Les Artisans Lao was founded in 1995 as a small workshop specializing in using coconut shells and recycled materials to make handicraft products. Within a few years, Les Artisans Lao had built up a demand for its products and opened a workshop with a number of young Lao nationals, most disadvantaged, to assist with production. In 1997, Les Artisans Lao opened T’Shop Lai Gallery in Vientiane, Lao PDR to showcase and sell its original collection of handmade goods.

Throughout its 15 years, Les Artisans Lao’s product line has matured to meet the growing demand for quality goods from Laos. In 2005, Les Artisans Lao began producing virgin coconut oil in an effort to limit waste and maximize profit potential from the coconuts already being used for handicrafts and furniture. This led to the successful launch of Les Artisans Lao natural beauty and skincare line. This line includes organic soaps, shampoos, body oils, balms, botanicals, mosquito repellent products, and hotel amenities. Les Artisans Lao was the first, and remains the only, Lao company to receive a license to manufacture cosmetic goods.

Today, Les Artisans Lao’s collection of goods provides a unique snapshot of the rich culture and surprising variety of natural resources Laos has to share with the world.

At the core of Les Artisans Lao, is its focus to help improve social and economical development in Laos. From its inception in 1995, Les Artisans Lao took a special interest in helping disadvantaged and marginalized locals by providing on the job training and employment opportunities. Today the workshop has roughly 30 employees all from disadvantaged backgrounds. Many have a physical or mental disability that would keep them from any chance at social inclusion if it were not for Les Artisans Lao. Les Artisans Lao has earned a wealth of recognition for its progressive approach toward improving sustainable development, and has worked in collaboration with foundations including WWF, UNESCO, UNIDO, Helvetas, and Handicap International Belgium. Over the years, Les Artisans Lao has had over 1,000 disadvantaged locals complete one of its training programs.

For the future, Les Artisans Lao’s goal is to increase its capacity to further promote sustainable development in Laos. With significant efforts being spent on increasing demand for its products locally, regionally, and globally; Les Artisans Lao is not only in the process of creating more jobs and opportunities along its own value chain, but also building global awareness of the struggles Laos faces. Les Artisans Lao is pleased with the socio-economic progress that Laos has taken in recent years, and is anxious to become a more fundamental contributor to the process in the future.

source: Les Artisans Lao on facebook