Like coloured butterflies the women of Laos grace this lush and tropical landlocked country in South East Asia. These women carry out their domestic duties as their female lineage have all done before them while wearing decorated handmade garments.
Laos has a stunningly green landscape where banana trees grow wild along the banks of the mighty Mekong River. Shadowing above are continuous contours of mountains where solid white clouds will gather early in the mornings until the mid-morning sun will shine hot from the bright blue sky.
Each year in October after the rains have stopped and the river levels has lowered the Laotians plant food crops along the banks of the river. These wide banks retain nutrients as the monsoon rains have allowed for the sediments to come down from the mountains providing such richness for growing.
The earth beneath their feet has been both a provider for the fruits of life but also of rotten death. In the not so distant past for many Laotians is the horrid memory of the Indochina war. There are still millions of unexploded landmines buried within the richness of the countries soils today. The suffering these families have had to endure saw rural communities uprooting in terror where tens of thousands of villagers had no choice but to escape with their lives, many relocating to safer places along the lifeline of their mighty Mekong throughout the 1960’s and 70’s.
During my time in Laos I attended classes in textile making where I met a lady named Eung. Eung is a master weaver and dyer and is from one of these relocated villages. It was while I was spinning silk that she spoke about 1968 when her entire family had to flee their own village leaving everything behind. They floated down the river in its dangerously turbulent waters for two days inside a small timber boat with hopes to find a safe and habitable place to start their entire new lives. Eung was safely born in her families new village four years later as her family had started to recover from this raw event of war. Traditionally Lao women merit their roles as homemakers. Like Eung who was fortunate enough to come from a family where mothers and grandmother have passed down the knowledge of weaving and other crafts. Now today these modern women pride themselves on their ability to provide an income for their families.
Eung started working 18 years ago at The Living Craft Centre by Ock Pop Tok in the old historical capital of Luang Prabang just a few hours from her village. The centre has since become a social enterprise that has created economic opportunities for the women of Laos. Laos textiles and crafts in a small way has helped the nation’s economy recover over the recent decades and slowly the nation shows to be healing from its crippling history.
As Laos shines out displaying their colourful handicrafts to the world they are inspiring many travelling arts and craft lovers. Laos now sees an influx of visitors who have an appreciation for what the Laotians have been quietly producing for over a thousand years. Laos is now on the radar as a country that has a lot to offer to many who visit and the country’s economy is benefiting greatly.
For the women, handicraft production has a very special link between their bright sustainable future and as a connection to their cultural past. Ock Pop Tok Craft Centre has been facilitating and empowering communities all over Laos for over 18 years. Bringing opportunities for communities to continue producing their age old heritage textiles. Which in turn is keeping the village life abundant as young people can stay and be a part of their communities without having to leave their families to make an income. Lao people all share a deep connection to the land. Spiritually they are grounded in their ancient beliefs that they have their ancestors living amongst them guiding them from another unseen dimension. A dimension where their ancestors dwell in harmony with the river, mountain and forest spirits and the many other spirits that play a part in the many stories that will continue to be told throughout their lifetimes.
These stories are embroidered and woven into their textiles. The designs depict Lao culture, beliefs, traditions and social roles of the wearer. There are even designs indicating that the women wearing the outfit is not yet married or is already married. Each minority have their own patterns, colours and motif designs that are traditional to that particular region and group.
Now living peacefully inside nature are grateful and welcoming people. Laos is certainly a delight to visit and I look forward to the day I return to learn and create with these wonderful heart-warming creative women again.
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