Weaving Ecologies: Stories of Material Culture and Community from Myanmar

This digital archive is the result of a 6-month international collaboration between Dr Britta Boyer, Khin Lin Naing and Catherine Smith of Pochi Silk, as well as communities of weaving practitioners and plant fibre innovators across Myanmar supported by the British Council. The project is hosted on the following site:

https://www.brittaboyer.com/project-1

The aim of this collaboration was to facilitate meaningful connections between UK and Myanmar through Myanmar’s loom ecologies and material culture and to digitally document processes and culturally relevant stories that would not typically have a space in a conventional archive. Documenting and preserving indigenous weaving communities and their practices enables them to have a voice and visibility in the global narratives on regenerative economic models and sustainability.

The project was an opportunity to invite participation, thus enabling control over their own natural resources, by using the method of storytelling and participant-led photo-voice that prioritises the ethics of co-participation with the community. If local voices play a key role in knowledge exchange, then rightly, it must follow that they also gain access to the enterprise opportunities that can follow a project such as this through non-extractive enterprise opportunities. It takes time, and effort, to build genuine, equal relationships with a shared prosperity.

For these reasons, it was agreed within the collaboration, and with participants and extended networks, that all written, audio /visual material (e.g., diary, photo-voice, participatory video, participant-generated images, workshop materials, sketches, and music) submitted for this project will be released under a Creative Commons CCO 1.0 Universal licence for all to be able to access and use. This builds inclusion and helps to maintain transparency of the project for those in remote communities so they can continue to engage with the materials and join in the conversation to meet the project objectives. These are:
​
[1] Identify ways to reduce poverty diversify streams of income for the local community and overcome challenges.
[2] explore opportunities for cultural exchange and enterprise through digital platforms to support communities and open conversations with UK partnerships.