Water Hyacinth Weaving

Following our first workshop on water hyacinth fiber with Saray cooperative in 2009, we went back to Cambodia to pursue our collaboration with the craftswomen and spend time to teach and experiment new weaving techniques, in order to innovate and create singular products that would allow their cooperative’s business to face the competitive and saturated market.

As we would stay for a shorter period, we did extensive research on various traditional weavings before our arrival to Prek Toal. Our experiments allowed us to understand the structural and aesthetic possibilities of the different knotting and weaving techniques. We also produced a manual of diagrams and drawings to explain precisely to the craftswomen how to reproduce them with water hyacinth.