“It all began as a love story,” says Marilyn Ma, the owner of SamaSama Collective. She’s referring to her first trip to Bali “for love,” where she picked up many Southeast Asian-inspired knick-knacks and accessories for her friends.
This eventually became the spirit of SamaSama (a multipurpose Indonesian phrase meaning 'same same,' 'together,' and 'you’re welcome') – to share interesting designs with the ethnic elements she’s picked up during her travels and her appreciation for a carefree lifestyle.
Working with Southeast Asian designers she’s met over the past few years (Ma spends a lot of time in the region to source new products), there’s an exotic, hippy vibe throughout the store. Before setting up this brick and mortar location, SamaSama appeared as a pop-up shop at markets and fairs across Shanghai. These products are also available for sale via SamaSama’s WeChat moments and on Taobao.
Located in a lane house courtyard on Xiangyang Bei Lu, the shop is intended more as a showroom. A small yard at the entrance offers space for customers “to chill for a bit” and enjoy a beer or coffee. Once inside, you’ll find Native American dreamcatchers (from RMB65) and Wayuu bags (from an ethnic group in Colombia, from RMB580) handmade by Ma’s friend.
A beach-inspired clutch decorated with seashells (RMB295) is perfect for a festive holiday vibe and free-spirited attitude – the ideal complement to a line of tie-dyed dresses and swimwear (from RMB165).
Ma tells us she plans to develop her e-commerce platforms, and there’s also the possibility of further expansion. But for now, you can pick up your newest summer accessories at this new Xiangyang Lu spot without having to wait for her next appearance at a pop-up market.
See a listing for SamaSama
For more new Shanghai shops, click here.
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