I knew Burma (now Myanmar) would be on my itinerary as I backpacked throughout Southeast Asia in 1980. Even with the country’s then seven-day visa restrictions and limited route access, I had to experience for myself the settings and elements that peppered my father’s accounts from his time there during WWII. At once striking, exotic, and yes, unusual, I realized once I saw that bold, full moon above Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda I would return again.
During my first visit I traveled to Bagan, an ancient city with over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries and the center of the country’s lacquerware production. At the time Bagan’s roads were dusty and deeply rutted, suggesting slow walking and a traveler’s openness. As I explored, locals beckoned me with a hand wave and I was welcomed into family homes and lacquerware workshops. I was invited to sit, drink tea, and watch the processes and meticulous steps the artists employed to create exquisite and intricate lacquerware.
Today, travel to Myanmar is no longer restricted to seven days and indeed, I have had the good fortune to return again and again. Rich in cultural and artisan heritage, Myanmar’s distinctive regions celebrate arts and crafts with deep roots and long-honored traditions. Fine silversmithing, weaving and textile arts, wood carving, marble carving, and of course the production of lacquerware still follow long-established techniques.
As a world traveler, and throughout my extended career in adventure travel, I have been touched and inspired by many places. I am privileged to celebrate those places, most especially Myanmar, its people, and the talented artisans who warmly welcomed me so many years ago.
It is a joy to share handcrafts from Myanmar that are ethically produced employing time-honored methods. This collection demonstrates admiration and support for the artisans, producers, and local communities of Myanmar.
Our Promise
We invite you to experience Myanmar’s rich culture of fine, handmade goods and skilled artistry. Our commitment to local, artisan communities is evidenced with the introduction to of decorative and functional lacquerware and distinctive textiles to western markets. A dedicated collaboration with artists, craftspeople, and producers fosters fair wages and good working conditions. Importantly, it also assures Myanmar’s strong heritage and classic artisan methods and practices are acknowledged and perpetuated for future generations.
