Luang Prabang
Located in a 100-year-old wooden home on a narrow lane running from the main street, this great little shop sells handicrafts like naturally dyed cushions…
Must-see shopping in Asia
Little India & Kampong Glam
A vintage-inspired ode to American working-class culture, this little menswear store offers a clued-in selection of rugged threads and accessories,…
Hoi An
Winners of a sustainable-development award, this eco-minded store stocks gorgeous clothing (including kids' wear), accessories, and homewares such as…
Roppongi, Akasaka & Around
Nuno's innovative fabrics, incorporating objects from feathers to washi (Japanese handmade paper), have appeared in exhibitions around the world,…
Holland Village, Dempsey Hill & the Botanic Gardens
Specialising in antique religious artefacts from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India and Burma, as well as reproductions, Shang Antique has items dating back…
Osaka
This third-generation-run sake store has narrow wooden stairs leading to a basement cellar where you can sample small glasses of sake (¥220 each), while…
Eastern Myanmar
This fifth-generation, family-run shop specialises in lacquerware, from the ubiquitous, multicoloured Bagan style to the striking, black Kyaingtong style…
South Jakarta
Created by Italian-born designer Susanna Perini, who has worked in Indonesia for 20 years, the Biasa brand was inspired by Indonesian culture. Perini's…
Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay
Can't find that retro Chinese toy car? What about Pan Am wrapping paper? Chances are you'll find them at this quirky shop, inside the bookworm heaven that…
Jodhpur
Several trendy and quality boutique stores with exquisite block-printed clothes, gifts and tableware can be found in this building opposite the Toorji ka…
Downtown Kyoto
Roughly opposite Takashimaya department store, Erizen is one of the best places in Kyoto to buy a kimono or kimono fabric. It has a great selection of kyō…
Ueno & Yanesen
If you have a notion to sew, or are looking for some nice fabric, this stretch of shops east of Nippori Station – selling buttons, brocade, kimono fabric…
Manila
This well-regarded Thai import peddles all-natural oils, sunscreen, after-sun gel and an effective lavender-and-citronella mozzie repellent, among many…
Phnom Penh
Shop for a one-of-a-kind outfit from hometown fashion label Good Krama and four other Cambodian brands at this stylish boutique. Everything sold here is…
Sarawak
This great little store is so packed full of Kayan and Iban beads, Penan rattan baskets and Melinau and Kayan handicrafts that it's difficult to move…
Cebu City
Anthill is an oasis of colourful and creative fashion hidden in a gritty warehouse not far from the Ayala Center. A social enterprise, it secures fabrics…
Ko Pha-Ngan
When Thong Sala's Walking Street market comes around every Saturday from 4pm, the terrific choice of street food, souvenirs, gifts, handicrafts and…
Southern Higashiyama
Kagoshin is a small semi-open traditional bamboo craft shop that has been around for generations on Sanjō-dōri, only a few minutes’ walk east of the Kamo…
Yaeyama Islands
Minsā Kōgeikan is a weaving workshop and showroom with exhibits on Yaeyama Islands textiles. You can also try your hand at weaving a coaster (¥1500); you…
Kolkata (Calcutta)
For tasteful yet inexpensive gifts to take back home, it's hard to beat the Kashmir Emporium's selection of colourfully patterned papier mâché products,…
Siem Reap
A social enterprise selling wonderful silver and other jewellery, some made from bomb casings and brass bullets. It also has a wide variety of additional…
Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
Nagano Region
Just outside the south exit of JR Karuizawa Station, this gargantuan outlet shopping mall has most of the big names. Shopaholics should allocate plenty of…
Melaka City
This little boutique is packed floor-to-ceiling with authentic Kashmiri crafts, jewellery, rugs and clothing. Peruse embroidered cotton tunics, enamelled…
Singapore
Even if you don't have a Black Amex, strike a pose inside this Maserati of Orchard Rd malls. Status labels include Burberry, Prada, Jimmy Choo and Gucci…
French Concession
This Tianzifang Feiyue outlet – the legendary Shanghai sneakers brand dating back to the 1920s – is a good bet for lots of styles of the low-key classic…
Lampang
Lampang is known for its addictive kôw đǎan (deep-fried rice cakes seasoned with watermelon juice and drizzled with palm sugar). You can pick up a few…
Bhaktapur
This paper emporium is near the Peacock Window, down the side of Pujari Math. Although the paper workshop was badly damaged by the 2015 earthquake it's…
Asakusa & Sumida River
Shibata Yoshinobu Shōten brings the craft of magewappa (an artisanal style of woodwork made with thin strips of cedar that are steamed and formed into…
West Bali
About 10km south of Tabanan is Pejaten, a centre for the production of traditional pottery, including elaborate ornamental roof tiles and porcelain clay…
Forbidden City & Dongcheng Central
Dominated at street level by its Apple store, this six-floor shopping mecca has the expected glut of fast fashion (Zara, H&M etc), cosmetics and…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
Mega is the only way to describe this enormous mall, where you could easily lose yourself for days in the hundreds of shops, two department stores …
Ko Pha-Ngan
At the southern end of Thong Sala's Walking Street near the bend towards the sea, this small clothing shop has a cool and colourful selection of some of…
Siem Reap
Samatoa experiments in organic fibres, blending silk and cotton with lotus to create 'the most spiritual fabric in the world'. Plants such as lotus and…
Bagan
English-speaking Maung Aung Myin has two rooms and a busy workshop on the road 200yd north of Manuha Paya. There's a full range of lacquerware, including…
Yangon
Opened in 2017, this is the biggest and best of downtown Yangon's new crop of modern shopping malls. It offers everything from small stalls selling…
Thanon Sukhumvit
This monthly event is great for browsing through products of more than 60 community groups. For 20 years, ThaiCraft has marketed quality handicrafts by…
Daegu
It's worth coming here at night to see the light display, but any time will do for this terrific department store – a modern, geometric architectural…
Manila
This upscale open-air strip mall spans three long blocks in The Fort (BGC), with loads of good restaurants and upmarket fashion labels, plus art…
The Bund & People's Square
This boutique shop specialises in garments made of cashmere from Inner Mongolia, with incredibly soft jumpers, gloves, beanies, rugs and accessories. They…
Luang Prabang
Follow the sweeping stairs in the garden of this impressive old French mansion to discover an Aladdin's cave of antique Buddhas, golden naga, silver betel…
