Ock Pop Tok is the Lao translation for "East Meets West"

About Joanna Palmer

Joanna Palmer loves bookkeeping, especially the diversity of her practice.

But all work and no play makes anyone overworked, so Joanna enjoys a variety of interests, including international travel and textile weaving.

A regular visitor to Laos, Joanna is involved with www.ockpoptok.com, a small, international company that creates beautiful indigenous woven art for sale internationally.

Ock Pop Tok helps women in rural Laos turn their beautiful woven silk creations into a source of income. A visit to their weaving center includes detailed information on silkworms, natural dyes and indigenous weaving.

The idea is to support artisans located in their home villages rather than creating a centralized 'factory'. In some cases Ock Pop Tok works with a partner such as SNV or E.U. micro-projects. Generally a member from the Lao Women’s Union helps co-ordinate training activities and field trips.

We hope you enjoy a few of the photos Joanna has brought back from her travels. For more information on Ock Pop Tok and Village Weaver -- a series of initiatives that work directly with artisans in rural locations — please give Joanna a call or drop her an email.

Email: joanna@jrpbooks.com