Atelier Magic Lao Carpets – originally called Magic Lao Carpets Handicrafts – was established in 1998 and specialises in hand-crafted silk products, including pile carpets, flat-weave rugs, scarves and shawls, and other hand-woven textiles, accessories and house décor items.
It all began with a love story.
Ismet came to Laos on one of the first group tours after the country reopened to the world in the late 1990s. During his visit he met Souvita Phaseuth, or Lani. He returned several times to visit her despite the obstacles of travelling to Laos out of Turkmenistan, his native country, before they married.
While Ismet was not directly involved in carpet weaving in his home country of Turkmenistan, he always appreciated this art form. Turkmenistan is world-famous for its carpets – like the Tekke, Salor and Yomut rugs, – and this traditional Turkmen carpet making art is inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
In Laos Ismet became in awe of the skill and creativity involved in the traditional Lao textile weaving that Lani introduced him to. The idea to meld the two traditions was born.
It took three years for carpet weavers from Turkmenistan to receive permission to travel to Laos and teach Lao weavers the techniques involved in weaving pile carpets and flat-weave rugs on vertical looms that Ismet built himself.
Atelier MLCH is a family-owned company, and a social enterprise dedicated to increasing the well-being of persons with disabilities, especially women. One-third of our employees are from disadvantaged areas of the country, or have a disability. Income generation empowers them, raising their status in their respective households. No child labour is involved in any stage of our production.
We strive to meld the traditions of two cultures, Laos and Turkmenistan. Our designs also encompass the modern, allowing for the flow of creativity.
During the production of our carpets and textiles, we aim to sustain the environment by using renewable parts of plants for producing natural dyes. We monitor all steps of production to preserve our integrity.
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