What to Buy in Siem Reap

With Angkor Wat experience, One village One Product, Cambodian people are very creative in producing both traditional and contemporary -sculpture, silks and textiles, gems, curios, handicrafts, art, bags, baskets, pottery, weaving and so on.In addition to traditional Cambodian souvenirs, Siem Reap People arrange unique and growing variety contemporary art galleries, fashion boutiques and trendy shops. The quality of Cambodian souvenir is reflecting both Modern day and ancient Khmer such sculpture, art, silk and handicraft.

Cambodia Silk

Known as a traditional existing raw material getting from mulberry trees, providing silkworm feed to silk dyeing and weaving. The luxurious touch of the silk and ranges of colors produced in Cambodia can be elegant, alluring and prized by silk collectors over the world and used for souvenirs, handcrafts and bed coverings such as quilts, pillow covers, cushions and duvets. The one specializing in silk-maker is Angkor silk farm providing basic mulberry tree growing to sikl weaving located in Pouk District Siem Reap Province.

Sculpture and carving

"The rebirth of Angkor era carving" paves a way for the method of sculpting which entails carving or etching away the surface of a flat piece of stone, metal or wood as Buddha and various Hindu god, personage images and various souvenirs. Cambodia's best-known stone carving adorns the temples of Angkor, which are "renowned for the scale, richness and detail of their sculpture". In modern times, however, the art of stone carving became rare, largely because older sculptures survived undamaged of centuries (eliminating the need for replacements) and because of the use of cement molds for modern temple architecture. Artisans d'Angkor has been inheriting the ancient khmer art and craft since 1998 by providing a quality education on art & craft to young khmer coming from rural area though an entirely free of charge and paid training. You are welcome to a free guided tour in Artisans d'Angkor workshop located in Pouk District Siem Reap province.

Silverwork

Even the genocide regime al-most terminated everything even Cambodian lives but now all parts and fields have been being flourished like the sun is shining including "Silver-work". Silverwork in Cambodia dates back centuries. The Royal Palace traditionally patronized silversmiths' workshops, and silversmiths remain concentrated at Kompong Luong, near the former royal capital Oudong. Silver was made into a variety of items, including weaponry, coins, ceremonial objects used in funerary and religious rituals, and betel boxes. Dun lig Cambodia's colonial period, artisans at the School of Fine Art produced celebrated silverwork, and by the late 1930s there were more than 600 silversmiths. Today, silver-work is traditional popular for boxes, jewelry, and souvenir items such as betel box also known as areca nut container; these are often adorned with fruit, tire, and Angkor-inspired motifs. Men produce most of the forms for such work, but women often complete the ntricate filigree.

Basket Weaving (Tbanh Kantrak)

Basket-weaving is an activity of farmers throughout Cambodia. For household use or for sale, most Khmer baskets are made of bamboo cut in fine strips. The best-known styles originate in the north west of Cambodia, in the provinces of Siem Reap and Kompong Cham. Baskets by ethnic minority groups in Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri are also well-known.





Mat Weaving (Tbanh Kantuel)

Mat weaving is a widespread seasonal occupation in Cambodia. The best-known types are made from river reeds, left in their natural blonde color or dyed in rich jewel tones. The Mekong floodplains are known for their mat-weavers, particularly around Lvea Em district in Kandal Province. Vine mats from the country's north west are cut from the forest. Mats are one of the few locally-made items that have not been replaced by imports, and are laid out 1br guests in every Cambodian home. Matting is also an important building material used in making village homes and internal dividing walls.

Wicker and Rattan (Tbanh Kanchoeu)

Wicker workers use raw material from the dryandra tree to make walls, mats, furniture and other household items. About 4,000 women are currently earning their living as wicker workers in Kratie Province. Furniture shops have been quick to develop new styles, and furniture from wicker and rattan copied from chain store suppliers' catalogues are common.




Cotton Weaving (Tbanh Ambas)

Cambodia's long dry season makes it suitable for cotton cultivation. 13y the beginning of the 20th century, Cambodia was the most important producer of cotton in mainland South East Asia. Over the next 50 years, however, cotton began to be replaced with more profitable tobacco and kapok, and local cotton had to compete with supplies from the USA, France and Japan.