PARISIAN Elegance, Yogurt and Tribal Wear. Who would think that all the above, and more, could be found in a small boutique set inside a tiny jungle of tall bushes and wavy ferns? And not too far from Yangon’s city centre.

The place is J’s Irrawaddy Dream, on Taw Win Road, a few metres from the Pansea Hotel. "J" is Juliana Tan, who threw in her investment-banking career to go into partnership with a friend, as soon as they spotted the charm of Myanmar.

She and Dan de Mirmont opened this elegant little all-wood pavilion in April of 1998.Their products range from silks, velvet slippers, crafts, jewellery, tribal wear, foodstuffs such as Myanmar candies, toys, bags, scarves, dresses, shirts, tablecloths and napkin sets, bowls, glazed wares, lacquer, silver, wood carvings, paintings.

You might think this profusion would result in a junkshop atmosphere, but not at all. Everything is tastefully displayed and the workmanship is exquisite. You would not find anything up to its standard elsewhere.

A wooden patio screened by tall bushes is where one can sit and have delicious coffee and rich chocolate-cashew cake, or creamy yogurt. All of the above wares are made from Myanmar products, even the coffee.

The pret a porter dresses are more upscale and fashionable than the ethnic style, for Julianna prefers to base Parisian designs on what she has to offer. They export mostly to London, New York, and Tokyo, while the young and trendy house of Isabel Marant of Paris includes silks from J’s Irrawaddy Dream in their fashion shows: the models strut their Myanmar stuff on the catwalk to great acclaim. The bags are also a popular item of export.Juliana also supplies the Aseana Boutique chain in Malaysia and some in Singapore. Well worth a visit: if only to revel in the lush atmosphere with cake, coffee and yogurt.

220284. Fax: 228632.