It’s said travel broadens the mind – it can definitely change lives.
There’s no doubt our world trip in the eighties was a major influence on us. We were challenged, both as individuals and as a couple, and developed in our professions.
Pork Belly even made the switch from chef to photographer – although he’s never really left his cooking pots behind.
For others travel opens doors and creates opportunities.
That’s exactly what happened to Joe and Hannah whose backpacking adventures turned into a business and a new way of life.
And it happened, as it so often does, by chance.
“Joe’s sister lives in Sydney and she wanted him to give her away at her wedding. We couldn’t go all that way for just the ceremony so decided to save really hard and make a longer trip. We managed to get enough money together to stay for six months but ended up travelling for three years!”
Volunteering and travelling
They took on volunteer work, spending time on Linapacan, a tiny Island in the Philippines, helping turn it into an eco-resort with a kite-surfing school.
An added bonus was the snorkelling.
After more travels through Indonesia and Malaysia the couple returned to Australia with a working visa and stayed there for another 18 months, working their way around the country.
“One of my happiest travelling memories is of us at the start of the Gibb River Road, in Australia with our beloved 4×4 named Pedro.”
“We spent nearly a year living out of this car, travelling from the East Coast to the West Coast through the Northern Territory and The Kimberleys, and he never once let us down!”
On to India
Then, having saved up a little more money, they were off travelling again.
“India was always the dream. It was definitely one hell of a culture shock. We were lucky we have friends who live and work in Delhi and we had a driver pick us up at the airport and take us to stay in their beautiful apartment so we had a slow and gentle introduction. Yet it still really blew my mind. The first time on our own in old Delhi we were simply amazed. Everywhere you looked there was someone making something, cooking something. It’s just a crazy beehive. It did not disappoint at all.”
And in India Joe had a little surprise up his sleeve.
“I literally had no idea. Seeing the Taj Mahal has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, I still can’t quite believe we actually got engaged there!”
How travel change lives
So how did this experience lead them to start up a business?
“We were on a trek up in the Himalayas and we met a lady selling these huge yak blankets. We bought one and said how amazing it was and how great it would be to have one at home.
Later we were sitting in a small café talking about it and realised there was a lot of stuff here that people back home would love. So we climbed back up the mountain, found the lady, bought all her stock and had to carry it round India with us for about a month and a half before we could send it home. Absolutely bonkers.”
While they were travelling Joe and Hannah set up a Facebook page, called Ambling Albatross, just for fun and to keep friends and family in touch with their wanderings. When the business idea grew it seemed natural to call themselves Ambling Traders.
With the backing of a supportive family the enterprise is steadily growing.
Travel and trade
“We’re combining our love of travel with trading. We want to buy all our items directly from the source, get it from the people who make them so we know the money isn’t going anywhere apart from these people’s pockets.”
“It’s not perfect – we’ll never be able to get those yak blankets again; the lady has no phone, no email, no way of us contacting her. A lot of our products are just sold at local markets and it doesn’t always work.”
“There was one lady selling beautiful sari tote bags. She was in the market all week but the day I went back to buy she wasn’t there.” Hannah chuckles, “There’s definitely a flaw in our business plan!”
Our their last trip to Jaipur in May they wound up with a LOT of luggage.
“Luckily a Tuc-Tuc is never far away. We headed back to Pushkar after a whirlwind shopping trip with bags loaded with hand-loom rugs and Kantha Blankets.”
“I enjoyed hanging out with the girls at the Pushkar Camel Fair. I just love the colour and patterns of Indian saris and they’re the inspiration for our Up-Cycled Vintage Sari Kimonos.”
Provenance is key
“For us it’s all about knowing where things are coming from and meeting the people who make them. Spending time with them. We hung out in a workshop with the three brothers who make our rings for three days, getting to know them and learning from them.”
And there’s real flair in their choices. I’m always tempted to bring stuff back from our travels but the few occasions I have, once I’m home I think “Why did I get that?” because it looks out of place.
Not so the items that Hannah and Joe select.
“I only buy things that I absolutely love, but it is the most nerve-wracking thing. But if it doesn’t sell then at least I’m going to have loads of amazing stuff!”
Social and environmental
“We meet with every supplier face to face and make socially and environmentally conscious choices. This way we know with certainty they are being paid fairly for their work.
We’re also keen on sustainability, particularly up-cycled products, natural products and products that minimise waste.”
Co-production in practice
This co-production approach has led to some beautiful and original items as well.
“This blanket was our first Ambling Traders design. We collaborated with 5th generation block printers to create 6 unique Kantha Blankets.
The methods and materials used,have been left largely unchanged for centuries. Each block is hand carved in rosewood, using traditional tools, and then applied, by hand onto large sheets of natural cotton.
The dyes are created in the exact same way they always have been, with no added nasties, just 100% natural plant and mineral extracts.”
They’ve also designed cushion covers, working with locals in Pushkar to create furnishings that celebrate the rich tradition of Indian hand-loom with a contemporary twist.
If that all sounds a bit worthy, just go and meet Hannah and Joe at a market and you’ll see what Ambling Traders is really all about – the joy of sharing.
The personal touch
Watching them at work on a sunny day in Brighton Marina their enthusiasm overflows. Customers come to look, stay to chat and sometimes buy.
Travel stories are swapped and they spend as long as people want talking about where the items come from, who made them and how they found them.
Pride of place on the stall is a noticeboard with pictures and pen portraits of the sellers.
“I have never been so happy in my life as when we’ve been travelling. It’s all I want to do. But throughout our travels we’ve been shocked and horrified by the amount of rubbish we have seen, the main culprit being plastic bottles.
Wherever we go we try and do our bit by collecting as many as we can. It has been really reassuring to see so many locals get involved once they see what we are doing.”
Keep travelling
“I don’t want to make millions, I just want us to stay in this way of living where we can work together and spend every day together. We’re not just going to India, next time we plan to explore Morrocco. It’s about celebrating different, traditional craftsmanship because these people are amazingly skilled and should be recognised.”
“Joe and I just want to keep travelling as far and as long as possible.”
More information about Ambling Traders
You can find out more on their Facebook page and see their range of products on Etsy
They can also be found at local markets across the south east of England and have a regular stall at Tarmount Studios in Shoreham-by-Sea.
Where next?
• Global Convoy
• Postcard from Cornwall
• 10 things to do in Anjou