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The team at Ock Pop Tok always appreciate it when the Press, writers, bloggers, and reporters chose to feature us in their pieces. Check out some recent articles and videos that feature Ock Pop Tok below.
"An interesting company which promotes Laotian village-centered weaving is called Ock Pop Tok. You should visit them. It definitely is one of the more memorable experiences in Laos. They have a Living Crafts Centre in Luang Prabang, on the banks of the Mekong." - Winged Feet, February 2021
"(...) When I came across an organisation called Ock Pop Tok in Laos you can imagine how happy I was (...) I honestly think this was one of the best days of my life. To learn and witness the art of silk weaving at this beautiful Centre and then have a go at weaving myself, on a traditional Lao floor loom with the help of a master weaver ." - Joanna Wakefield Jewellery, March 2021
“But businesses like Ock Pop Tok, a Mekong River-side weaving and dyeing center in Luang Prabang, Laos, are suffering a drastic drop in income due to coronavirus shutdowns.” – National Geographic, May 2020
“If you have kids, the Ock Pop Tok Living Arts Center is an absolute must do tour for families while visiting Luang Prabang, Laos.” – Kid Allergy Travel, May 2020
“If you want an excursion, there’s the Ock Pop Tok weaving center, a women’s cooperative that began nearly two decades ago with a small team of five weavers.” Forbes, August 2019
“In a country where weaving is usually considered a house chore and mostly done by women, Ock Pop Tok is striving to transform this perception.” Laotian Times, July 2019
“A sharp contrast is offered by Ock Pop Tok, or East meets West in Lao, an indigenous model of fair trade, sustainable business, socially conscious enterprise founded by a Lao and an Englishwoman in 2000, managed by women, and for the benefit of Lao women.” Asiatimes, April, 2019
“Korean Documentation about Ock Pop Tok in Luang Prabang.” July 2019
“Au coeur d’une Asie du Sud-Est réputée zen, bien qu’hyperactive comme Bangkok ou Hanoï, il préserve sa quiétude. C’est là que réside son principal charme. Jérôme Pitorin rejoint Veo, sa guide, dans la ville de Luang Prabang.” Échappées belles, June 2019, French documentary featuring Veomanee Douangdala and the Living Craft Center
“There is a shop, restaurant and four room guest house at the Ock Pop Tok centre, along with the weaving and dying sheds. The location is beautiful, a tropical garden right on the banks of the Mekong.” World Travel Family June, 2019
“If, as is so easy to do, you’ve become enamored with Laos’ textiles, sign up for a class at Ock Pop Tok and make your own.” Korea Air Magazine November 2018
“Set in lush gardens along the banks of the muddy Mekong River, Ock Pop Tok (meaning East meets West in Laos) was founded on the principles of fair trade and sustainable business practice long before they became buzzwords.” South China Morning Post, 22 October 2018
“Ock Pop Tok represents the culture and people of Laos in an authentic way. The variety in Lao textile traditionos takes people on a journey to discover Laos and learn about the culture and vountry through its textile traditions.” Vol. 2, Issue 11, September 2018
“In Laos, a social enterprise is helping hundreds of weavers earn up to three times the country’s minimum wage. Ock Pop Tok – which means East Meets West – started 17 years ago as a way to keep weaving alive, but now it’s doing much more.” Channel NewsAsia. July 3, 2018
“The following year, the two women founded Ock Pop Tok with five local weavers. The collective, which now employs about 50 weavers in Luang Prabang and works with hundreds more across the country, ” Albuquerque Journal. July 6, 2018
“Textiles are Laos’ leading craft. Ock Pop Tok (‘east meets west’) run by a Laotian-British couple offer some of the best examples at their town boutique or via free tuk tuk service at the workshop with free tours and cafe overlooking the Mekong” Intercontinental Finance & Law, Issue 149. June, 2018
“Also sharing the same philosophy is Ock Pop Tok, a veritable etrove of inely woven silk and cotton textiles produced by a dosen ethnic groups.” Portfolio, Issue 11. January, 2018
“Bringing their weaving products to and triggering the demand in the market would not have been possible for women like Sykai and Papeng without the work of local non-profit organisations and social enterprises such as The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC) and Ock Pop Tok.” The ASEAN Post, 21 October 2018
“The former royal capital of Luang Prabang is showing the rest of the country how to welcome visitors. Storytellers share entertaining folktales at Garavek; socially engaged Ock Pop Tok and TAEC teach traditional weaving and dyeing techniques.” The Guardian. January, 2018
“If you’re into textiles or looking for some gorgeous fashion-statement-fabrics, a visit to Ock Pop Tok – one of the most important textile and artisanal institutions in all of Laos and South East Asia pioneering social business and ethical fashion – is a must.” Prestige. June, 2018
“If you’re up for more adventure and searching for an energy-draining activity, then visit Ock Tok Pop for silk-weaving, bamboo-weaving, batik-drawing, and natural dye classes.” World of Buzz. June, 2018
“Ock Pop Tok, a social enterprise that offers weavers fair pay and access to learning and professional development, started with five weavers in 2000.” OZY. July 5, 2018
“Call Ock Pop Tok to pick you up in their rainbow-bright war-era Toyota jeep and bounce over to their lovely riverside Living Crafts Centre, a sustainable fair trade project, run by women for the women of Laos.” The National, September 24, 2018
“A popular souvenir stop in this city is at Ock Pop Tok, a fair-trade textile enterprise that supports local women weavers of Laos and the traditional craft.” October 2018
“In Laos, Ock Pop Tok is another social business focused on people and their culture. Founded in 2000 by Joanna Smith from Britain and Laotian Veomanee Douangdala, the venture is one of the most important textile and artisan institutions in the country.” South China Morning Post. September, 2017
“Fibre to Fabric, is a nonprofit exhibition space with curators on hand to explain displays of textiles from the minority groups of Laos.” New York Times. May 2008
“The place where the [weaving] class is held has a pleasant perspective with lots of vegetation and while I was there I could hear the songs of woodland birds.” Bangkok Post. 2013
“While the idea of weaving may not jump out at you but it’s a great way to learn about the culture while interacting with the community.” The Guardian. October 2013
“You’ll need to take the free shuttle to get in and out of town, but the leafy location, great cafe, buzzy atmosphere, onsite classes and textile designs of the rooms more than make up for that.” The Guardian. February 2015
“The city (which feels more like a big town) is also home to several wonderful social enterprises such as Ock Pop Tok, a weaving collective designed to elevate the profile of Laos textiles” The Independent. October, 2016
“The city (which feels more like a big town) is also home to several wonderful social enterprises such as Ock Pop Tok, a weaving collective designed to elevate the profile of Laos textiles” The Independent. October, 2016
“Mekong Villa is on the river and far enough from the bustle of the city centre to be a tranquil reprieve. Guests can choose to partake in a weaving or dying workshop and eat gourmet meals at Silk Road Café on the premises.” The Culture Trip. December, 2017
“British co-founder Joanna Smith says “textiles are a conduit to discovering Laos” and, along with her team, she champions indigenous weaving and handicraft practices from ethnic groups including the Hmong, Khmu and Tai.” Strait Times. March, 2017
“To get the full Ock Pop Tok experience, I booked a night at the villa. The bed & breakfast has 4 bedrooms each styled with textiles from a separate tribe – I stayed a night in the spacious Hmong bedroom and had a very relaxing stay.” JCLAO. January, 2017
“One reason perhaps that everyone was in such a good mood is that this place is gorgeous. Visually stunning, like a little oasis within the bigger oasis that is Luang Prabang.”
Eat, Drink, Laos. July 2016
“The Silk Road Café. Located a few minutes outside of town via complimentary tuk tuk along the banks of the Mekong River… All ingredients are grown on a local farm, with signature dishes like pork-filled lemongrass, eggplant tempura bites, and the aforementioned laap.” Travel and Leisure. 2015
“A team of designers assists the artisans, showing them how to make a better living from their skills, and the shop is one of the best places in Luang Prabang for handmade textiles such as ikat scarves and Hmong tribe batik fabric.”
BBC. October 2013
“Ock Pop Tok, a weaving institution, café and intimate inn along the Mekong River. This nascent endeavour will seek in future seasons to deconstruct the uniquely patterned textiles of other remote communities, including the Akha and Lanten” Financial Times. April 2011
We are proud that Ock Pop Tok is recommended in various travel guides:
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