I know that Lao silk is unique and beautiful, but I don't understand why it is so expensive. Check out the price at the market, and it is difficult for middle class people to buy, because it is very expensive. Can we develop silk that is high in quality, but low in price ?
ok, the prices are rising too much.. maybe because of the demand from tourists... always the same story... price for lao paople different than prices for tourists. i can acept little difference, but if the vendor ask me 2 times the nomral prices, i consider he is trying to cheat me. Same when present me something as high handmade quality and hope i won't see it's not so good quality (mix garment/cotton with silk instead of pure silk....).
Anyway, do you really think that about 100 USD is too expensive for a piece of hand made silk that asked 1 month of work + decent margin of the shop/reseller?
How much cost one month of work in your country?
-- Edited by paris_vientiane on Tuesday 10th of November 2009 02:42:20 PM
hand made merchandises always expensive every where not only in Laos.
Hand weaving is not an easy job. It takes several days to weave a cloth that is good enough for one sinh. often, depending on the weaver, designs are unique that is why hand woven clothes are expensive every where in the world.
But still overpricing is unacceptable! And I hope that culture will chage everywhere.
In 1995 I bought a wedding outfit (Lao wedding outfit) and it costs me $650.00 all hand made (very well made) and very rare pattern the whole outfit weight about 3.5 kilos i am not kidding. from time to time i saw a knock off version of it but when I touch it's not the same. I don't mind spending that much money as long as the quality is justified.
The process of making silk/garment is not easy. No doubt that they are expensive. If Lao silk is too expensive for you, then consider buying those cheap factory-made Chinese silk.
It is expensive because they want to charge high price. Everyone want to make as money as they can.
It is really too bad the price are so high local people can't afford it. It just seems to me everything merchandise in Laos is targeting tourists money.
