Taylor & Khoo: The story so far

Visit the orphanage with Global Village Expeditions.

We thought you might find this information from Global Village Expeditions interesting.

Cycle through Cambodia for Sunrise Children's Villages

‘One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things’.  Henry Miller

January 31 – February 10 2009

You are invited to participate in the journey of a lifetime. 

Sunrise Children’s Villages and Global Village Expeditions (GiVE), in partnership with Intrepid, would like you to join us on a cycle through Cambodia to raise funds for Sunrise. 

Get off the beaten track in Cambodia as we blaze a trail from the glories of Angkor to some of the less known and visited Khmer sites, pedal by the side of the Mekong to the capital city then sweep southwards through rural provinces to finish by the tropical beaches of Sihanoukville.

This is a real journey of discovery pedaling along quiet back roads and passing through sleepy villages you'll see the beauty of rural Cambodia up close and experience a the pace of life that has not changed much since the time of the Khmers. 

See some of the best Khmer ruins, far from the madding crowds that now dominate Angkor and experience a real thrill as you explore off the beaten track. Our cycling route is varied and fascinating whether it's on jungle tracks up a pilgrimage mountain, cycling by the Mekong river or along the beaches of the tropical southern coastline you will experience a side of Cambodia seen by few others.  Coupled with time spent relaxing in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville this is a superb way to experience one of Asia's most captivating countries.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Village and see firsthand the benefit your donation brings to the children of Sunrise.

Orphanages in Cambodia can be places of despair, carers trying to meet all the children’s needs on as little as $5 a day.  Sunrise Children’s Villages is an organization dedicated to changing these children’s present, and to giving them a future.  Sunrise runs 2 orphanages, one outside Phnom Penh and the other in the city of Siem Reap, where children are housed, fed, clothed, educated, medically cared for and loved through to adulthood in a family supportive environment.  Another centre is being constructed in Sihanoukville province.

The Cambodia Cycle Expedition’s aim is to raise funds to assist in the building of a new centre for Sunrise.  Your trip cost factors in a minimum USD$1,000 donation that will go directly to Sunrise and their building fund.  Any additional funds you raise will also go directly to Sunrise, the sky’s the limit with your fundraising and we encourage you to exceed all expectations!

Check out www.givexpeditions.com or email expeditions@givexpeditions.com and register your interest in this fantastic adventure today.  Space is strictly limited.

Live an extraordinary life.  Experience and extraordinary adventure.  Make an extraordinary difference.

Download Global Village brochure

After four years, the Taylor & Khoo journey is changing direction.  Early in 2008 we made the difficult decision to close the retail, and wholesale business, including closing the Sydney shop at SkyGarden. 

We remain enthusiastic about helping the children at the Sunrise Angkor Children’s Village in Siem Reap and supporting to workshops of disabled and disadvantaged who have been producing our range, however we came to a realization that the retail and wholesale could no longer sustain its original objectives without further investment in time and money.

Taylor & Khoo achieved what it set out to do.  It was a unique fashion and homewares label that provided employment and opportunity for people in poverty in Cambodia and supported the needs of about 120 orphan children at the Sunrise Angkor Children’s Village in Siem Reap.
Over four years, the Taylor & Khoo venture created a high level of awareness and demand for Cambodian silk, fashion and homewares; created income generation opportunities for some of the most needy in Cambodia; and helped them to improve their design and production capabilities.

It also created a high level of awareness of the needs of the children at the Sunrise Angkor Children’s Village in Siem Reap and was a flagship for many fundraising efforts for the orphanage.

Now, after four years, the workshops have developed a proficiency where they are able to handle much larger commercial orders and have outgrown the demand of Taylor & Khoo, and in fact it is inefficient for them to serve such a small customer.  At this time, to continue with the retail and wholesale fashion and homewares business in a way that makes sense for the producers will require significantly more scale, investment and time.  For Valerie and Kylie, who have full time jobs and have never taken any form of income from Taylor & Khoo, it is not possible to make that investment in time or capital. 

Taylor & Khoo was a unique social cause venture. Kylie and Valerie wish to thank all the wonderful people who have been part of the story over the past four years and especially all our wonderful customers.

Kylie and Valerie will keep supporting the Sunrise Angkor Children’s Village and keep in touch with the workshops in Cambodia and assist them in any way possible.

Read on to find out more, to learn about our journey to set up a social cause venture and how you can support the orphanage today.

Cheers
Kylie and Valerie

January sales now on – clothes 75 per cent off

Hi everyone,

Happy new year! We hope you had a great break over Christmas.

Usually January is a fairly quite time for us because everyone is busy nabbing washing machines or fridges at the January sales. But we’re thrilled that the store has been busy – and that’s probably because our own January sale is so fabulous (if we do say so ourselves!)

Clothes are 75 per cent off (except t-shirts) – this is for January only so get in quick because this definitely won’t last long.

Also on sale are our gorgeous one-of-a-kind patchwork bedspreads. This is your chance to get an heirloom that will stay in your family for generations.

And of course, our beautiful handbags, wraps, scarves and accessories are on sale too.

We look forward to seeing you this month!

Boxing Day Sales start now at Taylor & Khoo – get it early

We’ve decided to start our Boxing Day sales early. Breaking from usual retail tradition, we want to offer customers our specials early. So you’ll find the perfect Christmas gift – or a something special to spoil yourself – at the Taylor & Khoo store in Skygarden (above Borders book store) in Pitt Street Mall.


ALSO ON SALE:
Furniture sale at Artiques & Country on level 2 continues. Further reductions for a large variety of furniture is available from Taylor & Khoo Skygarden Store and Artiques & Country main store on level 2. Recent arrivals include shell inlaid furniture and recycled South East Asian teak and mahogany in bedsides, (as pictured), coffee tables and beds etc. Delivery is available on Saturdays or alternatively pick up and free parking is available from Monday to Friday.

It’s been a busy year for Taylor & Khoo so far and Christmas is also one of our busiest times. We’re planning an expanded online store next year and more fund-raising opportunities to help the kids at the Sunrise Angkor Orphanage in Siem Reap.

Until next time,

Valerie and Kylie

Great ideas for Christmas

Clothes on sale, corporate gifts, new designs

Clothes on Sale
The gorgeous range of Taylor & Khoo clothes are on sale at 25% off. This applies to all clothing so it’s a wonderful chance to pick up a beautiful silk dress, top or skirt that you’ll want to wear forever.

New Ruby Jam jewellery designs
New jewellery designs from Ruby Jam made from semi-precious stones have just come into the store. These beautiful pieces are made by jewellery designer Naomi Britten and are fast becoming a favourite with customers.

Eastern Weft and Cambodia House
As you know, we love other businesses that operate along similar socially responsible principles as we do. We love them even more when they products are as gorgeous as those from Eastern Weft and Cambodia House.

With a new shipment of unique wall-hangings, scarves, cushions, handbags, totes, tapestries, lamp shades with bases and homewares from these two labels, the Taylor & Khoo store is chock full of goodies. You won’t know what to choose!

Have you been in the store lately? It’s full of gorgeous new products.

David Cheah’s creations now available
International artist David Cheah has some new one-of-a-kind creations in store. His silk wall-hangings will transform your home. David’s wall-hangings have been seen in magazines in Australia and around the world.

Christmas shopping the easy way
If you can’t make it to the store to do your Christmas shopping, you can buy online. Or if you can visit us in Skygarden, Pitt Street Mall (just above borders), Kerrie, Naomi or Kimberley will only be too happy to help you find the perfect set of items for your family and friends.

Remember this is Christmas shopping with a social cause – one person CAN make a difference.

Corporate gifts
Instead of buying a pudding or hamper as a corporate gift, check out our beautiful range of products and accessories that will be corporate gifts with a difference. You can buy jewellery rolls, trinket boxes, scarves, homewares and much more.

Until next time,

Valerie and Kylie
 

Ray Martin gets involved, New jewellery, Spring is in the air, Eastern Weft at Taylor & Khoo

Energetic fundraiser and tireless supporter of the orphanage Susie Shine is holding a fundraising dinner on 26 September for the Australia Cambodia Foundation. It will be at Le Montage Events Centre in Leichhardt to raise desperately needed funds to buy a commercial kitchen for the Sunrise Village in Siem Reap.

The goal is ambitious – the orphanage will need industrial fridges, a hot water system, hygienic waste disposal, a cool room, storage space, stove tops and enough noodle bowls for 400 meals a day!

For growing children, proper nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. For children who have received an unhealthy start to life due to poverty or neglect, it's even more important to ensure they receive delicious and nutritious meals on a daily basis. Currently, local cooks crouch on the floor over open-flame gas burners and dishes and utensils are washed from a hose in the backyard.

Tickets cost $150 and include a three course dinner plus beer, wine and soft drinks. There will be a live auction, raffle tickets and a lucky door prize and live entertainment.

Ray Martin from 60 Minutes will be the MC for the evening - he and his crew have recently returned from filming in Cambodia, so be sure to watch 60 Minutes on Channel 9 this Sunday 2 September to see life at Sunrise Children's Villages.

Geraldine Cox, the founder of Sunrise Children's Villages, and recipient of Father Chris Riley's Circle of Courage Award will share her experiences at the dinner, and five of the Sunrise children who are currently studying in Australia with us on the night. They will tell us their stories and show just how sponsorship from Australians has changed their lives, giving them opportunities and hope for the future, which otherwise would have been unobtainable for them.    

Contact Susie Shine on:  susie.shine@sunrisechildrensvillage.org
Wednesday 26 September 2007
Le Montage Bayside Events Centre
38 Frazer Street, Leichhardt/Lilyfield
Time: 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Dress: Lounge Suit
Cost: $150 per person, $1,500 per table (table of 10)

RSVP by 5 September 2007 to Susie Shine
PO Box 2137, Rose Bay North, NSW 2030
email: susie.shine@sunrisechildrensvillage.org
Phone: 02) 9371 7929 or 0439 336 772

Kylie and Valerie would love to be there but can’t because of prior commitments. But we know that Susie will do a stellar job!

New jewellery at Taylor & Khoo
Spring is in the air! Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and Ruby Jam is blossoming with new designs in store now.

Spoil yourself wit the romantic “Red Tails in Love”, a delicious combination of pink pearls, garnets and banded agate.

Be swept off your feet with “Disco Diva Decadence”, a heady blend of clear quarts, onyx and garnets. Or try the bewitching “Pink Moon Paradise”, a magical mix of rosequartz, garnet and clear quartz.

Shimmy into Taylor & Khoo and check out our scrumptious spring designs soon.

Gorgeous scarves and textiles from Eastern Weft at Taylor & Khoo
If you’ve wandered into the store recently, you will have seen the stunning products from Eastern Weft. This is also a social enterprise like Taylor & Khoo, run by Samorn Sanixay.

Samorn provides a home and jobs for a group of young women in Laos, many of whom have escaped life in brothels. Samorn has trained them with superb weaving skills and they are now producing stunning products for Parisian designers and Australia’s Akira Isogawa.

We’re thrilled that you can buy from this affordable range of exquisite scarves and wall hangings at Taylor & Khoo. They’re just gorgeous!

Til next time,

Valerie and Kylie
www.taylorandkhoo.com

Thanks Ali McGregor, Orphanage visit, T&K in the media, 50 per cent sale in store

It’s been busy here at Taylor & Khoo. The New Beginning bracelets very popular – and we’ve sold out a couple of times but have managed to get new stock in.

They are gorgeous pieces that have now been featured in everything from the current issue of Vogue, to Living Now, Voyeur magazine and G magazine.

These bracelets are made by waste-pickers in Cambodia and your purchase helps them be able to work in a safe, clean environment instead of scavenging through rubbish dumps. Thanks for your support.

Taylor & Khoo clothes have also been making a splash around town.
Beautiful Imogen Bailey was recently snapped in this gorgeous Taylor &
Khoo dress in the social pages of two newspapers and this week Valerie
is off to Wollongong with six models to show off the Taylor & Khoo range on the Susie Elelman Show for WIN TV.

Ali’s generous donation
The multi-talented Ali McGregor held a wonderful event at the Melbourne Comedy Festival recently, Midnight Lullabies. As a result she has raised
$3 352.12 for the orphanage – thank you Ali. You are amazing!

Ali is planning to hold the same charity concert in Edinburgh so if you are in that part of the world, check it out.

We are so inspired by people like Ali who spend so much of their time and talent on helping the kids at the orphanage.

Susan visits the orphanage
Recently, Melbourne photographer Susan Gordon-Brown and her husband Colin visited Siem Reap and paid a visit to the children at the Sunrise Children’s Village. We are so thrilled to have Susan’s update and all these great photos to share with you.

“The kids look really healthy and happy,” reports Susan. “Although their facilities are basic, they are clean and bright. And it is funny to see the difference between the girls’ and the boys’ dorms. Just like children’s bedrooms anywhere in the world, the girls’ dorm was full of stuffed toys and pop-star posters.

“We really enjoyed our time in Siem Reap. The temples were amazing, but a huge part of our enjoyment was the time spent at Sunrise. Bonna took great care of us, as did the other staff and the children were just lovely. Despite the fact that the children come from very hard circumstances, they can still smile and play. We were really impressed with the love and care of the place, it really felt like a home.

“Thanks for letting us share that experience.”

Up to 50% off for the next 2 weeks
Until Saturday 18 August, Taylor & Khoo is having a sale. This is to thank you for your generous support! All clothes from the Taylor & Khoo range are on sale from 25% to 50% off.

The gorgeous Taylor & Khoo bedspreads are 15% off. They have recently been featured in international advertisements for top of the line design stores in Asia.

Come in and grab a gorgeous bargain so we can make room for more stock.   

Save the date
Treless fundraising dynamo Susie Shine has organised an exciting fundraising dinner for the orphanage this September. If you missed out on last year’s you’ll definitely want to make sure you catch this one. It was a fantastic night. We’ll give you more details in the next newsletter but in the meantime you might want to save the date.

Wednesday 26 September 2007
Le Montage Bayside Events Centre
38 Frazer Street, Leichhardt/Lilyfield
Time: 7.00pm for 7.30pm.
Dress: Lounge Suit
Cost: $150 per person, $1,500 per table (table of 10)

RSVP by 5 September 2007 to Susie Shine
PO Box 2137, Rose Bay North, NSW 2030
email: susie.shine@sunrisechildrensvillage.org
Phone: (02) 9371 7929 or 0439 336 772

Furniture sale
As many of you know the lovely furniture in the Taylor & Khoo store is provided by Artiques & Country. Once again your help is needed to change the lay-out of Taylor & Khoo Skygarden store. In August Artiques & Country is offering a further 10% off already discounted floor-stock.

There are bedsides from $220, small mahogany displays from $160, old Indonesian beds in both queen and king from $1600 and mirrors from just $90. (Less another 10%). There are also a variety of coffee tables, sideboards and shell inlay furniture all looking for ‘good homes’ at bargain prices. Artiques and Country can organise Sydney wide delivery from just $20.00.

Until next time,       

Valerie and Kylie

Keep warm with Taylor & Khoo bedspreads, keynote speaking

Well it’s the end of the financial year and the middle of winter here in Sydney. So if you want to keep warm, there’s no better way to do it than with a gorgeous Taylor & Khoo heirloom bedspread.

These beautiful patchwork bedspreads are all individually made – so each one is unique! They are made of a mixture of Cambodian silk, Chinese brocade and Vietnamese silk. The textures are just sumptuous and luxurious.

Until 15 July, you can buy your very own Taylor & Khoo bedspread for 15% off the marked prices. It’s not only the perfect accessory for your bedroom, it will keep you snug and warm.

The Taylor & Khoo bedspread comes in a range of colours including:

• "Midnight silver" in Silver and black
• "My Little Concubine" in Pure Ivory
• "Some Enchanted Evening" in Navy
• “Scent of Green Papaya” in Luxury Sage

It was great to see everyone who attended the last Champagne and Shopping night. And great to see so many new customers thanks to the media coverage in Virgin Blue’s Voyeur magazine, Living Now magazine and others. (For this we thank the fabulous Catriona Pollard from CP Communications for her amazing PR.)

Keynote speaking
Remember, if you need a keynote speaker in Sydney, Valerie is an experienced speaker and presenter based in Sydney. Kylie is also a highly regarded speaker based in Melbourne. Call us if you’d like a corporate message with a difference on how your staff or your organisation can change the world.

Until next time, Keep warm.

Valerie and Kylie

Next week champagne and shopping, Adam Hills donates to orphanage.

You’re invited …
To an evening of Champagne and Shopping at Taylor & Khoo

When: Thursday 7 June 2007
Time: 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Cost: Free!

Drop into the Taylor & Khoo store to sample our gorgeous new products to suit all budgets. Here, you’ll find everyday luxuries that change the world.

(Champagne kindly donated so you can sip and shop in style)...

Spicks and Specks host Adam Hills donates to orphanage
When comedian Adam Hills isn’t busy fronting Spicks and Specks on TV, hosting the Logies or playing to a full house at the Enmore Theatre as he did last Friday, he’s a keen supporter of Taylor & Khoo. We think he’s amazing. Adam has just donated $15,000 to the Sunrise Angkor Orphanage in Siem Reap, Cambodia. He has been a long-time supporter of the orphanage and has quietly donated money to help the kids for the past two years.

During this time, Adam has donated $33,000 to the orphanage. His recent $15,000 donation takes the total to almost $50,000.

We’re thrilled at Adam’s generosity. Adam’s donation will make a huge difference to the lives of the kids at the orphanage. Despite Adam’s busy schedule, he not only gives his time for the cause but he sells t-shirts after his comedy gigs – and all the profits go to support the orphanage.

You can also buy Adam’s t-shirt featuring his catch cry “Go You Big Red Fire Engine” at Taylor & Khoo. Great if you want to make a statement, are a fan of Adam’s – or know a firefighter you can give it too!
 
Adam says:
“I got involved with Taylor and Khoo due to the energy and enthusiasm of Valerie and Kylie. My audiences then got on board, and embraced the idea of buying a souvenir from the show that also did some good in the world. I love the idea that a teenager in Colchester can buy a T Shirt that directly puts food on an orphan's plate in Cambodia."

See you at the Champagne and Shopping evening next week!

Until next time,