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April 29, 2019 | Last Modified: 2019

Travel Experience

Passa Paa is a small accessories brand with a shop and textile studio based in Luang Prabang, Laos. Established in 2011 by British sisters Heather Smith, the textile designer, Joanna Smith, the business entrepreneur, and Veomanee Duangdala, the Laotian weaver and maker, their focus is on creating unique Lao-inspired handmade textiles and turning them into beautifully-crafted products such as totes, clutches, purses, scarves, pillows, and tea towels. The organization works with many Hmong artisans in Laos who print, sew, design, and applique the products.

Responsibility

Passa Paa is a social enterprise that aims to link the Hmong artisan to the rest of the world. We do this by embedding Hmong textile patterns and skills into a product that is desirable in the modern market. We are committed to working within the Hmong/Lao artisan community by supporting handmade hemp and organic cotton production in Laos, Hmong sewing techniques, indigo dying and printing.

Business Case

We work to fair trade standards in Laos and we believe in providing sustainable jobs and promote value in all things handmade. Passa Paa is committed to supporting Hmong communities to practise their crafts and create beautiful textiles that are valued in the global and local community. We provide fair and empowering employment to Hmong women with at least 50% of our revenue going back to the artisans. Through our textile studio, we have created a platform of opportunity for both Hmong women and men to create products and enable Hmong culture to not only survive but flourish both in Lao and abroad.

Google Map

Passa Paa is a small accessories brand with a shop and textile studio based in Luang Prabang, Laos. Established in 2011 by British sisters Heather Smith, the textile designer, Joanna Smith, the business entrepreneur, and Veomanee Duangdala, the Laotian weaver and maker, their focus is on creating unique Lao-inspired handmade textiles and turning them into beautifully-crafted products such as totes, clutches, purses, scarves, pillows, and tea towels. The organization works with many Hmong artisans in Laos who print, sew, design, and applique the products.

Passa Paa is a social enterprise that aims to link the Hmong artisan to the rest of the world. We do this by embedding Hmong textile patterns and skills into a product that is desirable in the modern market. We are committed to working within the Hmong/Lao artisan community by supporting handmade hemp and organic cotton production in Laos, Hmong sewing techniques, indigo dying and printing.

We work to fair trade standards in Laos and we believe in providing sustainable jobs and promote value in all things handmade. Passa Paa is committed to supporting Hmong communities to practise their crafts and create beautiful textiles that are valued in the global and local community. We provide fair and empowering employment to Hmong women with at least 50% of our revenue going back to the artisans. Through our textile studio, we have created a platform of opportunity for both Hmong women and men to create products and enable Hmong culture to not only survive but flourish both in Lao and abroad.

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