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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.

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When we were 18, sifting through vintage clothes was a sport. 

Since none of our friends held a full time job, buying clothes retail was impossible – second hand clothes was the only option. Whether it be at St Vinnies or the markets, there was always an unspoken game of who was the better hunter. When you’re sifting through those racks and find something good, it’s like you found a treasure that was put on this planet just for you. This unique feeling triggers deep emotions that resonates past experiences. It could be a t-shirt of a band that you kissed your first girlfriend to or a jersey from a basketball player you idolised religiously – that’s the beauty of Nostalgia.

We originally bought second hand clothes out of necessity but quickly became a preference. We were drawn to the journey of the pieces we found. The idea that it’s jump from back to back, country to country to find somebody who loves it just as much as the original owner. Each piece has it’s own unique story, we’re just adding our twists and turns to it.