The Weavers
Meet the Ock Pop Tok Weavers:
- Mr Khum, one of our head weavers and dyers learnt his skills from his mother. It is unusual that a man is directly involved with the dyeing or weaving process. Khum recently trained with an EU funded workshop in LuangNamTha. In 2005 he won a competition for best innovative design and craftmanship of a textile from Northern Laos. The competition was created by The Quiet in the Land, Project.
- Mrs Davon, the other headweaver, has been weaving and dyeing silk all her life. She is skilled at ikat and supplementary patterns. Mrs Davon weaves our popular interpretation of 'tung prayer flag' which feature both ikat and supplementary techniques. Tung prayer flags are seen in the grounds of temples hanging from tall bamboo poles. Last year she won the 'Best textile of the year' awarded by the Lao Handicraft Association.
- Mrs Thong, has been weaving with us for nearly 8 years. Her daughter Ot now also weaves with us. Mrs Thong is married and has 4 children. Usually Mrs Thong weaves silk skirts.
- Mrs Meng has been working with Lear on a collection of Obi for a gallery in Kyoto.
- Mrs Nalee is Mr Khum's wife and the mother of their 2 year old son. Mrs Nalee weaves ikat scarves.
Mrs Ting, apart from being a great weaver is also the life and soul of the party. Her and her husband do some very funny renditions of a Luang Prabang style song called 'Kaptum' in which men and women challenge each other.- Mrs Buavon, not only a skilled weaver but also takes care of our resident silkworms. The worms need feeding fresh mulberry leaves more than 3 times a day. Mrs Buavon is a skilled silk reeler and can make around 200gs of silk aday.
- Miss Noot, is 18 and recently won a competition run by the Lao Handicraft Group. The winning textile is on show at our gallery in Luang Prabang.
- Mrs Kamdee just had her first baby. Kamdee weaves supplementary patterns and her textiles are sold in Tokyo and Singapore.
Mrs Lu, a young master weaver of extraordinary talent, has designed with Lear a textile of more than 1000 patterns. The pattern was developed for a hotel's lobby. It features intricate Naga motifs.- Miss Dip, the daughter of Mrs Davon is a young weaver and great at ikat.
- Miss Paeng, originally from a village far north of Luang Prabang has settled with her sister Mrs Gieng in Luang Prabang. Phaeng is a talented supplementary weaver who has recently mastered the 4 pedal loom.
- Mrs Dor, a patient teacher and loving mother works on scarves and hangings.
- Mrs Gieng, has been weaving a comission from Souvanpoumm Hotel. She is very skilled in the tapestry technique.
- Miss Ot, our youngest weaver is the daughter of Mrs Thong.
Mrs Banee, a weaver and wonderful cook, Banee prepares the lunches when we have students. Her speciality is Jeo Mak Lin, a tomato dipping sauce with corriander, chilli and garlic, which she prepares with b-b-q fish.- Mrs Kell, is the older sister of Noot. Kell weaves ikats that are hanging in a store in New York city.
- Mrs Lear, has been with us from the start, she is now head of design and works over at the workshop overseeing the dying and weaving. Lear has mastered many computer design applications which she uses for designing rugs, scarves, lamps and furniture. Last year Lear got married and she designed her own house.
