I am so excited to be getting a huge shipment of beautiful silks today from Phnom Phen, Cambodia. To me, opening a 40 pound box bursting with hundreds of pieces of incredible silk is like opening a treasure chest full of jewels. The colors are rich, full and iridescent.  The shimmering beauty of this silk boggles my mind, having seen firsthand where it is spun, dyed, woven and sewn.

For me, the sight of this silk brings to mind the many women who train for years and work so hard to produce it. Because of their work producing silk through a woman’s foundation in Cambodia, these women are able to send their children to school, provide them with medical and dental treatment and earn a fair living. I love selling this beautiful silk (in the form of embroidered school ties for the guys and scarves for the girls.) The satisfaction that I personally receive from being able to support this foundation, these women and their children through selling their silk is far more than anything I have ever experienced.

That’s why I am excited today. This shipment will support many families for many months. I hope to continue to sell more and more for them.  Take a look at  some of these colors…

But these aren’t made from just any silk: 

All One Pearl silk ties and jewelry bags are made by a Cambodian women’s foundation that empowers the people it is dedicated to serving.  Training women in the ancient Cambodian tradition of silk weaving provides them the opportunity to learn tangible skills.  Women are trained at one of three training centers.  After completing their training, the women’s products are purchased by the foundation for future sale.

The foundation is reviving the ancient tradition of silk weaving and simultaneously creating job opportunities for women in Cambodia.  All of the proceeds from the sale of the exquisite handmade silk products fund social initiatives.

The Opportunities the Silk Creates

Sales of the silk fund a scholarship program for young girls from destitute families.  The scholarship includes allowances for school supplies, snacks and uniforms, as well as supplementing the low salary of female teachers.

It is nearly impossible to imagine life as one of Cambodia’s four million rural residents without access to proper healthcare.  Poor roads and a lack of transportation make traveling from a remote village to a regional health clinic almost out of the question.  Those that are able to make the trek often discover they cannot afford the medicine they desperately need.

During their monthly visits, the foundation’s all-volunteer Medical and Health Team provide free health care, including medicine, to the rural poor.  Among the volunteers are trained doctors, dentists and medical workers who have dedicated themselves to assisting those who cannot access healthcare.  

In addition, throughout each visit volunteers provide instructional training in personal health and hygiene.  Basic supplies, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap are dispensed to residents. 

It’s incredible to see how such a beautiful product comes from such humble origins: