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Angsana Gallery Origins
In late 1990s, the Banyan Tree Resorts introduced a new
concept store to complement the highly popular Angsana
Spas. The Angsana Gallery, first introduced in Sheraton
Laguna, Laguna Phuket, offers its own Thai herb based
essential oils, incense sticks, massage oils, ceramic
and celadon spa accessories. It also offers skin and bodycare
products as well as a variety of fashion apparel and Thai
style home furnishings with a contemporary touch. |
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A signature feature of every Angsana resort, Angsana Gallery
plays an important role in showcasing cottage crafts of
local artisans while sustaining their livelihoods and
craft skills through gainful employment. Most products
are sourced and developed in Thailand.
Angsana Gallery is the brainchild of Claire Chiang, one
of the founders of Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts. Back
in 1989, Chiang was approached to support the "maun"
triangular cushion project by Yasothorn village community
in Northeast Thailand. She commissioned these handmade
cushions and other traditional Thai crafts and textiles
to furnish the interiors of the resorts in Laguna Phuket
which she and her husband, Ho Kwon Ping, developed in
the 80s and 90s.
"I decided that this was one good way of indigenizing
the material use in our hotels while conserving Thai craft
legacy and providing sustainable development for the villagers,"
said Chiang.
Around the same time, Chiang participated in a women development
conference in Hanoi afer which she opened retail outlets
that would become direct marketing channels for village
crafts, working with village cooperatives and non-profit
craft marketing agents instead of commercial enterprises.
Adopting this village development model in her business
resulted in a profitable venture for Chiang who has expanded
the chain to 34 Angsana Galleries worldwide. In 2003,
Angsana Gallery received the Pacific Asia Travel Association
("PATA") Gold Award for Heritage.
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