Green Souvenirs
Looking for furniture, baskets, boxes plates and decorative items with that authentic Cambodian touch? Green Souvenir is on Street 460 and it sells plant-based products that both Khmers and foreigners love. Go down 135 street off Mao Tse Tung Boulevard and turn right onto 460 Street at No.4 you’ll find a small shop that shows a wonderful range of stylish and useful products.
It’s one of the many hidden delights of Phnom Penh that definitely puts quality over quantity and it shows in the excellence of their products. It’s refreshing to see a shop that has pride in itself and the way it goes about making its products.
The products are all made in Cambodia mostly by hand with only the plates and the bowls being carved by machine.so you’ll be helping out the local economy as well. Green Souvenir is a small Cambodian business that aims to bring traditional natural products into the ever-changing metropolis of Phnom Penh.
Founded in 2019, they’ve had their tough times during Covid but they’ve stabilized their position. They used to have a shop in the Russian market, but now that they’re in one of the more fashionable neighbourhoods of Phnom Penh they’re customers now include more foreigners.
I was fortunate to talk to Tee, the son of the owner: ’’The communities make one or two different products. They can be used in the kitchen or for decoration so both Cambodians and foreigners love to buy them. The foreigners tell each other by text these days so that is how we get our sales. The foreigners love them because they’re natural and they look good’’.
It seems everyone likes something that is made with genuine care and attention to detail-rather than something that is made by machine in a factory. The products mix art with functionality and show the traditional side of Cambodia. It’s a family business that is genuinely ecologically conscious and sustainable and it supports the rural Cambodian economy.
A variety of natural woods and plants are employed to make the products. Water hyacinth, rattan, bamboo and palm wood. The villagers who make them come from Siem Riep, Kampathom and Kampong Chhnamg.
The glorious texture and sumptuous designs convey class and authenticity at the same time. They’re perfect for those with a little bit of disposable income who want to smarten up their interior and host dinner parties. Cafes and restaurants would also do well to introduce green products that allow a sleek, traditional to permeate their establishments.
The range of products includes boxes, baskets, plates, bowls, statues, seats, lounge chairs, mats and ornaments. My favourite product in the whole shop is the lounge chair made from rattan-if I had a good book and a comfortable cushion I could spend all afternoon sitting in it!
Just make sure that you don’t leave them in the sun or get them wet!
You can find out more on their Facebook site. Tee can be contacted on 069 557 523 or via email at simonthy03may@gmail.com and the shop is open every day. Ask for prices at the shop.
Author: Nick Hanlon
Nick Hanlon is a former humanitarian worker, sports tour operator, teacher, writer and singer who has lived in four different countries. His main love is showing you the many features of Cambodian culture while connecting you with the local community.
