ABOUT US
KEEPING NATURAL DYEING ALIVE. PRESERVING CULTURAL PRIDE. IMPROVING RURAL LIFE!
“Preserving the art of Khmer natural dyeing means preserving the legacy of our Khmer ancestors,” KHMER ARTISANRY
KHMER ARTISANY was founded just in time before our grandmother, AOK Em, in this photo. She was one of the rare and great weavers who survived the Khmer Rouge killing fields, but she sadly passed away in 2012 at the age of 94.
Although she has left us, her legacy will always remain. Fortunately, we were able to work with her legacy to proudly establish KHMER ARTISANRY.
As young Khmer entrepreneurs, we are committed to keeping techniques of natural dyeing and traditional patterns of silk and cotton fabrics in order to revive the Khmer tradition of the mystery of light in naturally dyed silk fabrics and cotton scarves, which are handmade in traditional handlooms; while also preserving cultural pride and improving rural life.
RESULT OF WARS
People with know-hows in natural dyeing and making the naturally dyed silk and cotton scarves in traditional handlooms, have either perished during the Khmer Rouge brutal regime or are now too old to revive the custom.
WE, YOUNG KHMER ENTREPRENEURS, ARE CONCERNED.
We young Khmer entrepreneurs, who are among the very few concerned people who founded KHMER ARTISANRY, are very mindful of the significance of the danger of this near extinction of our cultural heritage.
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SAVING THE KHMER TRADITION IS EVERY CAMBODIAN’S TASK.
We now commit to locating some of those rare survivors to help reinstate the endangered tradition. We strongly encourage them to continue this tradition.
If they are too old to resume their traditional silk and scarf weaving task, they can teach the skills and impart their knowledge to the younger generation, who are now becoming active and promising members of the weaving community.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON REVIVING NATURAL DYEING TECHNIQUES
Our conviction is to see the mystery of light in naturally-dyed silk fabrics and cotton scarves, textile quality and beauty, locally extinct weaving techniques, which were lost in the last few decades, come into existence again and last for years to come.
100% NATURAL
With our products, you are guaranteed to experience authentic, handcrafted, quality silk fabrics and cotton scarves, 100% natural, locally handmade, woven in traditional handlooms; with endless variety of traditional motif patterns.
FAIR SHARE OF REMUNERATION
We do business. Business people look to make profits. Nonetheless, we are not money-oriented business people. A significant portion of all the proceeds from these sales go to benefit those impoverished farmers and craftswomen and men.
OUR OBJECTIVES AND ETHICS
KHMER ARTISANRY is fully committed to:
- Reviving Khmer tradition of the mystery of light in naturally dyed silk fabrics and cotton scarves, which are handmade in traditional handlooms
- Reintroducing the farming of silk worms
- Bringing Khmer naturally dyed silk and cotton scarves into a worldwide market place
- Giving hope to weavers with disabilities, largely women and widows, to live a dignified life through our genuine support of their skills and handicrafts
- Empowering women by enabling them to feel proud of their know-hows and abilities in making the naturally dyed silk and cotton scarves with good quality, making them financially secured.
- Alleviating poverty by finding an alternative source of income for local and rural impoverished weavers and peasants
- Making a fair share of remuneration with the weavers and the weaving communities
- Restoring cultural pride and attracting young weavers
- Keeping natural dyeing alive
- Improving rural life!