Chiang Mai City Shopping

Aprhiradee Shop

This is a beautiful women’s clothing store selling floral dresses, jackets and skirts made with cotton and silk. Other items include whimsical home accessories.

Backstage

This funky little clothes boutique has few items but what it has are pretty original. All created by designer Warin Inthayot, what you pay for them now could be a lot cheaper than what you might get them for in the future. Buying in here will guarantee you an individual piece that you won’t see many other wearing.

Fu fu Club

This is a really quirky cute take on accessories and novelty gear, all handmade. The T-shirts have great attention to detail with little buttons and sequins added on for extra effect. The canvas bags will do you well for travel and shopping and the home accessories are incredibly cute and whimsical. It’s kind of like a better and (thankfully) less annoying version of Hello Kitty.

Mengrai Kilns

Founded in 1973 this is the foremost producer of handcrafted celadon (the finest pottery in the region) and stoneware in Chiang Mai. The showroom, situated in the southwest corner of the Old City, includes vases, bowls and decorative objects, some adorned with traditional motifs. Note that credit cards are not accepted but personal cheques are.

HQ Papermaker Chiang Mai

HQ is a leading specialist paper producer that was the first importer and distributor of handmade mulberry paper, in Thailand. Employing age-old traditional techniques for handmade production they cater to any specialty paper needs that you may have. With a motto, ‘paper production is constant innovation’ the company is of course conscious of environmental concerns using only mulberry branches of the trees which grow again very rapidly and never cutting trees down to make any of their paper, having developed ranges of recycled and non-wood based papers from abundant local organic materials.
The finished product is a range of beautifully crafted paper including artist paper, petal and leaf paper, milled paper and handmade paper. Definitely a treasure trove for paper lovers.

Phalita Décor

Specialising in antique art, furniture, home décor for both wholesale and retail consumption, Phalita shines as one of Chiang Mai’s most eclectic décor shops. As quaint and boutique as you might imagine a classic Chiang Mai business to be, no doubt you will be able to spend a good hour admiring the quality of craftsmanship and beauty of the finished products.

The House Lifestyle Compound

Born as a lifelong venture of long-term Danish resident and fashion and homeware designer, Hans Christianson, The House is Chiang Mai’s premier Lifestyle Compound. Home to the Ginger and Nomad stores, the compound is likely to get homeware and fashion enthusiasts excited.

Expect to come across luxurious yet very affordable casual fashion, much of it embroidered and beaded and described as “the perfect uniform for she who is the urban international nomad making refined use of so many rare and unusual natural materials, ethnic textiles & artifacts sourced from all corners of Asia.”

Thai Tribal Crafts

The vision of Thai Tribal crafts is to operate as a fair trading organization through providing development opportunities for the tribal people of Northern Thailand. All products have been produced by the six major hill tribe groups living in Northern Thailand with great care while still being conscious of the quality control of products and environmental effects. Products include bags, home living, clothing, musical instruments and basketry.

Things Called Art

A quirky little shop, Things Called Art primarily deals in abstract canvases all of which can be applied to cards, notebooks, T-shirts, homeware and accessories, mainly in the form of bags.

Vintage shop

Chiang Mai’s two coolest vintage stores are conveniently next door to one another, ideal for lazy thrift shop enthusiasts. Kaber probably has a better selection catering for both men and women there are a lot of denim pieces especially Levi’s shorts, skirts, shirts and jeans. A good place to come and pick up cute dresses and bags from bygone eras, next door, Rich, is more feminine and mainstream-fashion focused with a great selection of shoes. If you put the time and effort in and rummage through the racks there is a good chance you might just find a little jewel.

Walking Street Sunday Market

The walking Street is one of the best things about visiting Chiang Mai, so much so that it is often referred to as the weekend market as its popularity warrants a small Saturday evening version. One of the great things about it is a place where you really pick up the feeling that craftsmanship is an inherent ability of Chiang Mai’s locals. Traditional style dress in the form of hilltribe jackets, dresses and skirts, backpacker uniforms, dainty and fierce-looking jewelry, great bags and beautiful crafts are just some of the things that can be found.

The whole vibe of the area is totally alive, comparable to Bangkok’s Khao San road but with a more a subdued energy and less inebriation. The real beauty of the place is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to leave with some quality and unique purchases.

Addicted to Art

Beautiful handmade crafts including bags, purses and cosmetic cases in bright colours made with intricate details and impressive contemporary ethnic patterns.

AKA - Earth and Fire

Contemporary oriental functionalism is at the core of AKA's design philosophy. “It’s never enough that something looks good. It has to work as beautifully as it looks,” says the website's manifesto. Founded by architect and designer Eakrit Pradissuwana, who remains at the creative helm of the brand, AKA delivers ceramics, stoneware, traditional art pieces and decorative household items, all implicitly timeless and totally stylish.

By Design - Murano Glass Jewelry

Unique and pretty jewelry that perfectly catches the balance between being bold and subtle – depending on what you opt for! Showcasing a range of Murano glass products in a variety of colours, shapes and forms, the bracelets are a nice addition to the jewelry box or a decent gift for a friend.

Chabaa

Anyone with an interest in fashion should check out this shop to find brightly coloured embroidered tops, dresses, shirts and skirts, all made in house.

Circle Source

Using fibres from fast growing crops such as Kozo, Saa, Banana, Salago, Sugarcane and fully biodegradable papers, this natural paper shop brings you the best natural paper and paper products under the influence of the company philosophy ‚’Nature demands Nature’. Types of paper on offer include decorative paper, flower paper, Japanese paper and artist paper.

Elephants

This family-run business produces wooden elephant sculptures. Beautifully crafted, the sculptures perfectly capture the grace of elephants with an almost life-like authenticity that comes from almost 40 years of experience.

Fai Ngam

The only Nimmanhemin-located designer clothes store for men. Check out the unusual cotton patterns which can be applied to one-of-a-kind custom-made clothing.

Garden Yard

Funky and fashionable girls' clothes, the line is edgy while still being easy to wear.

Gerard Habitat Collection

Using a specific a type of bamboo found only in Northern Thailand, the furniture found in the Gerard Collection is exclusively created in this region of the country. Bamboo grows ten times faster than trees, making it an ecologically sound alternative to wood while not compromising on aesthetic appeal, durability or quality. Beds, tables, sofas, chairs, lamps, mirrors can be found, in a range of colours and styles. Arguably one of Chiang Mai’s best furniture and homeware traders.

Ginger

One of Chiang Mai’s best-kept secrets, the Nimmanhaemin Road branch of Ginger deals primarily in clothes and accessories. Contemporary styling with Asian accents, making for forward-thinking, statement fashion that is enough to make most girls' hearts skip a beat. The intricately beaded bags and bold kaftans with embroidered details demonstrate the craftsmanship and style of an upscale brand, with the added bonus that you won’t see many people walking around with the same dress or handbag.

Gongdee Gallery

This gallery-cum-café specialises in quality items made from materials to be found in Northern Thailand – mostly wood. The company’s ethos is to, 'make products that beautify homes as well as meeting the aesthetic criteria of being simple in both form and function'. The charming space has a small garden where coffee and snacks are served. Items include furniture, carvings, paintings, lighting, handbags and tableware.

During the month of December the gallery hosts an Art & Design festival which attracts people eager enjoy a party and bit of culture combined.

Kachama Studio

This stunning gallery showcases the best in Southeast Asian textiles and crafts. Katchama is situated in a two-storey house with ample space for visitors to take the opportunity to appreciate the unique and the intricate details of the wall hangings. Items include silk wall hangings with embroidered Hmong fabrics, scarves and shawls, cushions, table covers and general decorative textiles. Each of the innovative designs has been created using natural materials and can seem pretty pricey but, as they say, you pay for quality.

Kaewkaw

Named after its owner and primary designer, Kaewkaw specializes in the creation of batiks. Other goods include hand-stitched cashmere scarves, jewelry and authentic attire. For 550 baht you can learn all the techniques needed in order to produce a batik piece, during a three-hour class.

Kit-Bits

Comprising handmade garments with vintage clothing, this boutique ran by three sisters fuses bygone trends with innovational, contemporary straight-thinking designs.

Koland

This explosion of colour is like an Aladdin’s cave of goods ranging from art pieces from as far afield as China, soft furnishings in an array of fabrics to quirky lighting features and accessories. Even before entering the shop punters are confronted with a pretty impressive facade that should draws in curious shoppers.

Lim's Collectables

Lim’s combination of colour theory and good material make it a firm favourite with jewelry shoppers in Chaing Mai. With a product range comprising bracelets, necklaces, earrings and broaches, made with materials sourced as a far afield as Japan and South America, those fond of bold accessories should make their way over.

Loyfar

Loyfar specialises in handmade tableware, house ware and gifts made from pewter, a material similar to sterling silver with the added bonus of a friendlier price tag. Beautifully designed and crafted collections include plumeria (frangipani) leaves and antler lines, elegant and functional – perfect for home decoration. Customers also have the option of having their own designs crafted by artisans.

Maneeslip

Handmade men's footwear as sold in Milan and Bangkok. The collection is constructed on a tradition of high-quality craftsmanship using genuine Grade-A materials such as cow, snake, sheep, and ostrich and crocodile skins. The custom-made shoes are incredibly chic and the brand is enhanced by the customization option where you can add personalised details.

Silver Birch

Like many of Chiang Mai’s shops, Silver Birch has goods crafted from locally grown mango wood, the most visually striking of which is an 80cm long wall-mounted dragonfly. A good place to pick up toys and ornaments for children, it is reminiscent of Gepetto's workshop with a certain magical quality about it. To top it off, you can get a decent cup of coffee here.

The Bag Shop

The Bag Shop deals in high-quality crafted straw and leather bags and home ware. They're extremely tasteful and come in a variety of sizes and shapes; definitely worth taking a look.

Tawan Décor

All the homeware accessories in Tawan have been handcrafted from mango wood, after being smoked and dyed, thus accentuating the native fibres. Tawan presents the chance to pick up interesting, quality home and garden furnishings.

Wits Collection

This shop showcases the work of Parisian artist Fabienne Jouvin, who has a distinctly quirky, modern approach to ceramics. Recently, her collections have begun to gather pace and are becoming well known in Thailand and abroad. The essentially minimal pieces throw in splashes of colour to great effect; the result being whimsical, contemporary ceramics that definitely lighten the house up and make for a great gift.

Adrien Schnee

A good way of identifying this unmarked shop is to note that it is two shops away from Red Ruby Tailor. The store has an extensive selection of colourful clothes and accessories made from locally sourced fabrics. Other items include accessories for the house in both Asian and western themes. The designs take a traditional approach with a modern twist. The hill tribe- inspired holder bags are absolutely beautiful and make for the perfect travel companion.

Dan Collections

A gem of a find when it comes to picking up antiques, home furnishings and crafts when in Chiang Mai. Customers need not worry about arranging shipping through another company as both boat and air transportation can be arranged in house. This is a popular place for Buddha images and high-quality local crafts. There is a lot of variety here, so it is worth going and having a look if you have your heart set on picking up some locally crafted pieces.

Gecko Books

Situated in various spots around the old and new town, this is considered the best used-books store in Chiang Mai. The expansive collection has been amassed through a system of buying books from travellers and locals. Consequently this chain of shops features an extensive choice of non-fiction and fiction, science fiction, horror, mystery, new age, Southeast Asian history, travel, Buddhist and Christian and a good few rock n' roll biographies. While the vast majority of books are English language there is a small selection of Dutch, German and French titles.

Herb basics

With all ingredients hand picked and locally sourced for their skin-enhancing and healing properties, the spa, make up, skincare and aromatherapy lines have amassed a loyal following. Luckily, Herb Basics have an online store so it’s easy to maintain a product fix once you have left Chang Mai.

John Gallery

John Gallery is certainly something you can’t walk past without being intrigued enough to go in and have a look. Looking like something from the Lord of the Rings, the tree-house-like-shop is a labyrinth of paint, T-shirts, canvases and cards. John, the quirky artist who runs the gallery, creates ironic T-shirts that question acknowledged perceptions of religion. If you want to pick up some postcards or paintings while in Chiang Mai this is definitely worth checking out with its reasonable prices and great art.

Lost Heavens

Lost Heavens has dealt in tribal and primitive art since opening in 1988, with another branch in the Night Bazaar. The collection predominantly focuses on the Yao people, who were originally from southern China, illustrating traditional and ceremonial importance through various art media.

Nova Contemporary Jewelry

Specialising in custom-made, contemporary jewelry in stainless steel, sterling silver, white, yellow and rose gold, Nova also has a small selection of semi-precious stones that can be set within pieces. The pieces are undeniably striking and elegant and can be custom made or designed personally, after a stint at the in house jewelry workshop.