OckPopTok
Author: Anothertravelguide.com0 COMMENTS
OckPopTok or East Meets West - in other words, a fantastic textile store, Fibre2Fabric gallery and weaving centre in one. The project was founded in 2000 by Joanna Smith, a young British photographer, and Veomanee Duangala, a local weaver. The result could be the envy of any Western metropolis. Joanna - also known simply as Jo - has been living in Laos for eight years now, having originally come on a commission from a London agency to work on a photo story on Laos. Eventually she realised this is not something that can be done during a casual visit and decided to stay. During her search for a job Jo happened to meet Veomanee. Previously her knowledge of all things textile was quite superficial and based exclusively on a consumer's point of view. In Laos, on the other hand, the craft is part of the culture and also a means of communication. The Lao silk-weaving traditions are one of the oldest in the world. Jo started by learning to weave in a local village. "I didn't speak Lao to begin with but soon came to realise that textile is what unites these women: silk-weaving traditions are handed down from generation to generation here." The OckPokTok silk-weaving centre is located 2 kilometres from the city on the banks of the Mekong River in a wonderfully peaceful spot. It is definitely worth paying a visit as the whole process of silk-making is on display here: from the fat white silkworms gorging on mulberry leaves in a wicker basket to the looms on which the finest organza is made. You can also take private weaving lessons from the local artisans. Joanna also plans to start offering individual tours of local mountain villages which she visits on silk-buying trips every year.
Gallery and shop:
73/5 Ban Vat Nong
Weaving Centre:
Ban Saylom
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