Background
People of Cambodia have been most innovative and creative as depicted
in the Angkor culture. Cambodian textiles, for example, formed the
origin of the textile culture in the Mekong river area. The civil
disturbances beginning in 1970 witnessed total devastation of their
culture, and brought enormous suffering to the people.
Recent peace processes have boosted rapid economic development on one hand,
and a modern consumerist Western culture on the other. As a result, people
tend to forget and neglect the virtue of their traditional wisdom and culture.
There is an urgent need to mobilize appreciation of the traditional culture
and to animate it because real sustainable development for people cannot
achieved if they lose cultural identity and dignity.
About the Institute
The Institute for Khmer Traditional Textiles is a Cambodian organization
as established in January 1996, which is non-political and non-profit
oriented. IKTT works in close collaboration with international aid
agencies, and local and international NGOs. In addition, IKTT works
with experts and scholars in the concerned area in other countries.
Mission & Goals
IKTT has three main objectives as follows;
1.To restore the devastated tradition and to save the excellent treasures
of Cambodian textiles;
2.To preserve and continue a national heritage by encouraging the
younger generations to follow the footsteps of the forefathers; and
3.To activate a promising textile industry and to reorganize all related
cottage industries such as silkworm raising and weaving.
By realizing these objectives, IKTT will be able to contribute to the achievement
of the following social goals;
>> To encourage people's awareness of their tradition and culture
with a view to establishing cultural identity and self-esteem; and
>> To empower people both socially and economically with skills
for income generation.
We hope that our mission would benefit, especially women and rural populations
who are marginalized and under-privileged.
On-going & planned projects
(1) Preservation & reconstruction of the traditional textile culture
Research to identify master weavers and collection of existing traditional
textiles & equipment for sericulture & weaving. research & documentation
of traditional techniques for sericulture & weaving, and textile
designs & motifs, production of masterpieces and research on traditional
textiles dispersed outside Cambodia.
(2) Skill training for promising weavers Textile design and natural & traditional
dyeing.
(3) Promotion of cottage industry Silkworm raising project in a village
of Kampot province. And marketing research
(4) Information dissemination, awareness-raising and advocacy Publications,
seminars & exhibitions.
The Location of IKTT
INSTITUTE FOR KHMER TRADITIONAL TEXTILES
House No.472, Road to Lake
P.O.Box 9349, Siem Reap, Angkor
CAMBODIA
