Tie Dye Khmer Silk Scarf

This classic Tie Dye Khmer Silk Scarf adds subtle texture to any look. It is elegantly lightweight and large enough to be worn as a scarf or a wrap. Traditionally hand-loomed by a women’s weaving cooperative and made from 100% Khmer (Cambodian) silk and non-toxic dyes. 

Each piece is sustainably and ethically HANDMADE in Cambodia. As with all handcrafted goods, there are slight variations making each piece a work of art and truly one of a kind.

This product is made by SLATE + SALT, a brand dedicated to bringing a curated collection of modern, one-of-a-kind pieces while preserving traditional techniques and supporting the Fair Trade movement. They work closely with small social enterprises to facilitate dignified working opportunities in areas of extreme poverty giving a positive impact on rural artisans in underdeveloped nations to support their families and continue to live in their own communities. Fairtrade restores dignity to the artisans and assists women to become role models to their communities. Economic empowerment gives them the opportunity to stay in their villages and they will be less likely to migrate to urban areas.

Specifically for making this scarf they cooperate with a Cambodian women’s silk weaving cooperative located in the Takeo Province, a rural, low-income area. They employ over 500 weavers from 7 villages. The silk is also produced locally by 350 farmers who grow mulberry trees which rear cocoons from silkworms. The cocoons are spun into silk thread and eventually hand-loomed into these elegant works of art.

The goal of this social enterprise is to prevent the ancient Cambodian silk weaving tradition from vanishing while empowering women and contributing to the economic development of more isolated areas. The complex art of silk weaving is a dying ancient tradition but the weaving cooperative trains younger generations to keep it alive.

They provide employment opportunities and training for women living in the area who would otherwise be forced to flee to neighboring countries in search of jobs. There, separated from their families and lacking education, they often fall into dangerous situations such as human trafficking, sexual abuse or hard work conditions. By joining the weaving cooperative, the women become financially independent and can work from home so they can care for their children at the same time.