Judith Treanor, launched her online store Temples and Markets in 2015 after visiting Siem Reap, Cambodia. The idea for the business had been developing in her mind several years before though.
Each time Judith returned back to her Sydney home she would literally be stopped in the street and asked “where did you get that?” about a bag, a piece of jewelry, or a pair of unique shoes that were only available in the Asian countries where she loved spending her luxury vacations. Judith had been thinking for a long time how she wanted to make those unique items that one would normally only find when one is traveling, to an audience outside the region.
Judith says that traveling through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos awoke something within her when she first visited as an older-than-most backpacker in 1997. But she could never have imagined the role South-East Asia would play in her future back then.
She describes the S.E Asian countries she showcases in her store as lands of contrasts, and it is the contrasts that have pulled her back frequently. In Judith’s words “I am a little bit addicted to the spicy food, the smells, the luxury resorts, the beaches, the contrasts between a serene spa and a crazy tuk-tuk ride through 10 lanes of traffic; the temples, the markets, and, of course, the welcoming people.”
Moreover Judith loves the creativity and talent that is inherent in so many of the people she meets on her S.E Asian travels - the artisan who hand stitches her handbags or the designer who melts bullet casings down into intricately hand-cut jewelry. Once a symbol of war in Cambodia the bullets are transformed into things of beauty.
These are the people who have generously shared their stories with her, many of whom have come from very little and have become part of successful enterprises. These are the people who use their local resources and traditional crafts to produce modern and sophisticated designs. These are people who provide employment to the disadvantaged and are improving the lives of their local communities. . These are people who amaze Judith time and again with their creativity. Judith believes it is the people you meet who make a holiday and is humbled that she can now share their stories and their creations through Temples and Markets.
Walking in Siem Reap in 2015 Judith chanced upon a small jewelry boutique in a small, easily missed laneway. The jewelry was unlike anything she had previously come across, made using the red, white and brown seeds that fall from the local native trees. Inside the Graines de Cambodge boutique (translates as Seeds of Cambodia) she learned the owner Rany’s story of hardship, resilience and survival. She learned that Rany was now employing local women to handcraft her designs, and in turn helping them climb out of hardship. Judith knew that so many of the creative locals she had met on her travels had a similar story of suffering and resilience.
After that 2015 trip to Siem Reap, Temples and Markets - the name itself conjuring up memories of S.E Asia - evolved quickly.
The concept materialized into an online store where you could not only buy gorgeous designer products from far-flung corners of the world, but also learn the stories of the people who make them.
Traveling backwards and forwards to the region, Judith sourced – and continues to source – ethically produced handcrafted gifts for men and women, and decorative gifts too, created from sustainable, recycled and or interesting materials. She actively seeks out accessories, jewellery, bags or home decor that have a story behind them, and that have a designer edge. The prerequisite is that they reveal a connection to where they came from.
When browsing Temples and Markets you will feel instantly nostalgic for all that is magical about South East Asian travel. And if you haven't yet experienced the wonder that is traveling in South East Asia, Temples and Markets is bound to evoke your senses of being there - the sights, sounds and smells. Temples and Markets isn’t like any other online store where you transact and leave quickly, you’ll want to immerse yourself in the wonder of S.E Asia through the stories of the people who make the products in store, and the travel memories captured in the blog posts.
We asked Judith to give us the lowdown on what to buy at www.templesandmarkets.com. Picking her favorites is hard, as she insists that she’ll only sell designs that she loves herself. Her most recent additions to the store are printed cushion covers and tote bags featuring Vietnamese women by Eugenie Darge. Eugenie’s collections are found in concept stores around Vietnam, but this is the first time they have been made available online. Also just launched is a range of bags made from washable paper, a sustainable and stylish alternative to leather, also from Vietnam.
Perhaps though it is the colorful Buddha statues, made from sustainable materials that truly capture the essence of S.E Asia, and bring back the memories of traveling in this captivating region.
