ສົນທະນາທົ່ວໄປ

The unique and natural handmade silk of Laos has once again shone on the regional stage, this time receiving five first prizes at an Asean silk contest held in Bangkok last month.

Ms Manivone Keomany, who last year won the top award at an exhibition of Asean silk, also held in Bangkok, was this time awarded four first prizes at the Asean Silk Fabric and Fashion Design Contest 2010 held from August 22-29 .

Six countries – Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, India, the Philippines and Laos – sent more than 300 silk products to compete at the contest held at the Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre, with Laos receiving more top prizes than any other country.

Twenty first prizes were on offer as Laos achieved the highest overall tally of 11 prizes, comprising five first places and four second places.

The handicraft leader of Xamneua district in Huaphan province, Ms Manivone, and other handicraft shops in Laos sent their products to compete on behalf of the Lao Handicraft Association.

“Last year's award was an inspiration for the group to create various unique designs to represent to the world,” Ms Manivone said.

One of the board committee members of the association, Ms Kommaly Chanthavong, who led the Lao team at the exhibition, said Lao silk has built a strong international reputation and many countries recognise the quality of the country's products.

“Even though our industries can't complete with other countries, our silks and our unique identity certainly can,” she said.

While other countries use modern machinery in the silk production process, Ms Kommaly said the quality of Lao silk is better, even though local producers still rely on handmade techniques, old-fashioned equipment and natural dye.

According to Ms Kommaly, some of the categories judged in the contest were natural dye, mulberry-worm silk, ancient silk and chemical dye, but people in the region are most interested in purchasing natural dye and mulberry-worm silk.

“Our silks have become recognised because of our longstanding traditional values that we have preserved from generation to generation. Another major attraction of Lao silk is that we use a natural process,” she said.

She stated that the Lao handicraft groups working under the association have made great progress to present a wonderful image of Laos to the world through local silk.

Recently, representatives from Korea and Japan have invited the association to exhibit Lao silk in their countries.