Lao handmade products on show in Australia
Lao handmade products on show in Australia
Handmade Lao products will feature in an exhibition entitled ‘Pop-Up Shop' in Sydney, Australia next month supplied by Ma té sai shop in Luang Prabang.
“Hopefully this will lead to more overseas sales opportunities for Lao handicrafts in the future,” a representative of Ma té sai shop Ms Kat Antonas said.
The exhibition will feature a hand-picked selection of home ware and gifts crafted by artisans across Laos, including contemporary textiles, bedding, natural bath and beauty products, along with kitchen equipment, living decor, scarves and shawls, cotton goods, children's toys, recycled items, bamboo wares and consumables.
“Maybe we will organise another Pop Up Shop exhibition in the middle of this year and have a third before Christmas. It's a regular activity for our company,” she said.
The handicrafts from Ma té sai shop are currently on show at i:cat gallery, an exhibition in Vientiane also under the theme ‘Pop Up Shop' running from Friday, March 20 until Tuesday, March 24, 10am-6pm, at Setthathirath road, Simeuang village (next to Noodle Takeaway).
This is the second exhibition at i:cat gallery that Ms Kat Antonas has attended. The first time was in November last year to take advantage of the Christmas period, so it featured a lot of Christmas cards and decorations for Christmas trees, all handmade by Lao artisans.
Ma té sai means “where is it from?” in the Lao language, as the items in the shop are collected from villages all around the country. The shop designs and collects beautiful and practical household items and gifts that are hand made by local villagers. Some of the artisans are from remote areas, making things that are part of their traditions and culture, some of them are farmers growing local produce and some are disadvantaged or handicapped, crafting in village workshops where they are developing new skills to achieve a better life.
Ma té sai is a member of Fair Trade Laos. It buys items at a fair price from all around Laos, supporting the work of the craftsmen and women. The relationships are long-standing and are helping to create bigger incomes.
Many items have been redesigned to suit modern day tastes, but eac h one has been made by a person who is proud and happy to share their skill and traditions with the buyer.
Ma té sai Shop is all about authentic Lao hand made products. The dream is to create a large market for gift and household items made by people from all over Laos. By doing this, it can offer a higher and more sustainable income for poor and vulnerable Lao artisans.
