THE SECRET BEAUTY OF LAO TEXTILES

By Kingsavahn

The fabrication of textile products from cotton and silk such as "Phaa Sin" is among the oldest arts and crafts of the Lao people. The history of silk itself is long and fascinating. Its origin can be traced back to China over two thousand years ago. Textile is in fact, one of the bases of civilization of the human kinds. While the industrialize world advance in technology to substitute the human work force for mass productions, nothing can replace the individual expressions of the artistry of a "Phaa Sin" designer - the imagination that transforms from the heart through the fingers to the looms of the Lao women. The secret beauty of this old tradition has been preserved and well guarded for generations over thousands of years until the present day.

Through out their long history the women of Laos, who are composed of 48 ethnicities, have been known to be the textile producers. Their productions are for self-sufficiency, family commodities and the most valuable gifts. Traditionally, Lao textile products were never intended for the market. Lao silk and cotton have been used to distinguish origin and status as well as to parade the weavers' artistry. Besides cotton, Laotians wear silk for worships, ceremonies, festivities, and to show luxury, beauty, refinement, elegant and noble.

The design of the Lao textiles shows Lao people were originally animistic or worship spirits, adopted Theravada Buddhism and Hindu rites. Therefore, Lao textiles are full of ancient symbols mythical animals, native flowers and the Buddha life story.

As we step into the dawn of the 21th century, Lao women in Laos are continuing to preserve their oral tradition that their ancestors have passed on. It absolutely amazes the western civilization to comprehend the unwritten process, starting from feeding the cocoon with hand picked mulberry leaves to designing and weaving the delicate patterns. This tedious long process is indeed hard work. It takes a lot of patient and endurance, but very rewarding to see the final product.

After the Indochina War (the Secret War in Laos) ended in 1975, the outside world began to discover more about Lao society. One among the most amazing treasures is the magnificent designed of the lao textiles that have been collected in the home of the people of Laos. During this economic hardship, the people of Laos were under pressured to sell their belonging. Lao textiles were among the rare valuable personal collections to be sold on the market.

Today, Lao Textiles are no longer admire by its own native, but by the people around the world. It is not surprise to see Lao textiles become the treasure of the textile collectors, nicely framed in the homes, major hotels, restaurants, high fashion designed and exhibited at the Textile Museum in Washington D.C. These recognitions are beyond the imaginations of the people of Laos, especially, the weavers who are tirelessly producing their works with little income.