Meet changemaker Thao Phuong
Ahead of the launch of our exclusive Creative Fellowship with TextileSeekers we are thrilled to introduce you to Thao Phuong, founder of TextileSeekers
Photo credit @anouk_nitsche
Thao Phuong is the founder of TextileSeekers, and comes with over twenty years of expertise in fashion and design.
A guest panellist for Project Insight, where Thao explored concepts of planetary health, she is also a member of the Southeast Asian Planetary Health Alliance (SEAPHA), which seeks out innovative approaches for sustainable futures in the region and beyond.
Thao also works closely with PacificLinks Foundation NGO, runs virtual workshops for underprivileged teens and survivors of human trafficking, and with Restoring Vision NGO, which distributes glasses to remote villages and communities.
Words by Thao Phuong
“For me, it is the coming together of a collective; one which bonds over shared values and forges deeper connections with the local communities we visit. In doing so, we assist in the survival of ancestral knowledge for future generations.”
TextileSeekers curates experiences which focus on indigenous textile practices while highlighting the value of provenance.
My goal is simply to share a journey that not only uncovers indigenous tribes at the root of sustainable textile design but which also opens a dialogue of self–discovery, planting the seeds for creative aspirations of our own.
In 2018 I was invited to a ‘compassion home’ in Lào Cai, Vietnam, that supports survivors of human trafficking - young girls lured into crime in the hope of securing a better–paying job. While previous generations relied on handicrafts as a means of income, young people no longer felt as though they wanted to continue this legacy, as it is laborious and provides little financial return.
This realisation further convinced me that it’s nothing less than essential to preserve traditional crafts. I knew I couldn’t go back to my day job, and that something within me was transformed. That was how TextileSeekers really began.
Empowering women via a process of sincerity and respect. As a women-led company, it’s absolutely fundamental to our vision to work with women, to support and ignite each other’s inspirations, and to attempt to make a real difference to each other’s lives.
Thao Phuong
I am passionate about textiles, ethnic women and local communities, having seen the devastating effects of the fast fashion industry first-hand, and the fact that so many traditions are being lost and so many tribespeople feel they have little choice but to seek work elsewhere (which, as mentioned, makes them susceptible to human trafficking and often results in them ending up in factories), it’s impossible not to feel passionate about the need for change.
Empowering women via a process of sincerity and respect. As a women-led company, it’s absolutely fundamental to our vision to work with women, to support and ignite each other’s inspirations, and to attempt to make a real difference to each other’s lives.
We connect with artisans and they become part of our team, providing the time and space for them to showcase their skills through our curated workshops. The travellers are then empowered to return home, inspired with the knowledge and compassion to make more considered choices in their day to day lives.
In TextileSeeker’s bid to promote sustainability in today’s fashion ecosystem, we are offering an exclusive opportunity for FAIRE Inner circle members to join our journey this October 17th, 2022.
This is an Open Call for all genders and all details will be announced on 06.06.22
Our Artist Retreat platform not only aims to guide you through the processes of developing your project, but we hope it will also open your eyes to the beauty of sustainable textile practices.
Thao, founder of TextileSeekers, will also be on-site as chief creative consultant. She will offer her expertise and share her experience in design, as well as facilitate you to bring your vision to life.
“The main objective for establishing the Artist Retreat programme is to foster professional development and opportunities for both visiting artists and the host community, as well as providing a platform for a creative community to be invigorated through an exchange of ideas and new ways of working. We hope to cultivate relationships with other artists while raising the profile of local tribes in Vietnam.”
We believe artist residencies are vital in giving an aspiring artist the time and space to explore and create from within. Through cultural and artistic exchanges, new ideas are hatched and experimentations can be nurtured. Artist residencies also forge networking opportunities for an artist who is taking his or her first steps into the creative industry. Ultimately such an experience will not only shape one’s work, but also sculpt one’s approach and thinking.
To find out more about TextileSeekers, visit textileseekers.com, or follow @textileseekers