She Should Be Famous || Luang Prabang, Laos
Home to some of the kindest people in Asia, Laos showed us waterfalls, art, rivers, and bear sanctuaries. See how we stumbled upon a hidden gem of a person (across a bamboo bridge) and what bear sanctuaries are preventing against with eastern medicine.
The Weaving Sisters
weaving.sisters@gmail.com
Mone & Doi
**BIG BROTHER MOUSE
Traveling to Laos? Donate your time and give someone a chance at a higher education! This is an organization in Laos that helps eager young people get a better education, with high-quality books and exciting, inter-active schools! :) CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SEE HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE BIG BROTHER MOUSE
Music:
David Cutter
David Cutter Music -
Gurty Beats
Joakim Karud
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EQUIPMENT:
THE GEAR WE LOVE & TRAVEL WITH (CAMERAS, CAMPING EQUIPMENT, & TRAVEL ESSENTIALS!)
SOCIAL MEDIAS:
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WHO ARE WE?
Ashlei is a freelance photojournalist and the editor and producer of Tracing Thought.
Tyler is the a United States veteran currently studying to become a marine biologist, and the co-producer of Tracing Thought.
My wife's sister weaving at Taykeo Textile Gallery
Bouasai is a talented weaver who has been weaving for Taykeo Textile Gallery in Vientiane for the last three years while she has been attending the National University of Laos. Bouasai graduates in July 2008 and it will be interesting to see what she decides to do; work full time as a weaver for Tayeko, get a job utilizing her English and academic degree or???
It is not easy for young women to get ahead in Laos and I respect Bouasai's hard work and my wife and I make it a priority to support her now. She is the first girl from her parent's village to attend the university. In fact she is the first child, boy or girl to attend Dong Dok.
Artisan partners and weavers in Laos
At every pop-up show we hang up a photo banner of some of the artisan partners and weavers we've connected with directly in Laos. And there are others, too, that year after year we meet, connect with, and stay connected.
It is from them, dedicated and talented people from Laos, who we ethically source our handmade textile accessories and home accents for you.
1. Shui-Meng, Noy, and Lin of Saoban Handcrafts, Vientiane
2. Lai, Phu Tai weaver in Lahanam village
3. Keo, me, and Mone, The Weaving Sisters, Luang Prabang
4. Chaban and Noy, Tai Lue mother and daughter weavers in Nayang Tai village
5. Savong, Tai Lue weavers in Nayang Tai village
6. Sengmany (front), her two daughters behind, Mae Sam, and Emi of Ma Té Sai, Nayang Tai village
7. Pan, Phu Tai weaver in Lahanam village
8. Tu, master weaver of discontinuous supplemental weft weave, Houey Hong Vocational Training center, Vientiane
9. Lanten weaver, Luang Namtha Province
The beautifully handwoven and naturally hand-dyed textiles not only preserve the cultural integrity and traditional designs of the many ethnic groups in Laos, but also offer new opportunities to weavers and artisans in creating contemporary styles for broader markets.
The quote is from Sushmita Mazumdar, artist, writer, educator and founder of Studio Pause:
“Knowing the story of one person can chance the perception of a whole people, of an entire place, its culture and history, and even a war. Knowing the story of one person tells us more than we might not have ever known.”
Taykeo Textile Gallery Weavers in Vientiane, Laos
This video was taken about three years ago when Taykeo had some of the best weavers working for. We're a little biased because the first weaver you see in this video is Bai's sister Bouasai. She wover for Taykeo part-time while she was attending the university. She graduated over a year ago and now works at another job, but still helps us out in managing our business interests in Vientiane. In this video you can see some very complex weaving and with one weaver you can see her picking out a pattern by looking at an antique textile. All the silk you see has been naturally-dyed and the colors Taykeo chooses for her textiles are simply gorgeous.
Passa Paa #ChooseArtisan
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Passa Paa is a small accessories brand with a shop and textile studio based in Luang Prabang, Laos. Established in 2011 by British sisters Heather Smith, the textile designer, Joanna Smith, the business entrepreneur, and Veomanee Duangdala, the Laotian weaver and maker, their focus is on creating unique Lao-inspired handmade textiles and turning them into beautifully-crafted products such as totes, clutches, purses, scarves, pillows, and tea towels. The organization works with many Hmong artisans in Laos who print, sew, design, and applique the products.
This video was submitted in response to The Alliance for Artisan Enterprise (AAE), in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) Artisan Enterprise Multimedia Competition 2015. Artists were asked to submit content that represented the artisan entrepreneurial experience and the impact the artisan sector has on empowering individuals, families, and local economies.
How to weave brocade on a traditional Laos and Thai loom.
Kay Faulkner's field notes. After the pattern shaft has been selected, individual coloured threads are used to weave separate coloured areas. Each coloured area requires a separate thread.
Weaver at Taykeo Textile Gallery
I shot a lot of video of weavers at Taykeo's when Bai's sister was working there as a weaver part-time while she was attending the university. Taykeo was the first Lao gallery chosen to represent Laos in the International Folk Art Festival in Santa Fe and Bai's sister was invited to come to the states as a visiting artist back in 2006. Unfortunately the final exams for each year are held in late June and early July and there was no way for Bouasai to skip out on the exams and so she wasn't able to come. Tayeko was chosen because of the outstanding quality of her textiles. The pattern being woven in this video is based on an antique sinh design and one that we describe as woven stained glass. They're incredibly difficult to weave and incorporate four different techniques of weaving.
Chanthaly, Official Trailer, Lao PDR, 2013
Official Trailer for Laos' first horror film, Chanthaly. North American Premiere at Fantastic Fest in two weeks. If you're in Austin, I'll see you there!
World Premiere, Luang Prabang Film Festival: lpfilmfest.org
North American Premiere, Fantastic Fest: fantasticfest.com
Indigo House Hotel, Luangprabang, Laos, HD Review
Book it now! Save up to 20% -
Indigo House Hotel is directly opposite Hmong textile market and 1,000 feet from the Royal Palace Museum. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and a 24-hour front desk.
The air-conditioned rooms at Indigo House Hotel are equipped with a minibar and personal safe. A hairdryer and tea/coffee maker is included.
Guests can book day trips at the tour desk and enjoy hot meals at the onsite restaurant. Laundry and dry cleaning services are available.
AIndigo House Hotel is a 7-minute drive from Luang Prabang Airport. It enjoys easy access to the bank, post office and travel agency along Sisavangvong Road.
Toun kham in laos
My work in laos
Fair Trade Communities in Laos
Bruised - Vintage LAO
this is some old school lao video for their song Bruised... this came out 4/01/01 WOW!
video also features cameo's by later singers blake and oscar
Laos Marriage Culture
Lao marriage culture and their family get together.
Hmodern Hmong Presents: Hmong Means...
What does Hmong mean to you?
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#HmodernHmong
Special thanks to Hmong Women's Summit: The Authenticity Project for hosting Tiger Byte Studios so that we could bring this video to you and the women who helped make this video possible.
Warrior Women Mastermind Laos 2015 Preview
Apply now: warriorwomenmastermind.com
Simply Beautiful Laos: Culture Digest
In this video, you can glance at: That Luang Festival, Town of Luang Prabang, Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year), Traditional Textile, Night Market and Lao Food with Traditional Lao Music.
Thailand, I miss you
...I will never forget...
Thai my love 4
Stitching Our Stories: My Mom and the Tradition of Hmong Embroidery, by Pasong Ly
PASONG LY
Stitching Our Stories: Community Researcher Artist Statement
I am 14 years old and am currently in high school. My research subject is about my mom and her life, her embroidery, and many of the things she knows about Hmong culture. The reason I chose my mom to be a subject is because she is very important to me and she has lived an interesting life. She has taken care of me since I was born, and works hard to send me to study.
I have learned many things about my mom through this project. I know more about her story and how she learned traditional Hmong embroidery. This skill has been transmitted from generation to generation; my great grandmother taught my grandmother and she taught my mom and my mom taught me. I am going to teach my younger sister too.
The things I have learned from this project are very important to me, and I have learned many things I never had the chance to learn before. Now I know how to make good photos, videos, and to conduct interviews. My mom is also very important to me. She teaches me many things and the rest of my family do too.
I hope people will learn about my mom's life and our family. I also hope that the work that I did will make people interested in Hmong culture and want to learn to embroider. I am very happy to be Hmong and to have such a good mom.
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Stitching Our Stories: Community Research Project was launched in October 2012 through the partnership of PhotoForward, an international media arts programme, and the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a private museum in Luang Prabang, Laos.
This trail-blazing project engages women and girls from Laos' diverse ethnic communities to use photography, digital video, and community research to explore their unique cultural heritage, the vital roles that women play, and the often-seismic impact that modernization is having on traditional beliefs and practices.
The film which premiered at the Luang Prabang Film Festival in Laos assembles four documentary shorts shot by the projects' filmmakers Bao Xiong, Pasong Lee, Sia Yang, and Maiying. These projects examine the intricate artistry of Hmong batik and embroidery and the complex and often challenging roles of the medicine women and shamans who care for the bodies and spirits of their communities. The film opens with a brief introduction by the project organizers, and each short is prefaced with an interview with the community filmmakers.
To learn more about this ongoing project and to view the artists' portfolios, visit photoforward.org and taeclaos.org.
Preparing a backstrap loom
Katu weavers from the south of Laos use a backstrap loom, instead of a floor loom. Here you can see how Keo prepares the loom for weaving. This process takes approximately 1-2 days before the weaving can begin.
For more information about our textiles, please visit taeclaos.org.
giraffa sisters, Inn Paw Khon, palafitte village, Inle lake - My Myanmar 60.
5. March 2012