Sop Moet Arts Handmade Silk Table Runners - 47cm x 35cm
A high quality handmade table runner made by the people of Pwo Karen in Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand.
Each runner is unique and no two runners will have the exact same pattern. Please select by the colour tones.
Size: 47cm x 35cm
About Sop Moet Arts
Sop Moei Arts is a non-profit organization, which has been working with the Pwo Karen in Sop Moei district of Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand for the last 30 years. They collaborate with local villagers to create unique, limited edition and one off products, employing their expertise in weaving and basket making. This provides not only a sustainable source of income for the Pwo Karen but also helps keep alive their traditional craft skills, which are rapidly disappearing.
Public Health Project
Sop Moei Arts originally began as a public health project. It was founded in 1977 by Kent and Britt-Marie Gregory amongst the Pwo Karen in this region. During this time, there was no health care available for local villagers. The nearest hospital lay two days journey away by foot. The health project targeted mothers and children up to the age of five; this included family planning, pre- and post-natal care, midwife services, the free monitoring of child health and whatever medical needs arose. Basic health education was also a part of this program. Over the years Sop Moei Arts has worked in fifteen villages with its mobile health clinic.
Income-generating Initiatives
In 1988, Kent expanded the project into income-generating activities. Despite the best endeavours of the health project, child malnutrition was impossible to tackle unless families had the means of earning money for food supplementation.
With SIDA (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) assistance, Kent started a textile weaving and basket making project. These are aimed at helping the Pwo Karen attain sustainable livelihoods by which they can support their families health needs. The level of child malnutrition has since decreased significantly.
