About Ock Pop Tok
Mission Statement
To advance the artistic, cultural and social development of Lao artisans and their textiles while adhering to fairtrade principles.
Through educational activities we aim to increase the understanding and appreciation of Lao's diverse textiles and communities.
What do we do?
OckPopTok is a textile gallery and weaving centre based in Luang Prabang. A local weaver and an English photographer founded it in October 2000. The business provides sustainable employment to rural residents through the production and marketing of high quality textiles. We also offer a number of interactive learning experiences to visitors of Luang Prabang and training opportunities to staff and artisans.
Working alongside development agencies and the Lao Women’s Union we have trained artisans from remote areas in product design and other textile business related skills. These training activities are supported by patronage. A percentage of sales go towards training villagers and sustaining the link between village and market.
Our gallery is in the old quarter, there is a small shop on the main road and the weaving centre is on the banks of the Mekong 2km out of town. OckPopTok is the Lao translation for east meets west; we are about bringing people together through textiles, the exchanging of knowledge and ideas.
In April 2006 OckPopTok founded Fibre2Fabric a non-profit gallery focusing on handcrafted textiles as a way to explore and explain Lao culture. Fibre2Fabric curates three exhibitions a year, each subject taking an in depth look at techniques and the cultural importance of textile production.
OckPopTok History
Veomanee Duangdala and Joanna Smith co-founded OckPopTok in April 2000. Veo is from a family renowned for its weaving, her mother is from Laos' primary silk weaving region, Sam Nua. Veo learnt to weave from an early age, she came proficient in weaving as well as dying silk with natural resources. At 16 Veo left high school to work in the hospitality industry, it is here she picked up her excellent English.
They met in 1999 at an evening school in Luang Prabang where Jo was teaching. Jo had left her career in the UK as a magazine photographer in search of something different. Veo taught Jo to weave in her village, Ban Xieng Leck, this is how the original members of OckPopTok were brought together. In April 2000 Veo and Jo approached Deng, Goy and Noy with the idea of weaving specifically for a gallery and after the production of around 60 pieces the gallery opened in October of the same year.
OckPopTok's aims are to promote Lao and Lao textiles abroad, to train our team in a way that encourages commitment and pride in each other and in the group, to provide a working environment that recognises an individual's skills and initiative and that produces a better quality of living. Our ethical policy is the basis for our success.
Exhibitions and Events
- Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit, Bangkok. Exhibitor, Laos Food & Culture. September 2007.
- Thai Textile Society, Bangkok. Guest Speakers. September 2007.
- Santa Fe International Folk Art Market, New Mexico. Exhibitor. July 2007.
- Silk Moon Textile Arts, San Francisco. Exhibitor. June 2007.
- Textile Society Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Guest Speakers. November 2006
- Mekong Investment Tourism Summit, Laos. Fashion Show. March 2006
- Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Guest Artist at Wine, Food & Arts Event. February 2006.
- Jim Thompson Textile Symposium, Bangkok. Exhibitor. September 2005
- Sapa Poverty Reduction Conference, Vietnam. Panel Speakers and participant. August 2005.
- Big Site Trade Fair, Tokyo. Exhibitor. February 2004.
- Sydney Textile Society Powerhouse Museum, Australia. Guest Speakers. September 2002.
OckPopTok Future
Projects
- To become Fair Trade certified. Currently making an application with IFAT.
- Capacity Building – Training Staff, Building Relationships with Village producers of silk and cotton.
- Develop Textile Tours and Homestays in villages we work with.
- Develop Luang Prabang Design Award, encouraging innovation in designs of handicrafts.
- Exchange Programmes with design students from abroad.
Awards
- Mrs Davon, Winner, Best Design of the Year, Awarded by The Lao Handicraft Asscociation, Vientiane, 2007
- Mr Khum, First Prize, Innovative Textile, Awarded by The Quiet in the Land Project, Luang Prabang, 2005
- Miss Noot, Best Design, Awarded by Design Centre Vientiane and Handwerkskammer Koblenz, 2005