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When Chomnab Ho arrived in the remote village of Phnom Srok on the Cambodian-Thai border for a silk development project, he was unaware of the profound impact his work with weavers would have on his life.
After high school, Chomnab was hesitant about the studies he should pursue. Without the Internet, computers, or search engines to help, he applied to three universities and was accepted into the National School of Agriculture of Prek Leap.
After completing his bachelor's degree in agriculture, Chomnab's journey led him to Phnom Srok in 2002, where he began a six-year assignment working with local weavers, immersing himself in their work and life.
"The women got no recognition from their weaving and efforts to support their children, lived in remote villages, and traveled all day to the nearest city on muddy and bumping roads," he recalled. Over time, Chomnab formed an emotional bond with the weavers and, touched by their plight, decided to help.
In 2013, he established the FAIR WEAVE brand, a social enterprise providing sustainable, eco-friendly handwoven textiles. "Weavers inspired me to share their journey, help them become independent and live in better conditions, and create products with them," he explained. Dedicating weekends to work with weavers, he identified marketable products and gathered buyer feedback. FAIR WEAVE is based on a B2B business model but seeks to enter the B2C market. WIPO has been helping Chomnab since the Spring of 2023 with creating a sub-brand.
In 2019, Chomnab fully committed himself to the brand, learning weaving techniques and attending design training. In addition to being the Director, Chomnab manages design, product development, and dyeing, with other responsibilities.
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FAIR WEAVE's best-selling products are blankets in different sizes and styles. The company also produces sofa throws, bedspreads, towels, napkins, cushions, and coasters. "Many products can be made from handloom," he said.
All of FAIR WEAVE's products are hand-made, and the company only uses local natural dyes derived from materials such as coconut husks, mango leaves, ebony fruit, indigo, jackfruit wood, and annatto seeds. Weavers use traditional knowledge passed from generation to generation and use natural fibers, like natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool, and linen, sourced from countries like Thailand, Laos, and China.
Dyeing occurs in Siem Riep, utilizing rice husks as a sustainable fuel source. Once dyed, the fibers are sent to the weavers. FAIR WEAVE can produce up to 300 blankets per month. While weaving a single blanket typically takes about one to one and a half days, the complete process reaches five days of work, from dyeing to spinning, warping, and loom setup.
FAIR WEAVE's products are available in seven partner stores across Phnom Penh and Siem Riep. They are exported to Australia, Japan, the United States, and Singapore, serving a network of ten international companies.
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Beyond helping some 50 to 60 weavers reach a better standard of living and financial independence, FAIR WEAVE also supports the community through several initiatives like organizing eye testing for the weavers, providing hand washing stations in schools during Covid-19, and setting up a scholarship fund for the weavers' children.
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Chomnab has started registration of FAIR WEAVE's name and logo with the Cambodia Ministry of Commerce, Department of Intellectual Property. While primarily based on a B2B business model, Chomnab aims to expand into the B2C market, directly serving end-consumers and targeting Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. WIPO is aiding in creating a sub-brand, logo, brand guide, and IP registration for this venture.
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FAIR WEAVE is growing, "we are happy and committed," Chomnab said. With the sub-brand soon to be released, he hopes that in the next five years, the company will be known as a famous local Cambodian brand and will reach the regional and Asian markets. He also counts on the growing recognition of the weavers' work and talent.