Soul Economy

Soul Economy had the pleasure of meeting with soulful entrepreneur Emma, at the launch of Women for Empowerment, Freedom and Textiles (WEFT). I had the opportunity to find out a little more about this wonderful venture that supports refugee women from Burma - KWO (Karen Women’s Organisation) - to create beautifully handloomed scarves, table runners, wall hangings, cushions and scarves. WEFT finance textile development workshops and market the product range to enable these remarkable refugee women to earn an income from their textiles.

1. Tell us a little about Women for Empowerment, Freedom and Textiles (WEFT)
WEFT is a non-profit venture supporting refugee women on the Thai-Burma border and displaced women in Burma to earn much-needed income from their textiles. These women are from various ethnic groups of Burma and produce some of the finest textiles in South East Asia. They have fled persecution by the Burmese military regime, and handicrafts are one of the few accessible means to earn money safely.

WEFT’s collection of handwoven and handmade products ranges from natural dye textiles and weaving in the form of scarves, shawls, table runners, cushions and wall hangings, to pieces of beautiful woven and embroidered fabric. Every WEFT textile purchase creates income that goes directly to refugee women and their families, and helps WEFT to finance textile development workshops. For more information visit: www.weftshop.com

2. What inspired you to start WEFT? What is your vision for the company?
After graduating from NIDA in 2004, I read a book by Arundhati Roy, “The algebra of infinite injustice”. This significantly inspired me. I began thinking how can I use my skills to support those in need. They say one door closes another one opens. This has definitely been the case for me. I was enroute to England to pursue my tailoring career/training and I was going via Asia (I had travelled for 4 years before studying). At the 11th hour the training I was going to England for fell through. I was in Thailand and thought perhaps I will do some volunteering with the idea of incorporating it into lifestyle. I am in the fortunate position of being freelance, so I can take a few months off here and there. I began trying to see how I could use my skills to assist those in need!

I worked at an orphange in the far north of Thailand and then found myself in Mae sot working with KWO (Karen womens organisation), the Karen are refugees from Burma. These women and their stories made such an impact on me that I felt committed to them from the beginning. There resilience in the face of such extreme oppression and violence, their commitment to helping their people and the beautiful textiles that are born out of such suffering. Every 6 months I return to the Thai-Burma border to hold workshops that help provide them with more skills so they can feed, clothe and care for their famillies.

WEFT is a non-profit organisation and our vision is to become a self-sustaining entity so we can continue to support refugee women.

3. Tell us about the WEFT product range?

• Beautiful and intricately patterned handloomed scarves, made from a soft rayon in a variety of bold and earthy hues, these scarves can take up to 5 days to weave on a backstrap loom made by Karen refugees.
• Earthy beauty of 100% cotton naturally dyed table runners, handloomed on a backstrap loom in a variety of intricate patterns and hues of the earth. Hand dyed and handwoven by Karen Refugee women.
• Brightly coloured and boldly patterned bags made from a bamboo shuttle loom then sewn together by refugee women.
• Intricately patterned cushion covers in a variety of colour waves, handloomed on a backstrap loom by Karen refugee women.
• Sarongs/lengths of beautiful textiles handloomed on a bamboo shuttle loom, with various traditional patterns that have a story, Made by Karen women, Mon Women and Chin Women. WEFT is in the process of developing product from these gorgeous textiles, bags, children’s clothes and baby slings.
• Naturally Dyed Cushion covers and bags that have been designed with the west in mind, handloomed by a Thai Karen village on the Thai Burma border, constructed by WEFT members in the hopes of it becoming a refugee initiative.

4. What have been your greatest challenges in starting WEFT?
That’s easy, trying to sell product. I am not a seller. The reason I do this work is I love working with the women, however selling their textiles not only helps to fund workshops it also directly supports these women so that they are not solely reliant on international aid for their basic needs. Although having said that because I believe that what WEFT is doing is beneficial it makes it easier to sell. And you need to be very very fluid working on the Border as things take time and don’t happen as quickly as they do at home.

5. What have been your greatest successes?
Finding such a caring, socially minded, supportive and hardworking team, Ellen, Debra and Janita…..and personally being in a workshop and seeing the participants excited about learning things about their culture that they didn’t know, like what some of the woven patterns mean. Our launch was great as we really began to connect with like minded people and organisations.

6. Can you tell us some of the good news stories as a result of WEFT?
I was talking with Kuku yesterday at KWO here in Mae Sot and she said to me Aunty Ann’s bag designs have really advanced since you have been coming. That’s exciting. Also last week in Sydney we were part of a fashion parade that was raising money for Amnesty International’s womens refugee movement here in Sydney. WEFT thought this would be a good opportunity to connect further with the Karen Refugee community, so as part of the parade, Manupaw, Hser Hser and Paw, 18 year old girls who have been in Sydney for just over a year and have spent most of their lives in refugee camps, joined us on the catwalk in traditional Karen dress and new designs from tradtional fabric.

7. What advice would you give to others keen on starting their own responsible businesses?
Listen and ask yourself is it truly beneficial for others, is the impact positive or negative.

Now we here at Soul Economy like to get to know our soulful entrepreneurs a little better, so on a more personal note we have 5 quick questions:

1. What are you reading at the moment?
Perfect Hostage, Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma and the Generals by Justin White

2. Name your top 3 favourite movies of all time?
Dancer in the Dark, directed by Lars von Trier, Earth directed by Deepa Mehta, The Italian, directed by Andrei Kravchuk

3. Who would be your dream real life next door neighbour?
Gandhi

4. Where is your favourite travel destination?
Lake Waikaremoana, New Zealand (home)

5. What are you passionate about?
Peace, in heart and mind

Tags: cushions and scarves, ethical products, ethical shopping, fair trade gifts, Fair Trade products, fair trade sydney, fairtrade, fairtrade fashion, fairtrade sydney, handloomed fashion and homewares, Karen Women's Organisation, KWO, sarongs, scarves, socially conscious shopping, table runners, textiles Thai-Burma women refugees, wall hangings, WEFT, Women for Empowerment Freedom and Textiles