Changing of Silk Weaving Patterns of Laotian in Vientiane Capital Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)

Abstract

This research aims to 1) study the silk industry promotion of Laos’s government 2) to study the silk trade in Vientiane Capital, and 3) to analyze the changing of Laotian silk weaving patterns in Vientiane Capital, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR.) The qualitative research method was applied in the study. Twenty-five key informants consist of silk weavers, silk shop owners, and silk customers. A semi-structured interview guide that
constructed by the researcher applying as a tool in the research. Semistructured interview methods and non-participant observation techniques are utilized in data collection. Content analysis method and descriptive
analysis are operated in the data analysis phase. The finding showed that the promotion of the textile industry policy and the SMEs implementation project from the government leads to establishing a silk weaving group in
the community. It also encourages investment in trading businesses and silk factories in the private sector which composed of 3 groups: 1) silk hawkers, 2) silk shop owners, and 3) silk weaving factories. In addition, Lao silk weaving has changed from the era of traditional silk weaving, which is weaving cloth for household use, to the era of silk weaving after promoting industry and trade. It consists of 3 weaving patterns namely, 1) community weaving groups, 2) hiring silk weaving in the household, and 3) full-time silk
weaving employment in the factory. Increasing demand for silk and the variety of silk patterns in the market is a factor that changes the way of weaving silk in the present day as well.