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August 28, 2017 | Last Modified: 2018

Travel Experience

Founded in 2000, Ock Pop Tok was created by two friends – a local weaver and a visiting English photographer. Their vision was to blend their passion for textiles with their desire to be a positive force for change. Ock Pop Tok means East Meets West and is a perfect expression of what visiting one of their shops, or the Living Crafts Center, is like.

Responsibility

Ock Pop Tok was founded on principles of fair trade and sustainable business practices, and was pioneering social business and ethical fashion before these terms were even a part of our cultural lexicon.

Business Case

Veo and Jo realised early on that in order for hand loomed textiles to survive and thrive as a craft, they had to create economic value for the textiles. Weaving, which is done primarily by village women, is often considered domestic work that is not representative of progress or economic advancement. By operating on fair trade principles – specifically by providing competitive wages, opportunities for continued learning and professional development – OPT gave village weavers, most of whom are women, the ability to earn a sustainable livelihood for their families and communities. And, by opening a venue where visitors could see and practice the craft, the two were able to educate visitors about the cultural and the artistic value of the textiles.

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Founded in 2000, Ock Pop Tok was created by two friends – a local weaver and a visiting English photographer. Their vision was to blend their passion for textiles with their desire to be a positive force for change. Ock Pop Tok means East Meets West and is a perfect expression of what visiting one of their shops, or the Living Crafts Center, is like.

Ock Pop Tok was founded on principles of fair trade and sustainable business practices, and was pioneering social business and ethical fashion before these terms were even a part of our cultural lexicon.

Veo and Jo realised early on that in order for hand loomed textiles to survive and thrive as a craft, they had to create economic value for the textiles. Weaving, which is done primarily by village women, is often considered domestic work that is not representative of progress or economic advancement. By operating on fair trade principles – specifically by providing competitive wages, opportunities for continued learning and professional development – OPT gave village weavers, most of whom are women, the ability to earn a sustainable livelihood for their families and communities. And, by opening a venue where visitors could see and practice the craft, the two were able to educate visitors about the cultural and the artistic value of the textiles.

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DISCLAIMER: The listing of this travel experience is based on the content submitted at the Experience Mekong Collection Nomination Form, verified by the Mekong Tourism Advisory Group. Feel free to nominate other responsible travel experiences, or report if this business should NOT be listed as being responsible by sending us a message with your reasons. Please register if you are a Responsible Tourism Expert, as part of the Mekong Tourism Contributor Program, if you want to be considered to be part of the Mekong Tourism Advisory Group to verify any nominations as being truly responsible. Thank you for helping to promote responsible tourism practices in the Mekong Region, and supporting the community and local operators. View all verified experiences in the Experience Collection at www.ExperienceMekong.org and find out more information at www.MekongResponsibleTravel.org.