The Woven Textile Industry in Lao PDR

This book offers a unique insight into the woven textile industry in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It focuses on the current role of women in Laos and the way in which the woven textile industry is enabling women to break free of their more traditional subservient roles in society. This book is essential reading for those interested in the woven silk industry in Laos and more generally in the role that weaving can play in economic regeneration and social development. It draws on the author's observations during the time she spent weaving in Laos. She records the dominant role women play in silk weaving factories where skills have traditionally been passed from mother to daughter for many centuries. The author conveys the smells tastes and sights which form the rich tapestry of this truly unique country.