about ma té sai

Ma Té Sai is all about authentic Lao hand made products. We aim to create a larger market for gift and household items made by people all over Laos. By doing so, we can offer a higher and more sustainable income back to poor and vulnerable Lao artisans.

We hand pick items for you that we personally love and we think mean something. They can make great mementos of Laos, interesting and unique gifts, or add function and beauty to your home. Many items embrace village life, the traditions passed down over generations, the identities of various ethnic groups, and celebrate the craft involved. Many have been transformed to suit your modern environment, but all are made by a person who is proud and happy to share their skills and traditions with you. By developing our products with the artisans we aim to create a sustainable income for their craft. We also hope that it will allow the expertise to be passed on to the next generation.

Ma Té Sai means “where is it from?” in Lao. Our business was started out of a wish to promote unique items from all around Laos. Increasingly, products from Northern Thailand, Vietnam and China dominate the market here, so we wanted to showcase what is actually made in Laos. Every item we sell is not only a beautiful object or nice present, it is a piece of identity, the history of someone, somewhere, who put their heart into making it. We want you to share this connection with our artisans as much as we want to guarantee them a fair and sustainable income. Hopefully we can extend this to villages across the region. We hope you enjoy the stories of Laos, its traditions and visit frequently, whether it be in person or online.