For the revival of Cambodian silk, Kikuo Morimoto, 58, acting Director of the Institute for Khmer Traditional Textiles, has devoted himself for more than a decade.
Cambodian silk is on its revival path onto the global market after a heritage lost for a century and is contributing in a healing process after 20 years of civil strife.
Recently, at the Smithsonian Freer Gallery in Washington DC, USA, and in Japan, Cambodia's unique designs and weaves were on display.
Meanwhile, about 500 odd village weavers and their families will be brought back from the brink of starvation with a breather of new life through income generated from these shows.
Kikuo had founded the institute spending several years seeking elderly skilled weavers from Phnom Penh to the ancient temple town of Siem Reap and established a workshop there.
He is eager to not only revive traditional Khmer textiles that nearly died out during the 20-year civil war in Cambodia, but also wishes to create a sustainable living for the people who make them.
According to him Cambodians must concentrate on developing and reviving their culture and maintain it forever.
They should make clothes from the heart rather than just another commercial wear.
The institute has net sales revenue of US $20,000 (Bt769, 000) a month.
It has a three-phase plan focused on yellow silk yarn and Kikuo is applying all his knowledge of production and natural dyeing for revival of Cambodian silk.
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
