-
The Luang Prabang Special Education School gives to deaf children the opportunity to receive an education, and to learn a job in order to have a better professional integration. Thus, they are trained for weaving, dressmaking, carpentry, mechanic and for the catering sector. To value their work, and promote their apprenticeship, the centre has developped businesses. Business and professional training A support to their learning To support the community work and promote the deaf&mutes training, the centre has launched businesses on place. As the young learn weaving, dressmaking, carpentry, catering and mechanic, a handicraft shop, a garage and a coffee place welcome visitors. Those social businesses are also complementary ressources, as the community intend to be self-sufficient. The handicraft activity is working BtoB and BtoC. Visitors can stop by the shop, and local companies can order handicrafts. The garage is dedicated to bicycles and motorcycles. The coffee serves beverages, snacks and “homemade food” at lunch time. Read more: 8:00 am - 5:00 pmMon8:00 am - 5:00 pmTue8:00 am - 5:00 pmWed8:00 am - 5:00 pmThu8:00 am - 5:00 pmFri8:00 am - 5:00 pmSat8:00 am - 5:00 pmSunClosed
-
PASSA PAA MEANS THE LANGUAGE OF CLOTH IN LAO. STITCH BY STITCH EACH OF OUR TEXTILES HAVE STORIES TO TELL. WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE TEXTILE SKILLS OF HMONG/LAO ARTISANS NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE Long time friends, Pok (Hmong/Lao artisan) and Heather (British textile designer) saw a need for Hmong artisans and hemp farmers in Laos to find a market for their skills and raw materials. In 2012 Heather and Pok began researching more about traditional Hmong techniques along with hemp and cotton production in northern Laos. They began combining Heather’s design background with Pok’s artisan upbringing to reproduce the Hmong motifs in contemporary ways through the combination of screen print with applique and cross-stitch embroidery. Read more: 9:00 am - 4:00 pmMon9:00 am - 4:00 pmTue9:00 am - 4:00 pmWed9:00 am - 4:00 pmThu9:00 am - 4:00 pmFri9:00 am - 4:00 pmSatClosedSunClosed
-
CAMA Crafts store is located in the heart of Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, was established in 1990 by CAMA Services, an American relief and development organization. The main purpose is to support Hmong refugees of the Vietnam War. CAMA Crafts’ goal is “to lead village producers toward self-sufficiency, to promote community development through meaningful work, and to preserve and encourage traditional skills and handicrafts”. CAMA Crafts became the first business in Laos to be certified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO, then the International Fair Trade Association). The company offer three different types of lifescenes which include Hmong, Lao, and Animal. The Hmong and Lao styles show typical village life and illustrate popular folk tales. Read more: 10:00 am - 6:00 pmMon10:00 am - 6:00 pmTue10:00 am - 6:00 pmWed10:00 am - 6:00 pmThu10:00 am - 6:00 pmFri10:00 am - 6:00 pmSat10:00 am - 6:00 pmSunClosed
-
East meets West Ock Pop Tok, meaning “East Meets West” in Lao, is the perfect analogy for the meeting of British Jo and Laotian Veo, our two co-founders. Since the beginning, our artisan social enterprise, based in Luang Prabang, Laos, has been trying to bring two worlds together. Merging traditions from the east with innovation from the west has allowed us, since 2000, to elevate the profile of Lao textiles and contribute to its preservation. Discover Laos through textiles at our Living Crafts Centre in Luang Prabang and online. About Us We believe culture is dynamic, and as such innovation in pattern, colour and functionality is important to keep textile traditions culturally and commercially viable. Our products are made using the finest, locally sourced natural and organic raw materials. Our Mission Ock Pop Tok (meaning “East Meets West” in Lao) was founded on the principles of fair trade and sustainable business practices. The company was pioneering social business and ethical fashion before these terms were even a part of our cultural lexicon. Read more: 9:00 am - 6:00 pmMon9:00 am - 6:00 pmTue9:00 am - 6:00 pmWed9:00 am - 6:00 pmThu9:00 am - 6:00 pmFri9:00 am - 6:00 pmSat9:00 am - 6:00 pmSun9:00 am - 6:00 pm
-
Located in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) is a local social enterprise founded in 2006 to promote the appreciation and transmission of Laos’ ethnic cultural heritage and livelihoods based on traditional skills. The Centre’s primary activities are two-fold: a museum, and fair-trade handicrafts stores directly linked with artisan communities across Laos. TAEC’s work includes school outreach activities, craft workshops, lectures, research, and a non-profit foundation in the USA. The Centre has expanded to include a growing collection of ethnic minority artefacts, a small library, family activity centre, and outdoor patio space for special events. TAEC has emerged as a regional leader in cultural heritage management and community development. It is the only independent resource and learning centre for both foreign visitors and local citizens dedicated to the country’s many and diverse ethnic groups. Read more: 9:00 am - 9:00 pmMon9:00 am - 9:00 pmTue9:00 am - 9:00 pmWed9:00 am - 9:00 pmThu9:00 am - 9:00 pmFri9:00 am - 9:00 pmSat9:00 am - 9:00 pmSun9:00 am - 9:00 pm
-
TaiBaan was started by PADETC, a Lao NGO, as a fair trade social business that works with traditional handicraft artisans to preserve and promote Lao village crafts, create employment opportunities for villagers – mostly women – and reduce poverty. TaiBaan was originally named Saoban. In 2020, Saoban was renamed TaiBaan to reflect rebranding needs of the company. TaiBaan means ‘village or a community of villages’ in the Lao language. TaiBaan supports more than 15 village crafts groups of many ethnic communities across 10 provinces of Laos. When you buy from TaiBaan Crafts, you provide employment and training for the artisans, and the profits stay in the village communities. Read more: 9:00 am - 8:00 pmMon9:00 am - 8:00 pmTue9:00 am - 8:00 pmWed9:00 am - 8:00 pmThu9:00 am - 8:00 pmFri9:00 am - 8:00 pmSat9:00 am - 8:00 pmSunClosed