Lao Textile Experience at 'Ock Pop Tok'

"OckPopTok is the Lao translation for east meets west; it is about bringing people together through textiles for the exchange of knowledge and ideas."

Experience the beauty of Lao silk!

Laos, the 'land of a million elephants', with its harmonious pace, charming hospitality and gentle people is the last bastion of old Indochina offering an unparalleled insight into traditional Southeast Asian textiles. We are now pleased to introduce a 'hands-on' experience with Lao textiles through learning the weaving and natural dye techniques at OckPopTok textile gallery and weaving centre. Situated on the bank of the Mekong River in Luang Prabang it offers the perfect setting to create some unforgettable memories!

OckPopTok textile gallery and weaving centre gives a new perspective on Luang Prabang, an idyllic UNESCO World Heritage Site. The business provides sustainable employment to rural residents through the production and marketing of high quality textiles. It also offers a number of interactive learning experiences to visitors of Luang Prabang.

Get a 'hands on' experience at OckPopTok

Working alongside development agencies and the Lao Women’s Union OckPopTok has trained artisans from remote areas in product design and other textile business related skills. These training activities are supported by patronage. A percentage of all sales go towards training villagers and sustaining the link between village and market.

OckPopTok History

Veomanee Duangdala and Joanna Smith co-founded OckPopTok in April 2000. Veo is from a family renowned for its weaving, her mother is from Laos' primary silk weaving region, Sam Nua. Veo learnt to weave from an early age, she came proficient in weaving as well as dying silk with natural resources. At 16 Veo left high school to work in the hospitality industry, it is here she picked up her excellent English.

Learn about the natural way to create subtle shades of color

Jo met Veo in 1999 at an evening school in Luang Prabang where she was teaching. Jo had left her career in the UK as a magazine photographer in search of something different. Veo taught Jo to weave in her village, Ban Xieng Leck, this is how the original members of OckPopTok were brought together.

OckPopTok's aims are to promote Lao and Lao textiles abroad, to train their team in a way that encourages commitment and pride in each other and in the group, to provide a working environment that recognises an individual's skills and initiative and that produces a better quality of living. Their strong ethical policy is the basis for success.

Learning to Weave and Dye with Natural Resources

OckPopTok offers a unique opportunity to experience the world of Lao weavers and dyers through classes that provide an insight into the culture of weaving. The aim is to provide weaving skills and put weaving in a social context. Working alongside local weavers, this is a fun opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture. The knowledgeable English speaking assistants are the link between you and your weaving teacher to gain an emotional connection to the weavers around them.

OckPopTok allows visitors to explore the weaving exhibition, a demonstration loom, silkworms, weavers working in the workshop, a natural dyes exhibit, natural dyes growing and sign posted in the garden: such as turmeric, indigo, teak, indian trumpet, tamarind, anatto, lemongrass. There are also bathrooms and an office. At the end of October Tamarind Restaurant will open a cafe , there is a teracotta terrace that leads down to the Mekong where one can enjoy uninterupted views of the Mekong and the quiet sounds of the looms working.

Veomanee Duangdala, co founder of Ock Pop Tok says "it is important to open a learning facility such as this, it seems there is a real interest in Lao textiles and we need to give visitors the opportunity to learn about the many apsects of their fabrication. Weaving is a fundamental part of many peoples lives here. Our focus is on interaction, which is why we offer the silkworms & natural dyes workshop, people come and feed the silkworms and dye their own scarves. We want people to get their hands dirty then they can really feel the work that goes into textiles. Plus its fun its like being back at school again "