Cambodian Threads

Fair Trade Fashion for a Good Cause

We want to sincerely thank you all for your support this past year.  Once again, the 2011 Holiday Sale blew away our expectations, and we couldn’t have done it without you.  

2010 was something of an experiment for Cambodian Threads.  The experiment worked, and we spent the first half of 2011 in something of a transitional phase, trying out new products and organizing our supply chain.  That being said, we are really proud of what we were able to accomplish with our summer English program and scholarship initiatives.  

We have some new programs in the works that we are excited to share with you, and we look forward to another exciting year for our company.  As new members of the Fair Trade Federation, we plan on expanding our retail and wholesale operations in the first part of the year, and we can’t wait to get the ball rolling!  

Have fun ringing in the New Year, and we wish you the very best in 2012!

Cambodian Threads

On the last day of November, 2011, the Cambodian Threads founders, Steven Patton and Jacob Daniels, went to their old high school and collaborated on an event that was both fun and rewarding. We were invited to the event by a beloved high school teacher, Bill Schechter. Mr. Schechter, with support from the L-S high school community, was able to establish a school in the Thmar Kaul district of Battambang province, Cambodia. This is the Lincoln-Sudbury Memorial School Project, and while commemorating students from the Lincoln-Sudbury community that past too young, this project provides a school for a marginalized village in Cambodia. Check out the full story at http://www.lincolnsudburymemorialschool.org/.   So Cambodian Threads joined up with the L-S Memorial School club and set up a table outside the cafeteria at a bake-sale. It was really cool to see the reaction from former teachers, some of whom we had not seen since attending L-S nearly a decade ago. We had our hockey coach stop by and catch up, then English and History teachers hung out at the table for some nice conversations. Administrators and other faculty members came by and responded positively to both our project and the beautiful fair trade scarves, neckties and bags. We were happy to be there and felt good about donating 30% of our profit to the club that helped coordinate the event. With the money that Cambodian Threads donated, the Lincoln-Sudbury Memorial School in Cambodia will put toward hiring an information technology teacher to help educate the students in the Thmar Kaul district about computer skills. It was a great day back at L-S and we look forward to collaborating with the club in the future.

On the last day of November, 2011, the Cambodian Threads founders, Steven Patton and Jacob Daniels, went to their old high school and collaborated on an event that was both fun and rewarding. We were invited to the event by a beloved high school teacher, Bill Schechter. Mr. Schechter, with support from the L-S high school community, was able to establish a school in the Thmar Kaul district of Battambang province, Cambodia. This is the Lincoln-Sudbury Memorial School Project, and while commemorating students from the Lincoln-Sudbury community that past too young, this project provides a school for a marginalized village in Cambodia. Check out the full story at http://www.lincolnsudburymemorialschool.org/.  

So Cambodian Threads joined up with the L-S Memorial School club and set up a table outside the cafeteria at a bake-sale. It was really cool to see the reaction from former teachers, some of whom we had not seen since attending L-S nearly a decade ago. We had our hockey coach stop by and catch up, then English and History teachers hung out at the table for some nice conversations. Administrators and other faculty members came by and responded positively to both our project and the beautiful fair trade scarves, neckties and bags. We were happy to be there and felt good about donating 30% of our profit to the club that helped coordinate the event. With the money that Cambodian Threads donated, the Lincoln-Sudbury Memorial School in Cambodia will put toward hiring an information technology teacher to help educate the students in the Thmar Kaul district about computer skills.

It was a great day back at L-S and we look forward to collaborating with the club in the future.

Cambodian Threads goes to Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School

On the last day of November, 2011, the founders, Steven Patton and Jacob Daniels, went to their old high school and collaborated on an event that was both fun and rewarding. We were invited to the event by a beloved high school teacher, Bill Schechter. Mr. Schechter, with support from the L-S high school community, was able to establish a school in the Thmar Kaul district of Battambang province, Cambodia. This is the Lincoln-Sudbury Memorial School Project, and while commemorating students from the Lincoln-Sudbury community that past too young, this project provides a school for a marginalized village in Cambodia. Check out the full story at http://www.lincolnsudburymemorialschool.org/.  

So Cambodian Threads joined up with the L-S Memorial School club and set up a table outside the cafeteria at a bake-sale. It was really cool to see the reaction from former teachers, some of whom we had not seen since attending L-S nearly a decade ago. Wehad our hockey coach stop by and catch up, then English and History teachers hung out at the table for some nice conversations. Administrators and other faculty members came by and responded positively to both our project and the beautiful product. We were happy to be there and felt good about donating 30% of our profit to the club that helped coordinate the event. With the money that Cambodian Threads donated, the Lincoln-Sudbury Memorial School in Cambodia will put toward hiring an informationtechnology teacher to help educate the students in the Thmar Kaul district about computer skills.

It was a great day back at L-S and we look forward to collaborating with the club in the future.

Cambodian Threads Accepted to the Fair Trade Federation!

FTF Logo

Cambodian Threads is pleased to announce that we have been accepted as certified members of the Fair Trade Federation! 

The FTF is one of the primary governing bodies for Fair Trade organizations throughout the US and Canada.  They outline a nine point value system that federation members must strive to promote and adhere to:

After passing a fairly rigorous interview process lasting much of 2011, it was determined that our vision and practices at Cambodian Threads do indeed align with the FTF value set.  Of course, we were confident all along that our company shares these same goals and aspirations, but we are very pleased to be admitted to this fine organization made up of a diverse collection of some of the most interesting and inspiring Fair Trade companies from all sectors of the movement. 

We look forward to collaborating further with the Fair Trade Federation and its members, and are excited for what 2012 holds for Cambodian Threads!

Ven. Kou Sopheap and Jacob Daniels speaking at Koy Krobey Village’s primary school.  Daniels was briefly indoctrinated as a monk with Ven. Sopheap’s Temple in November 2009.  Venerable Kou Sopheap – Monk, Teacher, Student, Friend, Leader, It’s always great to talk with Venerable Kou Sopheap.  Along with advising our educational initiatives in Cambodia and directly allocating our resources for student scholarships, this respected Khmer monk has been cultivating his leadership experience in Cambodia and abroad.  I initially taught Ven. Sopheap for 5 months from August 2009 in order to prepare him for his eventual semester at the Troy University of Alabama where he would give presentations on Khmer Buddhism culture while studying for his Masters of Education.  I was assigned the task of instructing Ven. Sopheap by the President of Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Dr. Kol Pang, who is a great and fascinating man with high credentials and tutelage in the U.S.  So Sopheap and I sat down together every morning five days a week for three hour sessions and I taught him about American culture while improving his English skills, and inevitably he taught me about Buddhism in preparing his presentations.  He was a wonderful student and an even better teacher.  I was exposed to Buddhist philosophy and began to understand the practice specific to the Theravada Cambodian sect.    It was during this period I was also doing much ground work and research after the formation of Cambodian Threads.  The broader understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practice was helpful in implementing effective project initiatives.  I not only was able to immerse myself more in the Khmer culture because of religious consideration to social practice, I was also able to apply the philosophy of the Dhama when cultivating personal qualities like leadership and awareness.  Thus, in addition to directly advising educational resources allocation, Ven. Kou Sopheap’s teachings helped me integrate into Khmer society and be more intelligent and decisive for Cambodian Threads. Hearing Ven Sopheap’s voice via skype a few days ago brought on such nostalgia of time collaborating.  He is now teaching full time at PUC and is very busy with his other educational project oversight both in his temple’s community of Koy Krobey Village, some 30 minutes outside of Phnom Penh by Tuk Tuk, and in his home village in Kampong Cham Province, a long day trip away.  We are talking more about sponsoring scholarships for ten students to study English for a one year intensive program, which we are very excited about.  We will have more information about this initiative as it progresses. 

Ven. Kou Sopheap and Jacob Daniels speaking at Koy Krobey Village’s primary school.  Daniels was briefly indoctrinated as a monk with Ven. Sopheap’s Temple in November 2009. 

Venerable Kou Sopheap – Monk, Teacher, Student, Friend, Leader,

It’s always great to talk with Venerable Kou Sopheap.  Along with advising our educational initiatives in Cambodia and directly allocating our resources for student scholarships, this respected Khmer monk has been cultivating his leadership experience in Cambodia and abroad. 

I initially taught Ven. Sopheap for 5 months from August 2009 in order to prepare him for his eventual semester at the Troy University of Alabama where he would give presentations on Khmer Buddhism culture while studying for his Masters of Education.  I was assigned the task of instructing Ven. Sopheap by the President of Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Dr. Kol Pang, who is a great and fascinating man with high credentials and tutelage in the U.S.  So Sopheap and I sat down together every morning five days a week for three hour sessions and I taught him about American culture while improving his English skills, and inevitably he taught me about Buddhism in preparing his presentations.  He was a wonderful student and an even better teacher.  I was exposed to Buddhist philosophy and began to understand the practice specific to the Theravada Cambodian sect. 

 

It was during this period I was also doing much ground work and research after the formation of Cambodian Threads.  The broader understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practice was helpful in implementing effective project initiatives.  I not only was able to immerse myself more in the Khmer culture because of religious consideration to social practice, I was also able to apply the philosophy of the Dhama when cultivating personal qualities like leadership and awareness.  Thus, in addition to directly advising educational resources allocation, Ven. Kou Sopheap’s teachings helped me integrate into Khmer society and be more intelligent and decisive for Cambodian Threads.

Hearing Ven Sopheap’s voice via skype a few days ago brought on such nostalgia of time collaborating.  He is now teaching full time at PUC and is very busy with his other educational project oversight both in his temple’s community of Koy Krobey Village, some 30 minutes outside of Phnom Penh by Tuk Tuk, and in his home village in Kampong Cham Province, a long day trip away.  We are talking more about sponsoring scholarships for ten students to study English for a one year intensive program, which we are very excited about.  We will have more information about this initiative as it progresses. 

Save 50% off today on our fair trade silk scarves, ties, bags and more!  Just head over to www.cambodianthreads.com and use discount code Black Friday. 

Save 50% off today on our fair trade silk scarves, ties, bags and more!  Just head over to www.cambodianthreads.com and use discount code Black Friday. 

Keene State College Fair Trade Festival

Cambodian Threads took a trip up to Keene State College in New Hampshire to take part in their second annual Fair Trade Fair!  Steven and I took off early in the morning from the office.  It was a brisk autumn day and the foliage en route was wonderful.  We had never been to Keene, New Hampshire, and the quaint town was a nice change of pace for us urbanites.  The fair was held right in the Keene student center, so it was well trafficked by enthusiastic co-eds. 

We met many other interesting, inspiring vendors, representing fair trade initiatives from Nepal, Uganda, and the Americas.  A student Phish cover band played and did a great job setting a crunchy ambiance.  Lisa, Emma, and Kelsey, three gregarious sophomore members of the Fair Trade Club on campus, did a great job helping us out.  It was great seeing so many young people interested in the fair trade movement…the college even offers a fair trade specific economics course!

We finished up at the fair and promised to come back for future events.  On the drive back to Boston it started snowing, sure do miss that Cambodian air.  Time to get back to Asia soon! 

Don’t forget to check out our Holiday Sale, happening now at http://www.cambodianthreads.com.  Fair Trade Silk Scarves, Fair Trade Ties, Fair Trade Bags and more!

Announcing The Cambodian Threads Holiday Sale! We hope this finds you well.  To thank you for your support this year, Cambodian Threads will be offering a 20 percent discount on all orders from now until the New Year!  Simply head over to www.cambodianthreads.com  and use discount code “Holidays” at check out.   So head on over and check out our fine selection of fair trade silk scarves, bags and ties.  Makes the perfect gift for the thoughtful consumer this holiday season!  

Announcing The Cambodian Threads Holiday Sale!

We hope this finds you well.  To thank you for your support this year, Cambodian Threads will be offering a 20 percent discount on all orders from now until the New Year! 

Simply head over to www.cambodianthreads.com  and use discount code “Holidays” at check out.  

So head on over and check out our fine selection of fair trade silk scarves, bags and ties.  Makes the perfect gift for the thoughtful consumer this holiday season!  

Kayaking and the Boston Globe

Friday November 11th, Cambodian Threads had an interview with the Boston Globe.  This is very exciting for us.  So there is an interesting story behind this publicity… It was a warm September day and the Sudbury River was high after much summer rain.  I was kayaking along, enjoying the meandering glades which were filled with cranes, blue-herrings, beavers, ducks, and plenty of other life.  Another kayaking couple was paddling near a beaver dam and we exchange pleasantries.  I went about my oxbow, which bent a full length back around, where, to my surprise, the gentleman kayaker had beaten me by cutting clear through the bush.  Impressed at his ability to bush whack through the tall grass of the ole Sudbury, I introduced myself and asked him first about kayaking and we got to talking about all kinds of topics.  Frank is an editor for the Boston Globe, and after talking with him and his wife, Jennie, Cambodian Threads and the story of our founding were discussed.  They were kind enough to give me a ride in their truck back to my family house in Wayland.  Upon unloading the kayak in the drive-way, my mom came out and basically publicized Cambodian Threads without me saying a word to our new friends.  They bought a scarf and I gave them my business card.  Soon, we were emailing, and after Frank sent our story to his regional editor, another reporter contacted us about doing an article in the Globe.  The Boston Globe has always been my hometown paper and I have a lot of pride for it.  To get an article published in the Globe is a wonderful accomplishment for us; look for it in early December.  I guess you never know who you will meet while kayaking on the river…

Check out some wicked Classy Ties

Marketing Team

Connecticut College’s career center is a real gem.  The people who work there are great and have been helpful in both Cambodian Threads, in terms of providing business resources, and personal affairs, in terms of support for post-collegiate endeavors.  We have been trying to expand our marketing team in order to pursue more initiatives.  We recently contacted the lovely people down at Conn to promote our internship opportunities.  After meeting with Rachel, who is the associate director of recruiting for career services, we were able to get an advertisement in the college newsletter and started seeing applicants.  I’m happy to introduce Natalie, a sophomore government student who, along with stellar marks and work experience, is a contributor to an online fashion magazine.  Natalie is joining our marketing team and going to be working closely down at Conn with Dave, who is our marketing analyst (and also does amazing graphic design, exemplified by our new logo).  I’m looking forward to collaborating with my partner Steven and our Connecticut College interns as a team.  We have a big season ahead of us and need to continue promoting our mission to have an even bigger 2012!

Check out our new scarf line