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Sop Moei textiles are woven by the Pwo Karen, a sub-group of the larger Karen hill tribe who live in remote villages in Mae Hong Son Province, at the confluence of the Moei and Youm Rivers. Isolated for years, their story unfolds like a fairytale. It began with Kent Gregory, a child of missionaries born in Thailand. Having been educated in public health, he ventured to the remote area to help the villagers, but he soon realized that money was needed to improve their living conditions. To generate funds for the villages, Kent began marketing the textiles and baskets that were woven locally, selling them in Bangkok where they fetched a higher price. Over the years the quality of the materials improved as new and attractive designs emerged. Today, Sop Moei is well known in Thailand with a shop that helps sustain the Pwo Karen. Masako Isomura began working with Sop Moei Arts as a marketing volunteer in 1997. She is currently involved in its marketing activities and manages the Bangkok shop, trains staff and volunteers, while giving feedback on product design and development. She will talk about the history of the project and the Karen villagers accompanied by many visuals, as well as the way the project is run, and how the designs are used to create unique and original products. There will be a variety of products on display and for sale. A trip to the Karen village is planned for November.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
สยามสมาคมในพระบรมราชูปถัมภ์ -The Siam Society, 131 Asoke Montri Road (Sukhumvit 21),Bangkok, Thailand
