Our Story
After volunteering in Laos for six weeks and travelling to Cambodia many times - I had seen in my travels, so many beautiful handmade products that I wanted to share and showcase with others back home. I began to appreciate the processes of producing these textiles with natural dyes in very basic conditions. Soon the idea of LOOM Designs began to form in my mind.
In September 2014 I filled a big suitcase with beautiful textiles and jewellery directly from Laos, and on returning home I rented a small space within a retail store (in my home town of Willunga, SA) and from there, LOOM Designs was officially born.
As we started to grow, I began working with village weavers, sewing collectives and artisans both in Laos & Cambodia to produce my own range of handmade textiles, jewellery and accessories, within a short time expanding into the wholesale market.
Loom Designs was born out of the desire to offer these beautiful Textiles of Northern Laos to the Australian market. By honouring traditional skills of the village weavers in Laos, I began to produce a range of hand woven and naturally dyed Textiles - recreating designs suitable for our modern lifestyle. Our team of women weavers work the looms from their homes, allowing them to earn an income within their communities, remaining with their families and participating in everyday village life.
“After volunteering in Laos for six weeks and travelling to Cambodia many times, the idea of Loom Designs began to form in my mind. I began to appreciate the process of producing these textiles in very basic conditions. So really Laos chose me.”
Our jewellery makers in Laos & Cambodia melt down scrap metal to produce our range of Jewellery, repurposing brass bullet casings and aluminium bomb casings - remnants of past years of conflict in both of these countries. See our story about the Peace Project. We hope through your continued support and ongoing production of this range, we are able to be an impact for positive change for our makers and their families, by giving them continued work with fair pay. Know that each piece of Jewellery has been meticulously handmade with care and determination to make a positive difference and create a better life.
I have recently started working with a Sewing Collective in Cambodia, which has been formed to give financial support and independence to a group of women living in Phnom Penh, whose lives are affected by HIV infection. Together we have been able to create a beautiful range of brass jewellery, cotton bags & accessories, with our hope and aim to continue to support them through offering new product designs coming very soon.
I feel like Laos really chose me, and it has been one of the most humbling and hardworking experiences of my life!
Carol Harrison, Founder LOOM Designs
