Behind each Scarf, some Women’s Tales
 
By Soieries Du Mékong Cambodia

Soieries du Mékong emerged from a desire to develop skills and know-how in rural areas and to offer women sustainable employment, so that their families could remain in their home areas. Our action is focused on developing and passing on a skilful, time-honoured craft in Cambodia, namely weaving silk by hand on traditional looms.

In practice, Soieries du Mékong first selects young women over 18 years of age based on their motivation and income. Six months’ training in weaving are followed by six months’ practical placement. At the same time, the young apprentices take classes in Khmer and mathematics to equip them with the basics they have often missed out on.Once the training cycle is complete, the weavers work from home as independent artisans using looms lent by Soieries du Mékong.

The women prepare and weave the scarves designed in Paris. Soieries du Mekong main mission is to remain those skills by training new weavers and raise awareness about this ancestral know-how. In order to value the work of their weavers and to offer the customers a unique product, each of their scarves is signed its crafter. You are invited to discover them at our Sofitel boutique or at their shop at Kandal Village

Soieries du Mekong Cambodia project covers 100 % of medical expenses of 50 artisans in Banteay Chmar. A region that suffers terrible economic and social conditions.

Tomorrow, they want to train more and more weavers, guaranteeing them better working conditions. Above all, it is helping more families creating more jobs.
 

As a program of Enfant Du Mékong :100 weavers have been trained since 2001 and 50 are currently working in their workshop in Banteay Chmar Province
 

A HISTORY OF ENCOUNTERS
“At the very heart of an ancestral know-how, Soieries du Mékong draws its wealth from an encounter with Cambodian weavers. Their exceptional technical skills associated to French elegance, make Soieries du Mékong scarves fashion pieces of rare finesse and beauty. A silk fibre with an irresistible touch, contemporary and modern colours, each scarf is entirely hand woven and each irregularity is the mark and warrant of a unique product.
Patience, precision, finesse…between 8 to 12 hours of work is required to weave a scarf. An exceptional know-how, by which the weaver arranges up to 14 000 metres of silk for a unique feel.”