The Phnom Penh Post - ENGLISH: “Fashioning a new industry” plus 4 more

Siem Reap is catching up to Phnom Penh in the fashion stakes – on Saturday the Charming City complex was the setting for a glitzy outdoor catwalk show launching Eric Raisina's first couture house, while the week before, renowned Cambodian designer Romyda Keth opened a Siem Reap branch of her store, Ambre.

At Saturday's show models made their entrance through the glass doors of Raisina's flagship new store, then walked along a red-carpet catwalk. As well as his women's wear collection, the designer introduced his new line, Eric Raisina Hommes, for men "who like to be a little bit fabulous."

"It's completely new," he told Insider. "I've done menswear before but it was always very basic, so this time I want to have a more exclusive line. We have a lot of fancy men who come here looking for something brighter, more interesting, exclusive jackets."

He said with his maison de couture he wants to move to another level and create something akin to what can be found in Paris or New York, complete with champagne on tap for his VIP customers.

He said he was inspired by his days creating textiles for fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, and visiting their Parisian ateliers.

"When I was commissioned to do pieces for YSL, each appointment I had I'd say to Loulou de la Falaise – his muse – this is a dream, because it was so fabulous," he said. "You'd see all the pieces, how organised everything was, where they did the patterns, so my dream is to have this level for my Cambodian team."

He chose Charming City because it is quiet and has the perfect spacious location. His first shop was at his house, which he said people loved to visit, but he was limited by space.

"This is going to be more flexible because I also like to be involved with organising exclusive events for VIP guests," he said. "I've been doing it in my house on a very low level but here I can really organise private shows for a group, functions, even a dinner."

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Production will take place on the first, second and third floors; with couture items being made on the first floor, general production on the second and weaving on the third where a large wooden loom has been installed.

"My main focus with silk is to make it soft, to find different textures so some of this work is going to be on that floor," he said.

Raisina, who has lived in Siem Reap for 13 years, feels that Khmers are becoming more fashion savvy, and that Siem Reap's women are becoming more curious. He also believes that Cambodia is slowly making its mark on the fashion map, adding that on the international circuit people are often surprised his creations have come out of Cambodia.

"Every time I have a show overseas, like at Paris Fashion Week, everyone is absolutely amazed to see the pieces that I have on the runway, discovering it's produced in Cambodia," he said.

"I think Cambodia has a chance to have its own fashion identity. I'm glad that Romyda has finally set up a shop here because it raises the level which is great, and shows visitors we have something to offer in Cambodia.

"My feeling is that we could organize a huge show here, like Siem Reap Fashion Week or Angkor Fashion Week, because this city is very specific and special. If they can do an exclusive concert in Angkor Wat, why not an amazing show?"

This sentiment is echoed by Phnom Penh-based designer Romyda Keth, who opened her first standalone Siem Reap shop next to the Royal Residence, selling rainbow-hued silk dresses, accessories and a small menswear collection.

"Through visual arts, fashion and music, local artists are striving to turn Cambodia into a new arts and fashion hub," she said. "At the moment, this is more tangible in Phnom Penh, but I think people have already planted seeds of change in Siem Reap."

Romyda, who counts former face of Chanel No. 5 and one-time Bond girl Carole Bouquet among her fans, said she has always catered to a largely expat client base, but more recently Cambodian women have started coming in with their daughters, looking for "sophisticated, refined and unique" dresses.

"I believe Cambodian women are now more self-conscious and determined to please themselves. It's an important breakthrough in Khmer gender attitudes and perceptions," she said. "All the clothes I design are meant to make a woman feel more elegant, sensual and poised."

Romyda grew up and studied in Paris, opening her first shop in Phnom Penh in 1999. She now has boutiques worldwide, including Australia, Paris and Japan.

In the run-up to Christmas there's a musical treat in store for Reapers – two concerts in one weekend. Khmer-American singer Laura Mam performs at the Shinta Mani Made in Cambodia market on Saturday, and Phnom Penh band Krom at Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa on Sunday.

California-based singer/songwriter Mam is in Siem Reap as part of her Cambodia tour, having already played two gigs in Phnom Penh. She performs at 6.30pm tomorrow. This is her second time in Temple Town, and she says she is "beyond excited" about returning.

"The first time I came to Siem Reap was with my band, The Like Me's," she says. "We were able to play at Bayon temple as well as a small show at FCC Angkor, but I've never been able to do a big show targeted at Khmers living and working in Siem Reap, as well as the expats. This year is the debut of my solo career, so technically this is my first time touring Siem Reap as a solo artist."

The songstress, who sings in both English and Khmer, was born and raised in San Jose by refugee parents. She says they brought her up as a "normal American kid," but also instilled in her the sense of being Cambodian and having Khmer in her blood.

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Over the years Mam has collaborated with various NGOs including Cambodia Living Arts and Friends International. She was formally lead singer for all-girl rock band The Like Me's, with whom she toured the US, Canada and Cambodia after becoming a YouTube hit. Now that she has gone solo, she says she has returned to her acoustic roots and will be performing songs from her new EP, Meet Me in the Rain, tomorrow.

"The new EP gives a sense of a new style on my part as a solo artist, which is more acoustic and summer evening as opposed to my more rocker self when I was with the band," she says. "I will be debuting all five of the new songs on the EP because they are written in the form of a love story.

"Also, I'll sing a few original English songs I've written that were inspired by Cambodia and near the end play a few old songs like Sva Rom Monkiss and Pka Proheam Rik Popreay that most people know me for."

On Sunday Krom brings a distinctive mix of blues and traditional Khmer sounds to the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa, playing for the first time in Siem Reap.

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Christopher Minko, formerly of cult Australian band Bachelors From Prague, says the band has always wanted to play here. They were introduced to the Victoria by Gaye Miller, producer of forthcoming Cambodian-Australian documentary Camp 32, for which Krom did the soundtrack.

"Our friend and colleague Gaye Miller kindly introduced us to Hanno Stamm, the Victoria hotel GM, and the concert was agreed to immediately," he says. "The Victoria perfectly suits the dark elegance of Krom's music – a wonderful location indeed for our debut Siem Reap performance and to showcase the remarkable vocal talents of the Chamroeun sisters, Sophea and Sopheak."

The two one-hour sets will take place from 6pm by the pool, with the band debuting some new tracks.

"We will be presenting 19 songs including the debut performance of Where the Shadow Falls," says Minko, "Along with the first live performance of The Haunted especially for Gaye, whom we understand will be in the audience."

Tickets cost $15 and include one free drink and canapés.

Krom was formed in 2010 in Phnom Penh by Minko and lead singer/co-songwriter Sophea Chamroeun, with her sister Sopheak later joining on vocals, and Jimmy B on slide guitar, saxophone and accordion.

The band has garnered international praise with fans including BBC DJ Mark Coles, who nominated their debut album Songs from the Noir as a top 20 album of 2012, and The Killing Fields director Roland Joffé, who described their music as, "Gut-twisting songs connected to something profound, night-time whispers, raw and real."

CAMBODIAN CUISINE FESTIVAL
The Cambodian Cuisine Festival 2013, to be held at the Cambodian Cultural Village today and tomorrow, promises the presence of cooks from 16 provinces who will present "both traditional and modern dishes."

The festival, organised by the NGO Pour un Sourire d'Enfant (PSE), will raise funds to support underprivileged students with food, health care and education. Some proceeds will also go to the Paul Dubrule Hotel and Tourism School.

Tonight at 9.30pm, Cambodian singer, PlusDollar Records artiste and PSE Goodwill Ambassador Pou Khlaing will perform, with Nem Tum. At 11pm tonight DJ Seila will do a one hour set.

Other highlights this evening include a hair and fashion show scheduled to kick off at 7.45pm, followed by a 10 minute bokator performance.

Tomorrow will see an opera performance by PSE students at 7pm, plus the hair and fashion show at 7.30pm, followed by a bokator performance.

Singer Nem Tum will take to the stage at 9.30pm and again DJ Seila will close the show.

Entry for Cambodian is free and foreigners can buy tickets at the door for $4.

LOCAL NGO GETS HYATT GRANT
Siem Reap NGO Everything's Gonna Be Ok (Egbok) has been awarded a $15,000 grant through the Hyatt Community Grant program.

What makes this grant especially significant is that it's the first to be awarded to an organisation in Southeast Asia , out of 26 awarded since inception to non-profits nominated by Hyatt hotels.

Hyatt Community Grants, a key component of Hyatt Thrive – Hyatt's global corporate responsibility platform – encourages hotels worldwide to identify and nominate local non-profits for funding.

Egbok Mission is an international outfit working to give young adults from rural and neighbouring areas around Siem Reap the skills and training necessary to work as hospitality professionals, and Park Hyatt is now training four Engbok housekeeping interns.

Park Hyatt Siem Reap general manager Sholto Smith said, "We look forward to being able to train and guide the students into the world of hospitality and couldn't be happier to support the youth and community further."

Park Hyatt Siem Reap chef de cuisine Theam Pisith also recently participated in the Egbok hospitality speaker series, inspiring future chefs and students wanting to study food and beverage.

NEW THEAM EXHIBITION
McDermott Gallery Old Market will host a new exhibition by Siem Reap-based artist, Lim Muy Theam titled Situations. The exhibition will run from December 14 to February 28, and an opening reception will be held on Saturday from 7-8.30pm.
According to the press release, his trademark lacquer pieces, "Capture beautiful moments in the normal lives of local Cambodian people. We see striking portraits of individuals performing daily chores. From a countryside farmer herding cattle to a procession of monks offering rice, each scene is a reflection of day to day life in the rural towns and bustling cities in modern Cambodia."

SHORTS
Open Day: BELS School of English is having an open day on Saturday December 14, from 10.30am to 2pm. Featured will be free placement tests, 10 per cent discount for returning students who enroll on th day, 15 per cent discount and a free t-shirt for new students enrolling on the day, and a lucky draw with a prize of a term's free study.

New nosh-houses: The Angkor W group of restaurants is opening two new restaurants: Wok Republik and The Grey on December 17 at King's Road Angkor Village.

Wok Republik features top chefs who cook solely with the wok, and the signature dish will be black bean beef and noodles. The Grey delivers "genuine Cambodian BBQ eating" with meats to choose from including beef, pork, chicken, kangaroo, crocodile, and ostrich.

With its thriving restaurant scene Siem Reap is pretty well served in terms of different cuisine, but now its first vegan café has joined the mix – Eternal Green which has opened in Charming City.

Run by Japanese couple Shingo and Asako Alie, the vegan tea house serves a range of muffins, cookies and raw tarts, as well as herbed ciabatta bread made with rapeseed oil that has already proved a firm favourite among the local expat crowd.

There are also vegan munchies such as sweet potato chips and roasted garlic potato, plus a large selection of fair trade teas, traditional Japanese teas and fresh juices and smoothies.

Shingo says it has always been his dream to open a vegan café and shop and promote a healthy, green lifestyle. He and his wife left Japan along with their seven-year-old son after becoming concerned for their safety following the 2011 accident at
Fukushima nuclear power plant. He says he was worried about the effects of radioactive contamination on his son's body.

"We lived far from Fukushima, near Osaka in Akashi City," he says. "But now Japan is dangerous. We left and came to Thailand, then here, first to Phnom Penh and then to Siem Reap. My wife really liked Siem Reap.

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"I want to spread the vegan lifestyle message which is good for the global environment. For example, rather than using artificial seasoning we want to provide snacks that are made using natural ingredients that are friendly to the body."

Snacks include sundried tomato and basil muffins which go very nicely with a homemade ginger ale, made with fresh ginger and cinnamon. The vegan apple cake with cashew nut cream also looked tempting, as did the minty pineapple smoothie.

The family lives above the café which has a hippy, trippy look to it, covered in fairy lights and large colourful wall hangings from Thailand. Shingo says they spent some time on party island Koh Pha Ngan and wanted to bring a "love and peace," dance culture vibe to the café.

Seating is Japanese style on cushions on the floor, with low tables, and there is a tiny shop at the front selling all-natural shampoos, shower gels, herbal teas and mosquito repellant.

Visitors cannot fail to spot Eternal Green as Shingo, formerly part of the dance scene in Japan and an avid graffiti artist, has painted the letters high on a green background above the door, also painted green, as are both balconies on the three-story building. Keeping the green theme, he has painted green tendrils and leaves creeping all the way up to the top.

Eternal Green is off Charles de Gaulle Road, past Le Meridien Angkor by Borey Prem Prey market. It is open seven days a week, 2.30pm-9pm.

Siem Reap authorities will develop new parking areas for vehicles in the downtown district to avoid traffic jams in the Old Market and Pub Street area.

Deputy governor Bun Tharith said vehicles such as tuk tuks and cars can no longer park along streets in the Old Market area from now on.

He said authorities will organise the first new parking area alongside the Siem Reap Provincial Hospital.

"After we have prepared the parking area, no one can park their vehicle in streets in the Old Market area and Pub Street as before. If people wish to enter these areas they have to park in our parking area and walk in."

He added that authorities are also trying to find suitable empty land near the tourism area to develop as extra parking bays.

Siem Reap governor Khim Bun Song also told Insider that that the parking problems would be addressed, adding buses to the list of vehicles that cause traffic jams in the tourism precinct.

"We are going to prepare the parking area for those kinds of vehicles to avoid any traffic jam especially during Happy New Year's Day which will be coming soon. The parking area will be along the wall of Siem Reap Provincial Hospital and also in front of Chea Sim's Primary School which is next door to Old Market and Pub Street."

He added that Siem Reap province is preparing to welcome New Year's Day tourists by increasing order and security, and by further illuminating the streets with lights in trees and with the installation of more light posts along the roadsides.

He said, "We have started to prepare the public order and security for international and local visitors and we have organised many cleaning campaigns and begun to educate our people to love the environment."

There has been much conjecture in town about a new parking lot to be developed near the crocodile farm, but to date authorities have not confirmed this.

There have also been widespread complaints about the large number of big buses clogging downtown areas in the evening and hogging what parking spaces are available. Buses have been banned from entering the major tourism precinct but this has only exacerbated problems in areas adjacent to the downtown precinct proper. Areas such as Central market Street have now become parking lots for large buses in the evenings, causing traffic jams in an area that is ironically earmarked for smaller vehicle parking..

Additional reporting by Peter Olszewski