Night market offers Eastern treasures

Two friends are turning their passion for travel into an exotic jewellery and clothing boutique.

Rachel Sawden, 24, and Ashley Aitken, 25, were so inspired by the markets of South East Asia they are launching one in Bermuda.

Tonight shoppers can browse through a night market at Port O’ Call restaurant, offering handmade jewellery, silk ties and scarves, soap carvings, t-shirts and hand-painted wooden boxes, all from Thailand.

Miss Sawden was inspired to launch Wanderlust Boutique after spending six months backpacking with Miss Aitken earlier this year.

Miss Sawden, a psychology graduate of McGill University, Canada, said: “In South East Asia we went to markets and I saw so many things I thought people at home would love.”

She returned to the markets of Chiang Mai, Thailand, in November, to bring items back to Bermuda.

She plans to launch the boutique full-time, holding private shopping nights at people’s homes and travelling to other exotic destinations.

Tonight’s market also features Miss Aitken’s clothes collection, ElleTee Mumbai. Miss Aitken, a science graduate of Dalhousie University, Canada, started designing clothes three years ago. She collected Thai and Indian sari silks during her travels, turning them into tops, skirts and dresses.

She said: “They are mostly black with floral prints and vibrant purple with embroidery. I hope to partner with Rachel and create the clothing division of Wanderlust Boutique.”

Wanderlust Boutique’s market is at Port O’Call, Front Street, from 6-9pm. Visit www.facebook.com/pages/ Wanderlust-Boutique/181199425228860 and www.elleteefashion.blogspot.com