A stylish urban classic for over a century, The Strand Yangon first opened its doors to writers, raconteurs, explorers and adventurers in 1901.  The luxury heritage hotel has been collaborating with another of Myanmar's famous names, Augustine, since the early 1960s, when Mr Augustine first sourced rare and beautiful objects from Myanmar's history for the hotel.  This summer, The Strand Yangon celebrated that successful relationship with the opening of Augustine At The Strand, a new boutique located just off the hotel's marble lobby, specialising in exceptional and sought-after items that exemplify the finest in Myanmar craftsmanship dating from the 1900s onwards.

Collated by Augustine owner, Mark Augustine, the Items on sale at Augustine At The Strand are objects pre-owned post-1900, the era the hotel first opened, with an emphasis on items that have been hand-made by traditional artisans using rare techniques and featuring typical elements such as gold leaf, lacquer and teak wood.

Mark and his father, Augustine's founder, Mr Augustine, have always had a close relationship with Strand Hotel that stretches back over 55 years.  They collaborated with the Strand during both of its major renovations in the early 1990s and again in 2016, sourcing many items now found in the lobby, including various large pieces of lacquer ware and gilded wood carvings.

“Here at the Strand, we are privileged to be the guardians of this beautiful building's history and, likewise, Mark and his father have become stewards to a century of Myanmar's artisan crafts.  By opening this shop, we have brought the experts right to our guests, who can ensure the provenance of each item, help source particular items and assist with any paperwork such as certificates of authenticity, thereby preserving and ensuring the longevity of Myanmar arts and crafts,” commented Hotel Manager, Barthélémy Durand.

If guests are unable find the exact item they desire, the Augustine team can arrange for them to visit their original shop and warehouse in nearby Kamayut Township, which is a treasure trove of carvings from workshops in Mandalay, gilded statues, mid-century furniture, exquisite lacquer ware from artisans in Bagan and beautifully worked silver. 

The Strand's contribution to Yangon's historical and cultural heritage was recognised in February 2019 when it become the first hotel to receive a commemorative Blue Plaque from the Yangon Heritage Trust, which is now on display under the entrance portico.