THE FALLS - A fibre festival featuring exhibits from southeast Asia will be held in The Falls this month.
Fibre Fest is an exhibit and sale of hand-woven village silks and cottons from Thailand and Laos. The event is Aug. 27 and 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Balmoral Kirk, The Falls on Hwy. 256.
Presented by Tammachat Natural Textiles from Mahone Bay, all the textiles are dyed with natural dyes, made from materials organically grown or wildcrafted in the groups' local areas. Most of their silk scarves are organically created.
Last year's two-day exhibit and sale of hand-woven village silks and cottons from Thailand and Laos attracted hundreds of people.
This year's event will spotlight organic silk scarves from women's co-ops in Thailand and Laos, clothing from a weaving and sewing co-op in Northern Thailand and textiles for the home.
Tammachat co-founder Alleson Kase said supporting the cause makes a tremendous difference in many lives.
"These women learned how to weave from their mothers and grandmothers when they were very young," said Kase. "Now, weaving brings much-needed income to their families and helps them sustain their traditions, cultures and communities. It also means they can stay in their villages rather than go to work in factories or to Bangkok to work as housemaids."
For every piece sold, Tammachat will donate a book to a child in Laos. In 2010, it donated more than 720 books.
