Copyright 2023 Ock Pop Tok
What better way to appreciate a craft than to give it a try? Our mission has always been to promote the discovery of Laos through textiles to our visiting guests in Luang Prabang. We offer a variety of workshops at our Living Crafts Centre in Luang Prabang and after 20 years, we thought we would take our commitment further and share our knowledge and love of Lao textiles with the world through hands-on online workshops and… DIY kits! Our DIY Kits/workshops require very little equipment; are accessible to beginners and; explore various aspects of Lao culture.
We launched our very first online class/DIY kit in January 2021. It requires very little equipment; is accessible to beginners and; explores a fascinating culture; Hmong embroidery.
Textiles are an important part of Hmong culture. The Hmong people master a variety of techniques including embroidery, appliqué, reverse appliqué and batik. The Hmong community uses embroidery as a way to decorate their clothes. The designs and patterns used are passed down from generation to generation. Each motif has meaning and all the patterns tell a story. For this workshop, we will focus on embroidery (cross-stitch).
Our aim is to teach you techniques that you can use over and over on a variety of different textiles — be it clothing, bags or accessories.
Once your order is finalized, we will send you (by DHL) your kit with all the material needed to complete the project. And you will receive by email the ebooklet (including the detailed pattern) and the video to follow along. We guide you all the way through from beginning to end.
We offer four different options:
And we have three different pattern options. Like with all Hmong embroidery patterns, it all starts with one square. We multiply the squares to create the pattern we want and add on to it to embellish it. But the techniques/stitches are the same and allow participants of different levels to navigate at their own pace.
We launched our second online class/DIY kit in February 2022. It requires very little equipment; is accessible to beginners and; explores a fascinating aspect of Lao culture; natural dyeing.
Throughout the ages, yarns and textiles have been colored using plants and other ingredients from nature. Recipes are passed mother to daughter. Over the last 30 years, due to the availability of cheap synthetic dyes, many weavers have opted for the quicker process of chemical dyes.
Now, however, due to a few factors, there is a revival of natural dyeing in Laos. At the request of local government, the master dyers at Ock Pop Tok take the recipes used at our Living Crafts Centre and train villages in the whole repertoire of colors. Some dye processes adhere to traditional beliefs while others are only available at certain times of the year.
In Laos, the color of a textile, while not only being attractive, often has a traditional or cultural significance. For example, in Luang Prabang, a bride always wears red. Certain colors and patterns can say a lot about the weaver or user of a textile. Colors and patterns can describe location, ethnicity, purpose and status.
Our aim is to teach you techniques that you can use over and over on a variety of different textiles — be it clothing, bags or accessories.
Once your order is finalized, we will send you (by DHL) your kit with all the material needed to complete the project. And you will receive by email the ebooklet (including the detailed illustrations to tie dye your scarf) and the video to follow along. We guide you all the way through from beginning to end.
We offer three different options:
We offer two different products to try your hand at natural dyeing; a silk scarf or a cotton scarf. We will also teach you four different patterns for you to choose from. The dyestuff and method differ depending on the color you choose. But don’t worry, our step by step guide allows participants of different levels to navigate at their own pace.
Part of our collaboration with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), our new DIY Kit was launched in June 2022. It requires very little equipment; is accessible to beginners and; explores a fascinating aspect of Lao culture; Akha embroidery.
The Akha people are found in Northern parts of Laos, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam and China. Their population in Laos is estimated at just over 100,000. The Akha speak a Sino-Tibetan language and are believed to have originated in China and moved to Laos early in the 19th Century.
The Akha ethnic group is used to group together a number of sub-groups and clans that share a strong identity and lifestyle. They traditionally live in remote mountain areas in the North of Laos and practice indigo dyeing, embroidery and appliqué.
The Akha community uses embroidery as a way to decorate their clothes, usually made from cotton dyed with black indigo. The designs and patterns used are passed down from generation to generation. They mostly add colorful stripes of fabric to their otherwise somber clothing. And a lot of colorful pom-poms, either on their headdress or their earrings.
Our aim is to teach you techniques that you can use over and over on a variety of different textiles — be it clothing, bags or accessories. Don’t worry, our step by step guide allows participants of different levels to navigate at their own pace.
Once your order is finalized, we will send you (by DHL) your kit with all the material needed to complete the project. And you will receive by email the ebooklet (including detailed step by step illustrations for the stitches) and the video to follow along. We guide you all the way through from beginning to end.
Part of our collaboration with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), our new DIY Kit was launched in June 2022. It requires very little equipment; is accessible to beginners and; explores a fascinating aspect of Lao culture; Oma embroidery.
The Oma are one of Laos’ least populous ethnic groups, with an estimated 2,000 persons in seven villages of Phongsaly Province. The Oma are accomplished cotton farmers, indigo dyers and embroiderers, as seen in their colorful and unique traditional clothing.
Residing in remote mountain villages, the Oma still retain many of their traditional practices. For example, Oma women still make and wear traditional clothing, including a long distinctive appliqué headscarf worn by married women.
The Oma community uses embroidery as a way to decorate their clothes; headdress, jackets, leggings and bags, among others. The designs and patterns used are passed down from generation to generation. Each motif has meaning and all the patterns tell a story. A lot of the motifs are inspired by the natural environment.
Our aim is to teach you techniques that you can use over and over on a variety of different textiles — be it clothing, bags or accessories. Don’t worry, our step by step guide allows participants of different levels to navigate at their own pace.
Once your order is finalized, we will send you (by DHL) your kit with all the material needed to complete the project. And you will receive by email the ebooklet (including detailed step by step illustrations for the stitches) and the video to follow along. We guide you all the way through from beginning to end.
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