Lao hemp product maker eyes foreign buyers

Founder of Sisterhood Handicrafts, a social enterprise of Sisterhood for Development Noimaniphone Lorbliayao told Vientiane Times at a recent One District, One Product (ODOP) Fair that the group was formed in 2012 to promote handicraft abilities of Hmong women from around the country who are currently living in Vientiane.

 

“Hmong women have gained their skills in handicrafts, sewing and knitting since the birth of their ethnic group but many disadvantaged women have no chance to demonstrate their skills for earning basic incomes,” she said.

 

Currently the group has almost 80 members and all of them have been given different responsibilities including sewing, knitting and cultivating the hemp trees to be used in production process.

 

“Now, we have more than 100 iteof products made from hemp, silk, cotton, and bamboo. These are all made from environment-friendly materials,” Noimaniphone said.

 

She said a variety of handbag products, textiles, and other handicraft goods made by sisterhood artisans have been sent to Europe and America, noting that around 60 percent of products were exported to foreign countries.

 

The maximum price of her goods is 320,000 kip per one item and the minimum price is 30,000 kip per item.

 

As a part of this contemporary product collection, sewing traditional Hmong motifs generates income for Hmong ethnic women in Laos.

 

Hemp products in Vientiane are part of the value chain with local farmers in Huaphan province. They are cultivating the young hemp trees to support the handicraft group in the capital.

 

In addition, these women continue to contribute to the cycle of economic and social community growth by training new groups of ethnic women in Laos in business development, handicrafts design, production and marketing.

 

“This year's ODOP fair, we don't expect an increased volume of products to be sold but we want members of the public to acknowledge our products,” Noimaniphone said.

 

Despite the fact that hemp products are not popular for today's Hmong women, many small Hmong communities in northern Laos continue the practice of making the traditional pleated skirts made from hemp.

 

So, Sisterhood Handicrafts as a social enterprise look set to promote and generate income for disadvantaged Hmong women by forming a group as a platform to showcase their sewing skills and make incomes possible to earn.

 

“Although the ability to supply the demand of foreign customers is still low, the influx of foreign tourists to Laos, especially Vientiane will open up the opportunity for us to sell more products in the years to come,” Noimaniphone added.