells.
Moroccans have been traders and salesmen forever. Normally when we buy in South East Asia there is very little haggling, but in Morocco haggling is the national sport; if you don’t they cannot respect you! We had quite an interesting time negotiating our way through the country. Morocco was one of our most challenging and interesting countries. The people, food and amenities were wonderful, while the buying and negotiations were much more complex than normal. After all the work we are very happy with what we selected.
Where else but Morocco can you find gorgeous Berber Kilims (flat carpets), soft leather products, Berber ceramics, Arabic furniture, bone mirrors, extra-long Saharan scarves and brass/gold plates? This year they can also be found in Manotick Station, at the Third World Bazaar!
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Our 2012 buying trip brought us to Bali, Java, Bangkok, Chaing Mai, Hanoi, Kerala and Delhi; great locations with wonderful product selection. Once again we were able to find some very interesting and original merchandise; while having fantastic experiences.
- Making way for an elephant in a busy Delhi market is something you don’t do slowly, or forget!
- Getting stuck in traffic on an old, very narrow, Cochin spice street is an experience where the smells linger in your memory!
- Having a coffee in old Hanoi while watching wedding parties arrive, is a symphony of colours, behaviours and expectations.
During our trip we used many different modes of travel; air, boat, car, train, tuk-tuk and bicycle. Having gone through a wide variety of traffic jams, in many different countries and cultures, we now realize that one of the most flexible ways to get around is by bicycle. A mass of people on bicycles can always find a way through a congested street; trucks, cars or motorcycles are less adaptive. With this thought, we have brought back a wide selection of bicycle products from around the world. Beautiful bicycle paintings from a Jogjakarta (Java, Indonesia) artist, bicycle furniture from India, tire mirrors from Bali and many other cycle items. It sounds eclectic because it is. With all the talk of bicycle paths and new modes of transit in Ottawa we thought we would bring products that reflect some of the old and new ways to move around.
Of course we have purchased a much wider selection of home décor and handicrafts for many other tastes. This year there will be an expanded selection of carpets and kilims with new durries from India, for the retro look we sourced new metal furniture in Bali and India, and wide selection of beautiful root furniture from Indonesia. The jewellery, carvings, instruments, pottery, ceramics and much more … are back in full force again.
We look forward to showing all our regular and new customers our selection in October and November 2012. See you soon.
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This past December I travelled to Ecuador. I spent four and half weeks traveling the country visiting small towns, hiking mountains and volcanoes and enjoying the many wonderful aspects of Ecuador and its indigenous cultures.
Beginning in the north I visited towns throughout the countryside of the Imbabura province (named after a large volcano that can be seen on clear days in the area). Once meeting Hector and Estella, the indigenous couple whose extended family produce all of the Ecuadorian textiles found at the Third World Bazaar, I visited more surrounding towns seeing all the different products and production areas in the different villages.
A highlight of the trip was spending most of a week at an eco-village called The Black Sheep Inn. Located in the small village of Chugchilan 4,000m high in the Andean mountains it was a truly beautiful setting. There I hiked and rode horses exploring the nearby volcanic lake, cloud forests and local markets. I also played a few games of frisbee golf on the world’s highest frisbee course teeming with grazing llamas at the Black Sheep.
Another remarkable experience was spending Christmas in a beautiful colonial city called Cuenca. There I witnessed a Christmas day children’s parade replete with thousands of children. I also visited surrounding towns and villages, tasting local cuisines such as roasted guinea pig and meeting many colourful characters eager to converse and show me a good time.
It was a wonderful travel experience and good buying trip. The Bazaar this year will have many new Ecuadorian clothing products; sharp cardigans and beautiful hand-knit sweaters, wood carpets and fine ceramics. Please come and see the new products and support the great people who made them.
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This past spring, I spent six weeks in Morocco. I lived with a wonderful Berber family in Marrakech, worked the days as an intern in a children’s emergency shelter, and the spent most evenings sourcing product from local souks (market stalls).
The Moroccan culture is unlike anything I’ve experienced. It is a feast for the senses. The food is exquisite, the smells and sights are endless and the people diverse. The historic cities are centered around their ‘medinas’- a walled centretown which is next to impossible to navigate by yourself.
The highlight of my trip was a weekend in the Sahara desert, camel trekking, sleeping under the stars and listening for the friendly snakes whisking by. Through the day, we set out on the camels and waddled through the sand dunes, experiencing a million shades of brown.
My work experience was interesting. It took awhile to get accustomed to the cadence of the organization but soon I was tutoring the children in English and French, translating documents and kick starting a healthy eating program. It was challenging working with children from such troubled backgrounds but it is rewarding to see them cooperate with, and learn from the other children at the shelter.
Come see the eclectic product coming from the Marrakech souks this coming fall at the Third World Bazaar
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In February of 2010 we visited the incredible country of India. Eighteen days does not give the country justice, but it did give us a good feel for Delhi and the province of Rajastan. The product variety is immense, the workmanship amazing and the quality strong. In Delhi we were able to source some wonderful glass products, silk scarves and ceramic products. Jodphur is a fantastic source of furniture, and those hand-painted Rajastani cabinets that so many of you have asked us for. Jaiselmeer, the sandcastle city in the middle of the Dhar Desert was a great source of linens, wool pashminas, musical instruments and jeweled tapestries. In Jaipur we were able to find more linens, ceramics and fantastic camel hair carpets. We are confident you will be impressed with our Indian purchases.
Trains are the way to experience India. While on one of our rides Peggy and Dick wrote the two short observations below.
India, the destination that has drawn explorers, traders, mystics and empires for centuries!
But it is not to be seen, rather, it is to be experienced, in one view – splendor, squalor, smell, taste; while overhead a supersonic fighter jet.
India, home of friendly people, efficient but dirty trains, fantastic architecture, crumbling neighbourhoods, confident cows!
India, the Experience!
Dick
Constant contrasts,
Senses are alive;
Land needing water,
Animals needing a home;
Eye contact and wonderment,
Both sides trying to imagine the other;
Gracious, Kindness and Enthusiasm
That is what I felt in . Incredible India.
Peggy
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In Vietnam, we once again visited our key suppliers in HoChiMinh City (HCMC) and Hanoi; wonderful cities, each with their own vibe. HCMC (old Siagon) appears more modern and organized; Hanoi on the other hand, has an earthy, pedestrian feel to it, sort of like Paris as an Asian street market. Dick is especially fond of the cheap beer and fascinating people at Beer Corner. It is truly a wonderful place to visit and buy product.
Vietnamese lacquer is an amazing art. Depending on the product, there are 15 to 20 coats of sealants, colouring and lacquer. This traditional, labour intensive, production technique has been integrated with modern styles and colouring to produce the brilliantly attractive plate, bowls and paintings that you will see at the barn. Few things will brighten up a room like Vietnamese lacquer.
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Thailand is a regular destination for us because it has such a wide variety of good crafts. This year we selected a new product category, Hemp. This incredible plant is used in the production of textiles, bio-degradeable plastics, food, concrete and fuel. It is easily grown and has no need for pesticides or herbicides. A miracle product if there ever was one! And it makes wonderful handbags. We have found a new producer that mixes Hmong Hill tribe Hemp with Indonesian Batik, Thai silk and other exotic fabrics to make wonderfully strong and stylish handbags and purses. We are sure you will be impressed when you see them.
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One of our highlights this year was our trip to Cambodia. The country is sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, with its own vibrant culture. The food, mannerisms and, of course architecture is very distinct, and left us with a lasting impression of the personal courage and fortitude of the people.
The architecture of the Angkor Wat area is incredible. This is one of the most incredible sights we have ever seen. We will let the photos below speak for themselves.
We must add that Cambodian silk makes for excellent scarves and handbags. Of course Peggy picked out a good selection for our customers.
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