To most Australians Bali is the partying, surfer hippy, hair braiding, Bintang drinking, eat pray loving tourist destination that many have come to love and hate. Love it or hate it people keep coming back for a reason. Once you look past the noise caused by the visitors and local traffic combined, you’ll see a culture steeped in a deep history influenced by art, nature and spirituality.
As an Indonesian-Australian I love what Bali has stood for. Even though the relationship between visitors and locals get abused at times, Bali has become an open arm to the outside world unlike its mainland counterparts. Through this exchange it’s refreshing to see the rise of a new generation of Indonesians who have embraced their heritage by curating a contemporary interpretation of Indonesian culture and mindfully guiding it into the future. On my recent trip to Indonesia I was very fortunate enough to meet one of these people, Emmelyn the owner of Canaan a boutique and gallery space located in Bali and Jakarta.
As a dwelling space for creative individuals the products presented are a result of collaborations amongst the artists and their community. Over the years Canaan has given back by working with foundations that support education and social causes and by supporting the local workforce by producing everything at home.
I believe great brands have to represent the 3 C’s – Culture, Consciousness and Care. After spending time with Emmelyn I saw these qualities in Canaan and as such was inspired to collaborate with them and share their story. Canaan’s relentless pursuit in producing artisanal products with care for the environment and its heritage embodies the type of luxury we love to invest in.