Anousone spinning cotton and training the young women of her village

Ms Anousone

Cotton Artisan, Savannakhet Province

Everyone from Ms Anousone’s village knows how to  gin and  spin cotton  into thread, dye with natural indigo and then weave the cotton fibres into the distinctive raw fabric of the region.

“I learnt  this from my mother, who learnt from her mother, who learnt from her mother” explained the 29 year old mother of three.  “We really want to start our own business so we can make and sell our products as we like” said Anousone.

Although Anousone and her neighbours have technical expertise, they don’t have any experience in business management, quality control and marketing. They now want to become part of Saoban’s network.

Since 2005, Saoban has facilitated the formation of 14 groups of rural artisans in Laos that now operate as small businesses. This means the profits from their work stays in the village communities.

Your purchase of Saoban’s cotton products will help Anousone’s dream of running a business come true. Saoban plans to support Anousone and her friends form a self-determining artisan group, providing them training and micro loans to commence business operations.