Discover Luang Prabang through Passa Paa

Passa Paa is known for its colorful prints, but did you know each print has a meaning behind it? Designing these prints was no easy tasks. Both Pok and Heather spent many months researching and brainstorming ideas. The goal was to have symbols and shapes that are important for the Hmong and Lao culture but at the same time are symmetrical and adaptable. So far we have 8 prints that fill our shop and hearts with meaning and color. We hope you enjoy learning about their meanings and from now on, every time you see a Passa Paa product you are able to see there is a story behind its materials, behind the hands that made them and the prints it carries.

Hmong culture, Face masks, PrintsHeather SmithFebruary 5, 2021laos, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, hmong, face masks, prints, hand print

A week of batik

In August 2020 we received the joyful news that our proposed training programme for a group of Hmong artisans would be given the funding it needed and given the green light from the Handicraft Skills for Tourism Small Grants Facility, an initiative of the Skills for Tourism Project (LAO/029). This grant enables us to continue our dual mission of providing improved livelihoods to village based artisans, whilst creating a new collection of designs. Continue reading to find out about what we got up to during the studio week long visit of 15 artisans as we exchanged skills in all things batik, hemp, indigo dye and product design.

Hmong cultureHeather SmithDecember 3, 2020laos, sustainable, handmade, culture, hmong, ethnic knowledge, batik, indigo, hemp

The meaning behind Passa Paa prints

Passa Paa is known for its colorful prints, but did you know each print has a meaning behind it? Designing these prints was no easy tasks. Both Pok and Heather spent many months researching and brainstorming ideas. The goal was to have symbols and shapes that are important for the Hmong and Lao culture but at the same time are symmetrical and adaptable. So far we have 8 prints that fill our shop and hearts with meaning and color. We hope you enjoy learning about their meanings and from now on, every time you see a Passa Paa product you are able to see there is a story behind its materials, behind the hands that made them and the prints it carries.

Hmong culture, Face masks, PrintsHeather SmithOctober 14, 2020laos, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, hmong, face masks, prints, hand print

How the One for One face mask donations have reached beyond borders

We decided to share with you were the One for One face masks donations have gone to and who they are benefiting. All of the following companies or organizations are good-doers that inspire us and have supported us through this journey. We hope you get to know them and if you can, support them as well by donating or sharing their work.

Running a multicultural business

We have a very specific way of functioning as a company and we want to share with you our view of what it’s like to run a multicultural business. We want to take you behind the scenes, and tell you more about what happens behind our business doors and why we do things the way we do!

Star Lamps and Light Festival celebrations!

Known as “Lai Heua Fai” it is the occasion to celebrate the spirit of the river. It is also the celebration of Boun Awk Phansa, which is the end of Buddhist Lent. Our way of participating on this amazing celebration is by using our own Mulberry tree bark and turning it into Passa Paa Star Lamps. Every year we host a workshop for people to make their own Passa Paa star lamps! They take their lamps and hang them in their houses to participate in the festival.

Hmong culture, workshopHeather SmithSeptember 24, 2020laos, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, hmong, hmong culture, hand print

Hmong skirt - Keeping traditions alive

Everything started with one of Pok's very own garments. Nothing less than her Hmong pleated wedding skirt! Other than weddings, this traditional skirts are also worn for Hmong New Year and various other traditional ceremonies. Using this specific skirt as a source of inspiration, we knew we wanted to take on the challenge of mixing cross-stitching, hand printing, appliqué AND pleats into one majestic piece that would be a Passa Paa Hmong skirt. .

Hmong culture, appliqué, Hemp, IndigoHeather SmithSeptember 16, 2020laos, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, hmong, appliqué, hmong skirt, hmong culture

#SecondHandSeptember - Sustainable fashion for the environment

Since Passa Paa’s beginnings, caring for the environment has been one of our core values. From the materials we choose for our products to the way they are sourced, we pay close attention to how to minimize our impact on the planet. Accepting the #SecondHandSeptember is only one way of helping. Support slow fashion, choose hand-made items and give your items a second chance.

The art of appliqué and it’s cultural value

Appliqué plays a major role in Passa Paa not only because of their beautiful results on our products but also because of their high cultural value. For Hmong people, fine needlework like appliqué has always been a big part of their culture. Usually done by the community women and taught to the daughters, it brings great pride since it is a big part of the dress code for the most important celebrations and events like births, weddings and New Year amongst others.

Hmong culture, appliquéHeather SmithSeptember 1, 2020laos, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, hmong, reusable, appliqué

Back to school in a Pandemic

Whether you are in Laos, in the UK or in the US, it seems like the whole world is talking about one thing this week: Back to School in a pandemic. Each country and each state has had different ways of approaching this Back to School event. For us at Passa Paa it has been very interesting to see the different approaches and ways of dealing with this event. Because of this, we decided to collect interesting links that might be helpful for you as a parent, a student or as a teacher.

Face masksHeather SmithAugust 27, 2020laos, natural dyes, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, hmong, facemasks, reusable

Choose reusable face masks and other steps to help the environment

Passa Paa is very clear about how deeply we care about the environment and reducing our impact on it. This concern is addressed in our production practices, use of natural organic materials and in some cases the purpose of the accessories we produce. Some of the products that you can purchase to avoid single plastic use are our Market Bags, Bees Wax Wraps and Bamboo Straws and now our Reusable Face Coverings!

Face masksHeather SmithAugust 19, 2020laos, natural dyes, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, hmong, facemasks, reusable

Hemp: The thread of tradition and possibilities

For Passa Paa, working with hemp means supporting tradition, culture and an eco-friendly material that gives us the natural feel we strive for. The hemp we use comes from villages nestled high up in the far reaching mountains of Laos.
We’re hoping to reach more and more of these villages in the years to come, to help support their unique skillset and treasured knowledge.

Hmong culture, HempHeather SmithAugust 11, 2020laos, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, akha, hmong, lanten

Blue Gold: Timeless Indigo and it's zero impact on the environment

For Passa Paa, printing with Indigo gives us an endless possibilities of playing with its blue hue. We aim to keep this tradition from many Lao ethnic groups alive. The fact that it's 100% natural and when you have finished working with it you can throw the water on your crops, and you can fertilize your garden with it only makes us love it even more.

Indigo, Hmong cultureHeather SmithAugust 6, 2020indigo, laos, natural dyes, sustainable, handmade, culture, ethnic knowledge, akha, hmong, lanten