Recognised in the local rag - for those who don't live in the Highlands and get The Southern Highlands Post, here's the story....

Khmer Trading was born out of Sarah & Gareth’s love of all things Cambodian.  Recently married after meeting in a fairytale romance that flung Gareth into the backwaters of rural Cambodia, the business has been their way of giving back to the country which hosted them for the time of their lives! Sarah worked in Cambodia for close on 3 years in her dream job in development, helping children to access education at the Foundation for Developing Cambodian Communities (FDCC). Working with orphan and disadvantaged children, Sarah gained an appreciation for the struggle that many people face in Cambodia just to provide for their families and felt there was something that they could continue to do to help upon their return to Australia.

After Gareth joined her half way through her assignment and fell in love with the country too, his family’s background in distribution soon gave them the idea of bringing high quality, handmade products from Cambodia to Australia. Together Gareth & Sarah decided that ultimately business was a good way of assisting Cambodia to develop while also being an exciting opportunity in which to delve.....head-first!

Khmer Trading is based here in the Southern Highlands and distributes Cambodian-made products throughout Australia. “We are proud to be able to promote awareness for this country’s plight and to support the employment and skills acquisition of Khmer people,” Gareth said. “Our products speak for themselves, handmade and of the highest quality, they capture the imagination of Australians with their vibrancy - the ‘Colours of Cambodia’.” The exotic fabrics used for this collection such as vivid silks and brightly coloured netting certainly capture the summer, outdoor lifestyle of Oz – the perfect gift for Christmas.

Smateria produces bags and accessories fashioned from recycled everyday materials such as mosquito netting, plastic bags and motorcycle seats. The result is funky “eco-chic” fashion, practical bags with a wonderful story. The products are Italian-designed and manufactured by Cambodian craftspeople. Not only are the products sustainable bringing them under the “ethical fashion” banner but they also raise people’s social conscience – by buying these products you are addressing the environmental issue of rubbish disposal in Cambodia as well as contributing to the essential training of khmer staff in skills that directly improve their standard of living. Smateria employs over 50 khmer staff members in both the production and management areas of their company.

"I am so passionate about Smateria and what it represents,” Sarah said. “It not only produces fashionable, functional and sustainable products, but it also offers many Cambodians secure and dependable employment, operating under Fair Trade principles and international standard labour laws.”

Recently Smateria was able to extend their social impact and fulfil their dream of opening a daycare centre for the children of the workers they employ. They have converted the third floor of their workshop into a child-friendly play area where their workers’ children can be looked after in a safe and educational environment. This is a huge step forward where successful businesses in Cambodia have begun to shape the country’s social welfare system of the future.

Tendance Khmere encompasses “homewares with heart” – establishing a network to protect the traditional khmer skill of silk-weaving, a practice largely lost during the tumultuous Khmer Rouge era. Striking combinations of vibrant silk and patterned cottons produce Tendance Khmere’s signature cushion range in Australia – partnered with luxurious bedrunners and plain silk cushions, these sets provide the prefect facelift for your bedroom. Incredible hand stitched silk bedcovers in a range of stunning colours will also add a touch of elegance. Tendance Khmere seat cushions and floor cushions can transform your indoor or outdoor entertaining areas, adding a splash of colour just in time for summer.

The French owners of the company employ 25-30 regular khmer workers and partner with Mr Thy, the local silk merchant and his troupe of village weavers to sustain the Cambodian economy. As well, Tendance Khmere has recently teamed up with “Ptea Clara”, a home for children in social distress, refurbishing their children’s relaxation area and assisting to promote this valuable organisation with their communications expertise.


Zooming around Phnom Penh in a Tuk Tuk to see our suppliers