Laotian Women Weave Silk Carpets

It's been just over a decade since these Laos women were introduced to carpet making, an art that is relatively new in the land-locked country.

But at Magic Laos Carpet, there is a unique touch. This workshop is the only one in the country that makes the decorative item using silk.

35 weavers at the Vientiane workshop slowly tie silk knots on carpet looms to produce inches of silk carpets each day. Some pieces take up to a year to finish.

[Orn Saiwiraiwong, Weaver]:
"We need to keep track of every knot of the design of each carpet. Sometimes we can weave only about a few centimeters a day, compared to at least a meter or more a day."

The owner says her carpets are different, because each piece is one-of-a-kind.

[Souvita Phaseuth, Shop Owner]:
"Each of the carpets from here has its unique identity. So, each of our customers has a unique carpet. When we produce new ones, the designs will be different."

These days, the carpets are produced in a variety of designs, with inspiration from Laos, the Middle East and contemporary Europe, before being exported worldwide.

[Eve Blossom, New York Agent]:
"What I love is when someone stops and then looks at something and they see it. And they just love it for the colour and the design then what I love to do is to tell the story. Because I know there is more beauty in their eyes when they hear the story about the people and the country and the way the whole process of how we make it."

Laos has a long tradition of silk textile weaving, but carpets had never previously been introduced.

Category:

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• Vientiane
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• Middle East
• Europe
• textile

[saysteph1709]

@lancesay You can check the website Magic Lao Carpet

you should have a look at where they are doing those beautiful carpets it's amazing

great story behind

[linda3494]

To my knowledge, Laotian gov. don't support their people. What I really meant was that entrepreneurs do networking with their gov....more like an exchange of some sort. Either way, I'm sure its complicated situation.

[reallysecretusername]

@linda3494 actually that would be the governments of their countries responsibility, not "foreigners".

[linda3494]

Those Laotian ladies better get pay well ! It's hard to find a genuine workers and

expertise of handmade crafts these days. Maybe foreigners should provide more

educations and income/investments for those villagers.

[lancesay]

Now, I wanted to buy one or two! Where is the place in Laos to get one of these? Anyone knows the location in Vientiane?

[Ginji989]

that would cost like a million dollars..

get machines!