Yikes! Three weeks left ‘til Christmas and you’ve got a mile-long list of holiday shopping to do. Years past, you’ve exhausted the usual Jordan offerings. You’ve gifted everyone with sand art, keffiyeh, and evil eye jewelry. You’ve overplayed the comic value of misspelled designer undies from the souks in al balad (downtown). So what’s a harried Jordan shopper to do?
Al Bawaba to the rescue with some insider tips that are high on hipster and low on cost. We steer you clear of malls, and point you to the older parts of town where you’ll find unique arts and crafts tucked in surprisingly cool settings. Or slacker-shop from the comfort of your computer since many of these vendors have Facebook “stores” in lieu of brick-and-mortar shops.
First stop is Khordda, a creative think-tank founded by designer Hana Faouri, an imaginative hands-on community that upcycles abandoned objects into clever and useful new products. Khordda hosts the occasional bazaar, called Souk Sofdeh, in their fantastical yarn-bombed garden and airy workshop in Jebel Webdieh where artists hawk unique handcrafts at affordable prices. Mark your calendar - one kicks off this Saturday, December 6 at noon. (They also sell food!)
Ola’s Garden is another treasure trove, an intimate shop and artist’s studio where you can browse, chat to owner and designer Ola Mubaslat, and even take a design class - all against a musical backdrop of chill jazz in a cozy space brimming with artistic eye candy.
Or maybe opt for an aromatic adventure and pop into The Soap House, off Rainbow Street, for a luxurious array of lotions, potions, and of course - soap. Its wrap-around terrace is filled with sensually scented potted herbs and offers one of the best views of old downtown. Buy from the source at deep discounts to what you’d pay in Jordan’s swanky sea resorts (they provide spa products to Jordan’s best hotels).
Take the road less shopped this holiday season. You’ll be buying “green” while supporting Amman’s burgeoning crafts scene. And the reasonable prices won’t put you in the “red”. (See what we did there?)
