Retail AL-SH copy.indd

DRIVING
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Being on vacation in a remote
destination doesn’t mean you
can’t indulge in some retail
therapy. Millie Walton searches
far and wide for the cutest
boutiques, somewhere in the
middle of nowhere
CHILLAXED
BOUTIQUES
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RE TAIL
1. Shangri-La’s Boracay
Resort & Spa, Philippines
White sands, shimmering crystal-clear
waters and a colourful lively culture, make the
tiny island of Boracay perhaps the most alluring
destination in the Philippines. Shangri-La was one
of the first luxury hotels to set up camp in paradise
and amongst the resort’s vast tropical landscape
of jungle and villas, hide four high-end boutiques.
At Paul & Shark you’ll find elegant clothing to
suit the sailing lifestyle with cool, floaty cottons
and Caribbean colours, while at LU-RO Designs
offer exquisite handmade jewellery, paintings and
sculptures as well as installations by Boracay’s
resident artisans. There’s Shangri-La Moments,
too, for indulgent souvenirs from the resort as
well as the Regalo Boutique that stocks an eclectic
mix of gift items.
shangri-la.com/boracay/boracayresort
2. Four Seasons Tented
Camp Golden Triangle,
Thailand
Located in lush bamboo jungle where
the north of Thailand meets Myanmur and Laos,
the Four Seasons Tented Camp is glamping at its
most glamorous. Beneath the riverside Burma
Bar, sits the Trading Post Boutique filled with
local crafts, hill-tribe textiles, silk scarves made
by the wives of the hotel’s mahout (elephant riders)
as well as products from the Doi Tung Royal
Project, an initiative founded to support the local
communities. If you’re lucky, the resort’s resident
herd of rescued elephants, who wander the banana
plantations nearby, might pay a visit too.
fourseasons.com/goldentriangle
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3. Kirchhofer High Time
Kirchhofer High Time is the highest watch
shop in the world, located at an altitude of 3571m on
the Jungfraujoch (impressively known as the Top of
Europe). The Jungfraujoch falls within the first Alpine
Unesco World Heritage site and boasts some of the
most otherworldly landscapes of endless snow and
ice to be found in Europe. The boutique makes the
most of the magical surroundings with floor-to-ceiling
windows providing panoramic views from almost every
angle and filling the interior space with an ethereal,
glowing natural light. Inside, you’ll discover man-made
treasures, too, from exclusive brands such as Cartier,
Piaget, Chopard and Ulysse Nardin.
kirchhofer.com
4. Nihiwatu Resort
The remote island of Sumba, an hour’s
flight from Bali, feels like the end of the earth – the
last place you’d expect to find high-end retail, and
yet a quiet kind of luxury has evolved in this tiny
corner of paradise thanks to the support of wealthy
investors and the fashion elite. Five star, eco resort
Nihiwatu endeavours to maintain the island’s
rustic charm, by supporting the local communities
through a staff market stall that sells intricate Ikat
textiles – chic scarves and beach wraps – whilst
stocking edgy international brands in the main
boutique. Here you’ll find exquisite handmade
ceramics and jewellery, and elegant island garb
from the likes of Frescobol Carisca, Vitamin A,
KABU and Feather & Find.
nihiwatu.com
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5 . Giraffe Manor
Located within the indigenous forest
of Nairobi’s most enchanting suburb, Langata,
Giraffe Manor has become a legendary institute
thanks to the majestic herd of endangered
Rothschild’s giraffes that roam the grounds of the
hotel, occasionally poking their necks through the
windows to join the breakfast sitting. Amongst the
extraordinary wildlife, the hotel offers a unique
shopping experience with its own select boutique,
filled with an eclectic collection of handcrafted
products by artisans and brands from all over the
continent, such as jewellery and sculptures from
Patrick Mavros, leather goods and gifts by Zawadi
Africana, natural cosmetics from Cinnabar Green,
and paintings by local artists.
thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor/
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