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WEFTSHOP NEWS Weftshop is looking for retailers December 2009 A Christmas message from Weftshop: Thank you to everyone who has supported Weftshop during 2009. By buying Weftshop's product you've helped enable us to conduct more textile workshops with vulnerable refugee and illegal migrant women on the Thai-Burma border and to place product orders with these women as well. The women are enjoying their new fabric scissors (that actually cut fabric!) and the other textile tools Weftshop has bought for them as well – and they're over the moon with the Elna press donation. It is much more economical for them and Weftshop's products look better too. I can't describe how much they appreciate all this! Some words from Emma, who is still on the border working with the women: “Yahmi and I have come up with a variety of colour combinations with the trims and fabrics Weftshop ordered from the Lahu women before arriving. We're looking at a more time friendly way of making the curved bottom bag and we've made up a fabulous wrap skirt, a stuffed monkey, a kids elephant bag and some smaller size dresses. Ma Nan and I have made a shopping bag sample from the Karen sarongs ordered and have prepared three bag samples with a strip of the natural dye fabric ordered from Baan Pasak before arriving. Noe Thee and I have made up new skirt and scarves samples, and Weftshop has ordered more scarves. There have been some really positive changes with the women Weftshop is commissioning work from - Yahmi is looking for someone to help her fill Weftshop's orders and she has been able to buy cupboards for her trims and textiles to protect them from being eaten by rats. Noe Thee now has two other illegal migrant women weaving with her! (Kapi, a Chin woman who arrived with her daughter's family from Rangoon to seek medical treatment in Thailand. Her husband died in one of the refugee camps after they arrived. The family is not yet receiving rice as their refugee application is still being processed, which could take a year. Weaving Weftshop's orders means Kapi can help support her daughter and three grandchildren, who are all ill. Dawomem also recently arrived from Rangoon and is now weaving Weftshop's orders. Dawomem's husband died in Burma; she was living in a one room house with no food for herself and her 3 children. She crossed with her children into Thailand's Mae La refugee camp out of desperation to get help and work. She wants very much for her children to go to school", Emma. November 2009 Weftshop training trip - November and December Thanks to your support for Weftshop, Emma will be heading to the Thai-Burma border this month to conduct another series of textile training sessions. During this trip Weftshop aims to try to work with and support more refugee women weavers along the border, develop relationships with the Kayin women's organisation and conduct more trainings with the Kachin ,Chin, Lahu and Karen women groups and individuals. Weftshop will also assist the Kayin organisation to establish their Income Generation Project through working on designs that Weftshop can commission from them. We'll be refining Weftshop's best selling items and making smaller bags, stuffed animals, purses and shopping bags that fold into almost nothing, as well as supporting designs including the dolls the women are already making (representing Chin, Lahu and Kachin communities) which is very exciting! Trip update: “It is great to be back here... I feel alive again. I've had a great day with Yahmi yesterday cutting new bags, skirts and kids bags... it was definitely worth lugging the 10 kilo Elna press to Mae Sot – it so much more efficient and it was very funny to see it being balanced on the front of the motorbike. I have already met with an interesting group this morning - if Weftshop is interested in producing a fashion line in the near future that would be the place to do it! Weftshop now has a woven label (thanks Gianni!) that will be sewn into our latest products, and all our fliers are now being made here in Thailand, which both brings Weftshop's costs down and support local business.” Love Em.
October 2009 More Weftshop sales Catch Weftshop at the following public events in VIC and NSW:
September 2009 Weftshop to launch Cut + Paste Sustainable Craft Festival at the Red Rattler theatre in Marrickville
On display: Weftshop’s textiles, including our biggest ever range of scarves in beautiful colours and new reversible children’s dresses made from hand-loomed sarongs. PLUS, a chance to see gorgeous costumes made by NIDA students from Weftshop’s textiles. Eat and drink: Complimentary finger food provided by the Red Rattler and drinks can be purchased from the Red Rattler bar. (The Red Rattler theatre is a non-profit community arts and performance venue.) Where: 6 Faversham St, Marrickville. August 2009 Come and see Women for Education, Freedom and Textiles at NIDA! NIDA’s costume department is sponsoring a promotion and sale of our textiles in NIDA’s foyer this Friday 28 August. Come and join us for a drink after work. Take a look at beautiful costumes that NIDA students have made from our handmade and traditionally loomed textiles. Take a peek at the costume department where Emma and Ellen trained. On display and for sale will be new Weftshop textile products, featuring new designs and colours recently arrived from the Thai-Burma border. WHEN: Friday, 28 August, 4.30pm to 7pm WHERE: National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), 215 Anzac Parade Kensington, opposite UNSW WHAT: 4.30pm gather in foyer for tea/coffee; 4.45pm take a tour of NIDA’s costume department with Emma, Ellen and others; 5.30pm-5.45pm back in foyer for a drink, nibbles and textile sale. July 2009 Trading name change Please note that Women For Eduction Freedom and Textiles will now be trading as 'Weftshop'. May 2009 Fair Trade Fortnight 2009 events Come and celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight, and catch WEFT among other fair trade retailers and info services at:
April 2009 Weftshop events coming up We’ve just received a huge delivery of new products commissioned from refugee and migrant women on the Thai-Burma border during Emma’s recent trip there. There are lots of new scarves for winter and some beautiful purses and cushion covers, but also new ranges including gorgeous reversible girls dresses and new bag styles (including yoga bags and padded laptop bags!). Come and see us at the Weftshop stall as we celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight in Sydney:
January-February 2009 News from the Thai-Burma border – two Weftshop group trainings
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