The Izara Arts Story

Izara Arts is the income generation project of the Khom Loy Development Foundation, a charity working in Thailand to assist the northern ethnic minority groups commonly referred to as "hilltribes". "Izara" comes from the Thai word for "freedom", a cherished ideal in most cultures. For the mountain tribes in the expanding trade triangle of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, freedom is a complicated concept -- the cash economy has caught up with them.

They are no longer free from the need for money, which of course impacts dramatically on all areas of their lives. Selling their meticulously stitched handicrafts is the obvious way to bring in cash while maintaining some of their age-old traditions. There are many advantages to a woman being able to earn a living as an artisan:

• handicrafts are normally done by women who are proven to be the agents of change
• single women have a means of survival
• mothers can stay with their families 
• there is no need to learn unfamiliar trades and survive a training gap
• cultures are strengthened not negated
• ancient techniques and patterns are saved

Izara Arts helps design and produce handicrafts for sale in western markets, using the profits to develop the producer communities as well as creating new products to help include more groups in our activities. We follow the fair trade philosophy so the producers can profit from the creativity and painstaking labour that they invest in these products.

Using traditional techniques combined with modern style, we have created exquisite products from silk, cotton and other traditional materials that look good and reflect well on you, on your home, and on the planet.

We believe that Izara Arts products are unique in their combination of multiple influences within a single product. Our Wine Carrier, for example, showcases a signature technique of each of the hill tribes. The fabric is hand-woven hand-dyed cotton made by the Karen. The decorative panel features an Akha appliqué including their proprietary "couching" technique, an exquisite Hmong reverse appliqué, separated with Lisu colourful folded cloth trim. The panel is bordered with ribbons of Lahu hand-woven straps and finished with a fine Mien tassel.