Revitalising rural Cambodia

Moved by the failure of the Cambodia’s countryside to recover from decades of war, silk expert Kikuo Morimoto left his job in Thailand in the 1990s to set up silk-fabrication workshops in the hinterlands of Cambodia. His goal was to help impoverished villagers resurrect traditional silk production.

"Without risk, neither good art nor anything else worthwhile will happen.

His vision has grown, and he is now replanting trees needed to produce silk, reviving traditional weaving and providing profitable work to hundreds of people making heritage-class textiles. The next step is the establishment of a “silk village” as a model to help revitalise rural Cambodia.

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Latest Update

Europe impressed by Cambodian silk

In 2008, Morimoto lent some of the finest silk creations for an exhibition in France.

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Morimoto’s vision continues to grow in Cambodia

Imagination and determination lead to the return of the ancient silk culture.

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Silk Road to a new future

Chot Sam educates a new generation of silk workers.

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