Ock Pop Tok, meaning east meets west, was started in 2000 by a local weaver and an English photographer. Following the principles of fairtrade it aims to advance the artistic, cultural & social development of lao artisans & increase the appreciation of Lao's diverse textiles & communities through educational activities.
The philosophy behind Ock Pop Tok is to empower women through their traditional skills, as well as promoting the beauty of Loation textiles across the globe.
|www.ockpoptok.com
In October-November my sister Debbie & I spent 10 days in Luang Prabang, Laos, which was textile heaven for me! Among the many, many new discoveries was Ock Pop Tok Living Crafts Centre which had workshops in silk dying, weaving & batik & a wonderful shop of local textiles for sale.
I spent two days there, touring & looking & doing hands on natural dyeing for a morning, & then an afternoon learning some batik from a Hmong tribal woman, Su Song.
I also met & made friends with a young woman named Mon who came from a remote village 2 days bus trip away, & who spoke really good English. She was a weaver using a backstrap loom.
Silkworms
Silkworm Cocoons
Spinning the silk into skeins
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| Dyeing Shed |
Natural dyed silk skeins
Natural dyed silk skeins
Weaving
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| Weaving |
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| Shibori 1 |
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| Shibori2 |
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| My new friend Mon weaving on a backstrap loom |
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| Batik pot of hot wax mixed with indigo dye |
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| Blue Hmong woman Song Su making batik |
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Bowl of floating flowers
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