Caruso Lao: International designer meets local master carver
By Keoxomphou Sakdavong
With more than 30 years of experience in the international textile and fashion world, the designer Sandra S. Yuck fell in love with Laos' culture and lifestyle and decided to pour all her skills and experience into the creation of finely crafted wood products and textiles that reflect daily life in Laos.
If you have ever visited the Settha Palace hotel in Vientiane, you might have noticed a tiny shop called Caruso Lao. It displays the finest handmade wooden pieces trimmed with silver, along with silver and textile products. They are symbolic of Laos and are elegant and artistic, appealing to international tastes. A similar, larger shop can be found in Luang Prabang, also called Caruso Lao.
Each piece made by Caruso Lao reflects aspects of Lao culture and features unique designs, crafted to perfection by local master carvers.
I wanted to make products that would attract foreign visitors and I wanted to make them completely Lao but of a quality that would satisfy international tastes, so that people from all over the world would want to take them home and display them as a very special souvenir of Laos, said Sandra S. Yuck, the founder of Caruso Lao.
Sandra was born in Montreal, Canada, and has been living in Southeast Asia for over 30 years. Her Hong Kong-based career in fashion design and development has taken her all over the world.
In 1997, she moved to Laos, attracted by its natural beauty, the people and the culture. Since then, she has been working with talented local artisans to develop a handmade collection of high quality home accessories that combine function with elegance.
When I first came to Laos, it was so amazing; the sky was so clear I could even imagine touching the stars. The country was very young, not much industry, no traffic jams, few hotels and restaurants. I felt that I loved this country and I would come back and I did so.
Despite her years working with textiles and garments, she found that her passion lay more with artistic creations, so she decided to concentrate on this aspect of design.
On a quest to add other materials and skills to her collection she uncovered a pair of chopsticks made from black and white ebony.
She found the artisan who had made them and discovered that the wood was being used mainly to make charcoal and not for turning out decorative items.
I was determined to change that and thus began my journey into wood accessories development, resulting in a lot of trial and error, in a collection of black and white ebony followed by various exotic types of wood, turned, carved and sculpted by hand.
Today Caruso Laos produces a broad range of fine wood products with silver and copper trim, as well as textiles and silver and copper home accessories.
All of our products are designed by me and crafted in Laos. Our silks are hand-woven by local weavers. Our exclusive woods are indigenous to Laos and handcrafted by master carvers and turners, Sandra said.
Caruso Lao currently employs 40 people, mostly local. Many of them have been working with us for years, and they are good and skilled workers.
Our main clients are from all over the world. Many people come here on holiday, go shopping and are craving for something interesting, which they find in our shop. They buy something from us and we can ship it for them, she added.
Our main clients are American, European, South American, Mexican, and Asian and we also have local clients who want high value souvenirs.
The clients who buy my products always mail me when they want to buy more. We also have new designs all the time because we always have regular clients, so we need to have new designs for them.
The products are designed to be used and also can be a home decoration at the same time, Sandra said.
We also deal with shipping, and can ship directly to clients in their home countries.
The products are also on display in some luxury hotels in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and boutique shops in neighbouring countries. Our main sales centre is in Luang Prabang and in Vientiane we have our office, arrange the shipping and have a workshop. By appointment, clients visit our showroom at our workshop in Vientiane.
We also have outlets in Thailand, she added.
Lao NEWS on LNTV: Tissage Traditionnel’ opens in Vientiane.27/10/2016
VO Lao Traditional Textile Exhibition titled Tissage Traditionnel’ opens in Vientiane.
INTRO: Lao Traditional Textile Exhibition opened in Vientiane, presenting exclusive collection of ancient textiles and highlighting Lao culture and traditional patterns. According to Madame Taykeo Sayavongkhamdy, the exhibition displays more than 200 pieces of authentic woven textiles from all over Laos and some more than 200 years old. Details with our news team Palyda Douangkeomany
STORY: More than 200 pieces of authentic woven textiles from all over Laos, some more than 200 years old, are part of an exhibition taking place at La Maison de la Culture de Ban Naxay on Sisangvone Road in Naxay village, Xaysettha district.
The exhibition titled Tissage Traditionnel’ is presented by a local collector Madame Taykeo Sayavongkhamdy who loves textiles and has collected them from around the country over many years.
The exhibition aims to present her special collection and promote authentic woven textiles as well as raise public awareness about the importance of silk.
This is her first solo exhibition in Vientiane features beautiful textiles highlighting Lao culture and traditional patterns. The items comprise traditional dress, scarves, wall hangings, and so on. There are also some paintings featuring traditional costumes and culture on display.
Interview: Taykeo Sayavongkhamdy, Owner Taykeo Textile Gallery
Madame Taykeo has been collecting items for a long time and first fell in love with textiles on sale in LuangPrabang and Vientiane many years ago and since then has built up her collection with her husband. This passion led her to establish the Taykeo Textiles Gallery in 1990.
She has displayed her collection at event s in Santa Se, USA; Tokyo, Kyoto and Aichi in Japan; the Milano Expo in Italy, and Indonesia, Thailand and other countries.
Interview: Taykeo Sayavongkhamdy, Owner Taykeo Textile Gallery
Accordingly, her customers come from many countries such as the USA, Japan, Australia, France and Asean countries and are made up of collectors for museums and private collections, and art lovers.
The collection of woven masterpieces number at least 400 totals, which displays the preservation and care of these textiles and she wants to revive this traditional art of weaving that is based on ancient techniques, patterning and natural dying.
Entry is free and the exhibition runs until October 23.
Growing Coffee in Laos | Going Places | CNA Insider
What would you do if you inherited a coffee plantation? With no experience running one, it’s bean a tall order for this Singaporean with grande ambitions to achieve ‘specialty’ status for his coffee.
To see if he made it, watch #GoingPlaces at:
Laos Silk mulberries.org
Fair trade silk production in the remote villages of Laos.
Voice Laos
ຖ້າທ່ານກຳລັງຊອກຫາທຶນເພື່ອຈັດຕັ້ງໂຄງການເພື່ອການພັດທະນາ ແລະ ສ້າງຄວາມເຂັ້ມແຂງ ທ່ານລອງມາຄົ້ນຫາຄຳຕອບຈາກ VDO VOICE ນຳກັນເຖາະ ວ່າທຶນດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ ແມ່ນຕົງກັບຂະແໜ່ງວຽກງານທີ່ທ່ານກຳລັງຈະເຮັດຫຼືບໍ່.
Ambassador Bitter learning about Lao silk and having her first Lao skirt made
ເຫັນວິດີໂອນີ້ແລ້ວຫລືຍັງ?
ທ່ານທູດ ຣີນາ ບິດເຕີ້ກຳລັງຮຽນຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບ ສິ້ນລາວ ແລະ ໄດ້ຕັດສິ້ນຜືນທຳອິດເປັນຂອງໂຕເອງ. #AmbBitter
Check out this video of Ambassador Bitter learning about Lao silk and having her first Lao skirt made. #AmbBitter
Lao Handicraft Festival
Laos PDR recently organized the 15th Lao Handicraft Festival, with an aim of creating opportunities for all craftsmen from all over the country to meet and share experiences.
Lao NEWS on LNTV: The 4th “Made in Laos Expo” begins at the Lao ITECC.29/11/2016
VO The 4th “Made in Laos Expo” begins at the Lao ITECC in Vientiane Capital from Nov 28 to Dec 4
INTRO: More than 100 Lao businesses are showcasing their manufactured goods, handicrafts, furniture, jewellery, food and drink, agricultural produce, One District, One Product items, and service products at the 4th Made in Laos Expo.
STORY: The expo officially opened yesterday at Lao-ITECC in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr Siewsavath Savengseuksa, and President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) Mr Oudet Souvannavong.
According to LNCCI Vice President Madame Chanthachone Vongsay, it was the policy of the government to promote domestic productivity and strengthen the capacity of Lao enterprises in order to realise socio-economic development ambitions.
The LNCCI, as a representative of the private sector, hoped the expo would enable local and international visitors to appreciate that Lao products were ready to enter the regional and international markets. The main objective is to gather together an impressive display of products made or assembled in Laos by local and international investors, for exhibition and sale.
Interview: Kongmala Phommalay, Vice President of the Lao Furniture Association
…. Lao….
The event is a way to continue helping producers of local handicrafts gain access to markets, seek trade partners, and exchange lessons to improve their products and services.
Another goal is to bolster the competitiveness of Lao products through the sharing of business experiences, business matching and innovation to improve goods and services. These need to have a stronger competitive edge within the country as well as regionally and internationally, particularly within the Asean Economic Community.
Interview: Kongmala Phommalay, Vice President of the Lao Furniture Association
…. Lao….
The event is a way to continue helping producers of local handicrafts gain access to markets, seek trade partners, and exchange lessons to improve their products and services.
The Made in Laos Expo was held to demonstrate the growth of the private sector and to celebrate the success of the 28th and 29th Asean Summits held under the chairmanship of Laos, as well as the Asean Business and Investment Summit 2016 and the 41st anniversary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic on December 2.
More than 100 businesses are taking part in the expo, with 32 booths featuring handicrafts, 20 booths displaying manufactured goods, eight selling food and drink, 16 advertising service products, 16 displaying agricultural and ODOP products, 10 featuring jewellery, and 60 booths exhibiting furniture.
Products from the provinces include stone from Attapeu province; coffee from Champassak; wooden furniture from the provinces of Xekong, Savannakhet, Saravan, Khammuan and Borikhamxay; rattan furniture from Vientiane province; and silk textiles from Huaphan Luang Prabang and other provinces.
The goods displayed at the 200 booths were estimated to be worth 5 billion kip.
The expo has been organised by the LNCCI in collaboration with provincial chambers of commerce and industry, business groups and associations. The event runs from November 28 to December 4.
Lao NEWS on LNTV: The 15th Lao Handicraft Festival kicks off at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane.27/10/2016
VO The 15th Lao Handicraft Festival kicks off at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane
INTRO: Lao Handicraft Festival is considered to tradition of the Lao craftsmen, which is organized every year, this year is the 15th year aiming at crating opportunities for all craftsmen from all over the country to meet and share experiences. Our news team has the atmosphere there,
STORY: In his opening remark at the official opening of the 15th Lao Handicraft Festival at Lao-ITECC in Vientiane, President of the Lao Handicraft Association, Hansana Sisane said, Lao handicraft products can look forward to continued expansion of their markets through improving designs and better quality
The event was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister DrSonexaySiphandone.
The exhibitors will be selling an extensive variety of products including silk and cotton textiles, jewellery, pottery, non-timber and recycled products, green agriculture goods as well as numerous one district one product items.
This year's festival running until November 1 has more than 230 booths, an increase of around 3 percent compared to last year, an event organiser reported.
According to Hansana Sisane, the number of festival booths has been increasing each year which showed the growing interest in Lao handicraft products. the Lao Handicraft Festival is held to support the marketing of local handicrafts both in rural and urban areas as well as to develop skills and products in handicrafts and weaving.
Interview: Hansana Sisane, President of the Lao Handicraft Association … Lao….
An event organiser explained the festival would offer opportunities for producers, customers, buyers and sellers to meet and interact, and for craftspeople and exhibitors to learn about new designs, innovations and techniques that might be adapted to improve the quality of their products.
Interview: … Lao….
The organising committee invited talented handicrafts people from around the country to exhibit their wares and present the culture and identity of Lao people to local and foreign visitors.
It is envisioned the festival will serve to enlarge the market for Lao handicraft products both domestically and abroad.
Visitors attending the festival can also enjoy fashion shows, craft demonstrations and product design competition s.
This year the association has sent invitations to embassies of Asean and European countries.
The festival serves as a platform for handicraft makers to get together and share their business experiences.
Coffee plantations in Laos
(9 Oct 2011)
AP Television
Sinouk Plantation, Paksong, Laos - May 22, 2011
1. Close of barman using coffee machine
2. Mid of barman carrying tray of coffees
3. Mid of barista serving Sinouk Sisombat
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinouk Sisombat, President, Laos Coffee Association:
I want to be acknowledged as one of the best, alongside Columbia, Mexico.
5. Wide of Sinouk walking around garden at plantation
6. Close of coffee cherries
7. Wide of rear of house with small brook and waterfall
8. Close of water rushing over rocks
9. Wide of pool with house in background
10. Wide of B-52 bomb crater with coffee plants
11. Mid of volcanic rocks, coffee plants and mountain in background
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sinouk Sisombat, President, Laos Coffee Association:
The Bolaven Plateau was a big battleground. So, there was, as far as I know, there were two carpet bombings by B-52s in Paksong. Completely - nothing after that. So, even - I came back in '94 - the UXO (unexploded bomb) clearance was a big issue there. Even there, in my place, they have discovered some bombs.
AGPC Agricultural Collective, Paksong, Laos - May 23, 2011
13. Various of people at coffee-tasting
14. Close of cup of coffee and plastic container of coffee sample
15. Mid of beans being processed on machine
16. Close of beans pouring into sack
17. Wide of sacks of coffee stacked in warehouse
Lao Mountain Coffee, Vientiane, Laos - May 16, 2011
18. Close of burner under homemade coffee-roasting machine
19. Mid of Stephen Feldschneider, Lao Mountain Coffee, checking fire and temperature of coffee roaster
20. Close of thermometer, smoke rising from machine
21. Mid of worker cranking roaster
22. Mid of man scooping beans from roaster
23. Mid of worker using blower on bin of steaming coffee beans
24. Close of worker's face while using blower
25. Close of steaming beans and blower
26. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Hyman, Laos coffee industry consultant for the World Bank:
There's a kind of Renaissance taking place where people are relearning how to make good quality coffee and take advantage of those great conditions.
Luang Prabang, Laos - June 4, 2011
27. Close of hand stirring coffee at cafe table
28. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Hyman, Laos coffee industry consultant for the World Bank:
Originally, in countries like China and Thailand, where they didn't used to be a coffee culture, coffee culture is really developing as people have more income and are able to spend.
29. Mid of two women drinking coffee at cafe table
30. Close of coffee mugs on table
Olam Plantation, Paksong, Laos - May 21, 2011
31. Wide of two men walking along path with coffee plants in foreground
32. Close of feet on dirt path
SOUNDBITE (English) Sawan Muthanna, Olam International:
I've been managing coffee plantations and farms for almost 12 years now.
33. Wide of coffee plantation with tractor driving down path
SOUNDBITE (english) Sawan Muthanna, Olam International:
There is immense potential for coffee in Laos, basically because of the soil conditions.
34. Close of coffee cherries
35. SOUNDBITE (English) Sawan Muthanna, Olam International:
At two years the growth is phenomenal. What you see of coffee here, at this level, I don't think I've seen anywhere else.
36. Wide of plantation with truck passing on dirt road
37. Mid of workers walking past
38. Mid of Won Inthisan using mortar and pestle to crush coffee beans
37. Close of pestle crushing beans
38. Mid of Won Inthisan stirring and roasting beans in wok
39. Close of beans being stirred and roasted in wok
40. SOUNDBITE (English) Ben Hyman, Laos coffee industry consultant for the World Bank:
Sinouk Plantation, Paksong, Laos - May 22, 2011
41. Wide of street with motorbikes arriving at roadside store
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Indigo Pots in a Phou Tai Village in Laos
As part of our handicraft development programme, TAEC staff visits ethnic villages to purchase products directly from the artisans and offer advice for assuring quality products. On a recent village trip, Khoun Soutthivilay met with Phou Tai artisans.
Lao NEWS on LNTV-Japanese art of woodblock printing on display in Vientiane. 10/06/2013
VO Japanese art of woodblock printing on display in Vientiane
INTRO: The Embassy of Japan in Laos, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the Japan Foundation, last week held lectures and a workshop about the Japanese art of woodblock printing.
STORY: The workshop took place at the Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute and the National Institute of Fine Arts in Vientiane from June 5-8.
According to the embassy, the Agricultural Training Service Centre in Vangvieng district, Vientiane province also organised some activities. The purpose of the four-day event was to deepen people's understanding of the exhibition 'SHARAKU -- Interpretation by Japanese Contemporary Artists', which is currently open in Talat Sao Shopping Mall.
Woodblock printing was introduced into Japan along with Buddhism in the 6th century A.D. and evolved greatly during Japan's history. The art of Japanese woodblock printing, known as Ukiyo-e, was at its most vibrant in the Edo period (1603-1868). It is said that Ukiyo-e has even influenced European impressionist painters such as Van Gogh.
The Lao participants also experienced making Japanese prints with their own hands. Their work was then attached inside Japanese style fans made from Lao bamboo and paper by the people of Vangvieng district.
The workshop was part of celebrations surrounding the 40th Anniversary of Asean-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and is expected to enhance mutual understanding and learning between both countries.
Laos World Trade Center Introduction
WTC locates in the city center of Vientiane, with the land of 11,5465 sqm consists of converge economic, culture, commercial, residential, finance and other functions as a complex. International design, unprecedented shopping experience.
The construction covers 380,738 sqm of the land while the total built-up space is 498,973 sqm, and underground space is 118,235 sqm which is the biggest construction project in Vientiane.
The construction of the site divided into two phases. The first phase is the constructions of Shopping Center, Commercial Street, Apartment, Boutique Hotel and Business Hotel. The second phase is Lao National Hotel, Office Building, the Garden Community and Apartment, with the capacity of parking 2779 vehicles and 5000 motorbikes
Ownership is the lease hold to 70 years with possible for extension. The sale price varies in wide range based on type of the buildings, floor number, and position from lowest 2,800 USD/sqm to 7,700 USD/sqm and the commercial space rental ranging from 30 USD/sqm/month to 60 USD/sqm/month depending on the zoning. contact us at +856 20 23333347 or visit us at
Boat Racing in Chaeng villagers' blood
Video by Phoonsab Thevongsa
This Vientiane Times reporter had the pleasure of visiting the peaceful Nam Ngum River environment of Chaeng village, Thoulakhom district Vientiane province after being invited to the area to meet local people.
After crossing the river by ferry from Hadsuan village on the border between Xaythany district, Vientiane and Thoulakhom district, Vientiane province, we were greeted by hundreds of green gardens with various fruits and vegetables growing along the riverside. This best kept secret doesn’t appear on Google Maps.
The local people’s lifestyle is peaceful with children playing along the roadside while some locals sit under a big tree chatting to each other after attending to their farming and garden work.
It was almost lunch when the Vientiane Times team and owner of the boat Noy Itthalith, who sent us our invitation to visit his rowers in the village, arrived in the village. Almost a hundred rowers have gathered in front of Chaeng temple along the Nam Ngum riverbank to practice for the Boat Racing Festival in Vientiane on October 17.
Noy Itthalith is a popular boat in the competition which takes place in Vientiane at the End of Buddhist Lent. Last year the boat was placed third behind the eventual winners from Luang Prabang and the runner-up from Khammuan.
The boat was built in 1993 in Chaeng village and is owned by Grandpa Nouan Sidalaat from That Luang village, Xaysettha district, Vientiane.
Grandpa Nouan explained he’s loved boat racing all his life and the boat is named after his daughter. He used rowers from Chaeng village because they have grown up on the river with swimming and rowing boats being traditional pastimes.
Oral Story Of Elders Textiles Of the Lao People
Presented By Laotian Community Center of RI
Silk Weaving in Laos
We are at Ock Pop Tok, a village that specializes in natural dyes and producing silk. After preparing the dye sources, we dyed white scarves, and tried spinning on the demonstration looms.
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Lao Textiles - Carol Cassidy
American weaver Carol Cassidy's efforts to maintain local textile traditions by producing custom fabrics and furnishings for some of the world's top fashion designers and architects.Her work was featured in President Obama's state visit to Laos. Correspondent Mike Cerre reports from Vientiane,Laos.
Belmond La Residence Phou Vao Luang Prabang, Luang Prabang, Laos, HD Review
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Located on the Phou Vao Hills, La Résidence Phou Vao offers luxurious rooms with free Wi-Fi. The hotel features a spa, an infinity pool, restaurant, bar and free parking.
La Résidence Phou Vao provides rooms with a private terrace, sofa, satellite TV and minibar. Each bathroom has a terrazzo bathtub.
Massages, facial and body treatments are available at The Mekong Spa. A steam room offers traditional herbal steam baths.
The Phou Savanh Restaurant serves Traditional Laotian cuisine and European dishes in an indoor and outdoor setting. Snacks and cocktails are offered at the Doc Champa Bar.
La Résidence Phou Vao is 1.2 miles from Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Luang Prabang International Airport is 2.5 miles away.
Les Artisans Lao
Les Artisans Lao is the brain child of Lao Coco, a Lao company created in 1993 by the artisan, artist and philanthropist Michel Mimi Saada. Convinced that education is the key to sustainable development, Mimi began training young Laotians in 1996 in handicraft processing from recycled raw materials (such as recycled wood) and non-timber forest materials (like coconut and bamboo). As he led other training programs (including one project by the United Nations in Vientiane and another one by UNESCO in Luang Prabang), Mimi got the idea of a training center for disadvantaged and/or handicapped people in Vientiane.
Les Artisans Lao was created in 2004 as an on-the-job training center and social venture allowing disadvantaged, uneducated and marginalized people to receive an apprenticeship and to have the opportunity to earn a living. The project focuses particularly on women, who are a majority among the beneficiaries. Our wish is that handicapped (those with mild physical or mental handicaps) and valid persons work together, without distinction.
The center is supported by foundations, private businesses and international organizations (including Population and Development International and Handicap International Belgium).