Offering Rural Women in Cambodia Opportunities to Thrive through their Traditional Artistry
Dozens of rural artisan women in Cambodia handcraft high-quality pieces they sell, supporting their families and the local economy. Photo courtesy of Weavers.
Weavers is an ethical fashion weaving community established in 2013 that offers impoverished rural Cambodian women the opportunity to become artisans. Leveraging the talents of skilled designers, Weavers uses 100% cotton and natural dyes to create handcrafted, high-quality, custom accessories. Focused on supporting local women and their families, Weavers provides training and leadership development for its artisans, preserving the art of Cambodian craft and sharing history through its products.
Through two assignments in a phased format—in-person and virtual—Catalyste+ Advisor (CA) Bandula Abeysundara supported Weavers with their goals. During the in-person assignment, Bandula and Linda Meas, Weavers’ Operations Manager, completed a thorough overview of Weavers’ business. Together, they developed strategies Weavers could implement and accomplish in the short- and medium-term.
Photo courtesy of Weavers.
When approached by Catalyste+, Weavers highlighted that their primary areas of improvement were in sales and marketing, human resources, and customer service. At the time, they did not have a financial plan and were struggling to develop a sustainable position in the local market to attract more customers. All of Weavers’ artisans are women from the surrounding rural communities, so its ultimate goal was to contribute to women’s empowerment and improve local economies.
In the virtual assignment, Bandula met with Linda over multiple online sessions to review the detailed strategic recommendations he crafted from their conversations. He provided the organization with immediate action plans that included how to increase sales, market their products in person and online, and improve the efficiency of business operations. He also recommended that Weavers begin posting on social media channels to increase their reach and engage with their audience, emphasizing the importance of a website for their products.
Upon reflecting on the assignments, Linda sees her business in a new light and is excited to grow. “We are really grateful for Catalyste+. When you run your own business, sometimes you don’t see the mistakes. New people, fresh minds, coming in really helps. It adds a lot of good ideas. It helps us see new ways to think, plan, and try. It really works.”
Before these assignments with Catalyste+, Weavers experienced several challenges that negatively impacted their employees and business. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of artisans in rural Cambodia were out of work, and Weavers offered them a place for their products. Given the influx of artisans, the organization was looking to effectively market these products and increase their overall sales, but struggled to manage their finances and establish achievable goals.
Photo courtesy of Weavers.
The assignments with Catalyste+ led to several key changes within the organization. As a women-led organization, Weavers prioritized goals that would increase the well-being of their women artisans, most of whom have families to support. Weavers improved their workers’ access to essential resources, such as financial services, market opportunities, professional networks, and training programs. Some tangible results include implementing flexible work arrangements, which allows for hybrid or remote work and flexible hours for caretaking and family responsibilities, and the introduction of a scholarship program for their children’s education.
Photo courtesy of Weavers.
Additionally, Weavers significantly increased the depth and breadth of the products they offer. Their revenue grew 15% in 2024 alone, and they added two new partner outlets at two airports in Cambodia. Before the assignment, the Weavers’ artisans only sold scarves, and they began dealing with a slow-moving product cycle, struggling with increasing overstock. With Catalyste+’s encouragement, the artisans began to sell other products, and within just a few months, kitchen towels became their number-one selling product.
However, the biggest improvement is the increased confidence amongst the Weavers’ employees and artisans. They now actively participate in decision-making, leading initiatives, and mentoring others. After seeing the success of selling new products, Linda is hoping to implement weaving courses so that artisans can learn new techniques.
With this newfound confidence, Weavers is inspired to engage more women from the local community, particularly those from minority groups. This includes women suffering from gender-based violence, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those living in very remote areas who have struggled to access markets and need support travelling long distances.
