Silk Farm

Welcome to the world of Cambodian silk …

Angkor Silk Farm, located 16 km out of Siem Reap, is home to both the National Silk Center (Centre National de la Soie - CNS) and Artisans d'Angkor. The CNS opened in 1993 and received assistance from the French Agency for Development (AFD) from 1994 to 1996. Its aim is the revival of sericulture, of silk farming, as well as teaching the various steps involved in the production of silk goods and seeking ways of improving the techniques used.

As an extension of these activities, the arts and crafts network known as Artisans d'Angkor was established in 1998 with support from the European Union, and was also set up on the Angkor Silk Farm. Together with the CNS, Artisans d'Angkor selects apprentices, has them trained at the CNS, and settled back in their home villages at the conclusion of their training where they work in rural workshops.

Angkor Silk Farm offers guided tours of the sericulture operation, from the cultivation of the mulberry bushes to the production of silk goods. Artisans d'Angkor is also promoting Cambodian silk through its new specialty boutique featuring the Artisans d'Angkor Silk Collection, a fitting conclusion to a tour of the facilities.

Production of Silk Goods

The beautiful hol fabrics, often woven with geometric or floral motifs, stand in a class all by themselves. They are probably one of the best examples of Khmer silk fabrics that feature shimmering, harmonious colors.

For hol silk, one of the most beautiful of Cambodian silk fabrics, the patterns are prepared in advance by dyeing the weft thread. This is referred to as the ikat technique. The skeins of silk are set up onto a tying-in frame. The strands are tied according to the patterns that are wanted in the final fabric. After each tying-in process, the silk is taken from the frame for dyeing with another color. Ligatures and masking are used to prevent cross coloring or to keep certain parts undyed. The tying-in frame is then reset for the subsequent dyeing operations, enabling the weaver to produce designs that are frequently geometric or floral.

The phamung is a self-colored silk fabric, while the anlunh is decorated with cross stripes of many colors. Much like the hol, the phamung and the anlunh are traditionally worn for religious or official ceremonies. Artisans d'Angkor uses these fabrics for items of clothing as well as for furniture upholstery fabrics.

The lboeuk is a brocade with a tiny floral or geometric pattern, while the more complex chorebap is interwoven with highlights of gold or silver thread.

Artisans d'Angkor produces scarves of the lboeuk and chorebap silk cloths, which are very difficult to find nowadays in Cambodia.

The hol lboeuk is a weave combining the complex techniques of the both the hol and the lboeuk cloths. These techniques had completely fallen into disuse after the war, but were revived by Artisans d'Angkor, which is today the only producer of hol lboeuk silk scarves in Cambodia.

The Silk Collection by Artisans d'Angkor also showcases ready-to-wear clothing articles for men and women, accessories, scarves, silk cloth by the bolt, and upholstery fabrics.

Angkor Silk Farm - Puok District