How to Approach Souvenir Shopping

Whenever I open my pencil case – yes, I am that person – it makes a cheerful chime, as the various key tags move against each other. The sound always takes me back to the places I bought them from, so I guess the souvenirs are defenitely effective! So from a fellow connoisseur to another, here are some tips to make your souvenir shopping in Sri Lanka go well!

Exploring a place is an amazing experience. Sadly, however, apart from your memories, videos and photos, you don’t have many reminders of the adventures. And most of these items are not tangible. That’s why souvenir shops are still in business. They are items that you can interact with, things that can take you back to a place or moment. Not only that, but you can share even a small part of your experience with your family and friends when you gift them an item you brought back! Whether it’s a small trinket, a piece of local artwork, or a traditional handicraft, each souvenir has a story to tell. Unfortunately, the demand for souvenirs is so much that more often than not, you find fake, cheap and mass-produced items on the market. Many stalls in tourist areas are guilty of carrying these items. So how do you find genuine crafts and products that carry meaning and value?

Research and plan ahead

Ok, when you are on hoilday, the last thing you need to do is research. (Research is always advised before you travel, though. Unless you like paying hundreds of pounds to travel to a place only to find out Instagram had lied to you)

While you are researching your destination, take thetime to plan for your souvenir shopping trip in Sri Lanka too. When you are more familiar with the island’s culture, traditions, crafts and products, you get a fair idea of what you want. It will also enrich your travels when you know more about the unique offerings of the area. For instance, Ambalangoda is famouse for its puppetry. A bit of research will give you a rich history of the craft and its importance to the area! Your research will leave you with a better understanding of the best souvenirs in Sri Lanka. Immersing yourself in the local culture provides insight into the significance of symbols, colours, materials and designs local artists and craftsmen use. That knowledge can help you make informed choices and make you truly appreciate the items you chose!

How and where to do research on souvenir shopping in Sri Lanka

Cultural immersion happens once you get to Sri Lanka and begin exploring. If you want to do research on souvenir shopping in Sri Lanka before you begin exploring, go online. There are plenty of resources online that will help you to see what is a good souvenir and what is not. Travel blog, official toursim websites, social media platforms and e-commerce sites are some of the best places to look for to get insight.
And of course, locals are a great resource as well. Befriend a local, and they will help you navigate through souvenir shopping in Sri Lanka. Theycan help you discover hideen gems, connect you with lesser-known artists, and genuine items.

Additionally, while travelling with a guidebook makes it woefully clear that you are a tourist, they can be useful. A good guidebook provide valuable information on local crafts, markets, and other products. Furthermore, you also recommend shops and markets where you can purchase meaningful souvenirs at affordable prices.

Shop local and support local artists

Sri Lanka has an amazing history of traditional crafts. Our original craftsmen came from India shortly after the first Sri Lankan King embraced Buddhism. The descendants of these 18 craftsmen continued their trade, receiving recognition from the kings. Even now, some of the master craftsmen in Sri Lanka can trace their ancestry all the way to these long-ago artists! So when you go to a souvenir shop and buy one of their crafts, you are helping them to continue creating their art and preserve their heritage. That’s why it’s so important to know which products are genuine when you are souvenir shopping in Sri Lanka.

Doing so can:

1. Preserve traditional crafts – local craftsmen and artisans use centuries-old traditions and practices. When you purchase their products, you support their art by adding value to their skills.
2. Economic empowerment – supporting local artists and small businesses helps to create opportunities for these artists as well as the country’s conomy.
3. Improve sustainable and ethical processes – local artists often follow manufacturing processes their ancestors developed. So they source locally produced materials, natural dyes and eco-friendly-production processes. Buying their products means you help to reduce the carbon footprint left behind by mass-produced souvenirs.

Seek authenticity and quality

Souvenir shopping in Sri Lanka gets tricky if you do it at a trendy tourist destination like Hikkaduwa. Now, I’m not saying there aren’t shops that carry authentic crafts. But there are more stalls that offer fake, mass-produced items than genuine, quality products.

If in doubt, you can go to Laksala – the state-owned hadicraft store. It carries a range of genuine traditional crafts, gems, and other products. Lakpahana, Paradise Road, Dutch Gallery and Barefoot are some other stores that offer authenticity and quality.

If you are impulse shopping for souvenirs in Sri Lanka, here are some tips to keep in mind

1. Examine the craftsmanship – genuine crafts often display intricate designs, precision and individuality. Most of the mass-produced products carry signs of glue, shoddy workmanship, unusual colours, etc.
2. Assess materials – authentic traditional crafts use locally-sourced materials. Oftentimes, these are natural products like natural dyes, genine local leather, etc. For example, authentic Sri Lankan drums have certain shapes, use certain woods, dried animal hides, etc, and you can easily set them apart from a cheap, fake drum.
3. Research traditional techniques – it’s too involved for a simple souvenir shopping trip. But you learn a lot and will find your purchases more meaningful in addition to being able to tell a genuine from a fake!
4. Look for labels or certifications – some crafts carry labels or certifications of their authenticity. It’s not a frequent thing, sadly, but, be on the lookout for that.
5. Talk to the artisans – If possible, go directly to the artist. When they involve a middleman, the majority of the profit unfortunately doesn’t go to the artist. So whenever possible, try to seek them out and buy directly from the. They are passionate about their craft and highly knowledgeable, so you’ll learn a lot.

Practical considerations

1. Set a budget – plan ahead to avoid overspending and impulse buying
2. Carry local currency – small businesses oftentimes don’t accept cards, so always keep some cash (local currency, obvs) on you
3. Pack lightly – if you anticipate buying a lot of souvenirs, pack lightly so you have space. alternatively, you can ship these items separately
4. Be aware of customs regulations – to avoid unexpected fees or buying souvenirs that are prohibited in your home country, be minful of the customs regulations
5. Be prepared to haggle – unless a standard market price is set, you can always get the merchants to knock down the price. So if you don’t see a price tag (and are not at a fancy shop like Paradise Road, don’t imediately agree to the price the merchant mentions. If they seem open to negotiations, a bit of back and forth (as long as you do it respectfully) will make the item more affordable

Responsible souvenir shopping

1. Avoid items made from endangered species – most of the traditional crafts of Sri Lanka use natural materials. The practice is mostly harmless. Unfortunately, there are crafts that can harm endangered or protected animals and plants due to materials like coral, ivory, etc. Please avoid these crafts and opt for more sustainanle and eco-friendly items
2. Keep an eye out for harmful materials – traditional Sri Lankan crafts don’t often use plastics or non-biodegradable materials. If you do spot some, you can bet that the product is not authentic. Avoiding them means you also help to protect the environment
3. Respect cultural sensitivities – some items have religious or spiritual importance to Sri Lankans. For instance, a statue of Buddha is a symbol for the Buddha himself and worthy of respect. Be mindful of these cultural sensitivities and local customs when you go souvenir shopping
4. Choose eco-friendly products – recently, craftsmen are making a push towards sustainability and eco-friendliness. This leads to a lot of creative items made using recycled materials. They are both trendy and make for great souvenirs

Explore Sri Lankan crafts

Join our Cultural Triangle Luxury Tour, or experience culture and wellness in one with our Sri Lanka Hill Country & Tea Trails.