Quite often when you walk along the streets of Siem Reap, you will find stalls selling woodcrafts and carvings. It is amazing to see these crafts, and you will find it even more incredible when you realise that such crafts were actually made by hand, by a local artisan. Yet, many may wonder how it was actually done?
In a workshop right in the town centre, visitors have a chance to find out just how artisans craft such beautiful handicrafts. Enter Artisans d’Angkor Workshop, where you will find out first-hand how such crafts and jewellery are made.
When you reach the workshop, a handler will take notice of you, and will help bring you to a local workshop guide. You will also find that there are many others like you, and all are here to visit the workshop, which has become a tourist attraction in its own right!
Room by room, building by building, the guide will show you and explain to you how a product is made, be it a simple wood carving, stone carving, lacquerware, painting, or jewellery. Most of the time, the artisans are busy at work, and pay no attention to you. You see that they are used to the throngs of visitors to the workshop, but are simply giving their all to their products.
In a workshop right in the town centre, visitors have a chance to find out just how artisans craft such beautiful handicrafts. Enter Artisans d’Angkor Workshop, where you will find out first-hand how such crafts and jewellery are made.
When you reach the workshop, a handler will take notice of you, and will help bring you to a local workshop guide. You will also find that there are many others like you, and all are here to visit the workshop, which has become a tourist attraction in its own right!
Room by room, building by building, the guide will show you and explain to you how a product is made, be it a simple wood carving, stone carving, lacquerware, painting, or jewellery. Most of the time, the artisans are busy at work, and pay no attention to you. You see that they are used to the throngs of visitors to the workshop, but are simply giving their all to their products.
As you walk past the buildings, you will find that there is also a small room where quality control is done, to ensure that visitors and customers do not purchase a defected product by accident. Moving on, you also see a wall where many partners’ brands are displayed. Many of these brands are regionally and even internationally recognised, selling the products produced by Artisans d’Angkor. Many famous and well-known people, including celebrities and politicians, have also come to the workshop to see the good work done by the company.
Artisans d’Angkor is a social business, where a significant portion of its sales proceeds goes towards benefitting the local community. It creates meaningful jobs for the locals, where the artisans, through an association, collectively hold a 20 percent share in the company.
Artisans d’Angkor is a social business, where a significant portion of its sales proceeds goes towards benefitting the local community. It creates meaningful jobs for the locals, where the artisans, through an association, collectively hold a 20 percent share in the company.
At the end of the tour, you are guided to a showroom, where all the finished products are on display. Over here, many more products are for sale. Silk scarfs, handbags, clothes, woodcrafts, lacquerware, and many more merchandise are available to be purchased by customers. Note that these products are generally quite highly-priced, which can be a shock after touring Angkor Night Market and Psar Chas. However, do realise that the quality of these products are of the highest, and they have been individually and beautifully crafted! Enjoy your shopping!
