Improve Village Weavers Livelihoods in Asia!

Aloha!

I’m MarkO Bartholomew and it is my life’s passion to preserve the ancient weaving techniques of ethnic communities in Bhutan and Laos and empower the women artists who make these intricate and masterful works of art that are unappreciated and undervalued.

Picture this: Hidden in the heart of Asia lie communities of exceptionally talented women artists, weaving intricate, mesmerizing works of art. These true masterpieces, brimming with cultural significance, have been overlooked and undervalued for far too long. But we are here to change that, and with your support, we can unlock the full potential of these incredible weavers.

Now, with the help of my daughter, Chanalei, I'm excited to announce the relaunch of the GreenHeart Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a new vision, mission, and an enthusiastic team. Our goal is to empower the talented women artists behind these intricate and masterful works of art.

At GreenHeart, we work tirelessly to provide support, training, and market access to rural weaving groups in Laos and Bhutan. Our local network of nearly 2,000 weavers, with each preserving their ancestral weaving traditions and cultural knowledge, we strive to create the means to showcase and market their remarkable artistic creations.

We prioritize training for our partners to enhance their business development and marketing skills, along with market access. We work with two community partners at the moment and support growing their social enterprises.

By supporting this campaign you will help GreenHeart:

1) Provide market access to our partners so they can create sustainable livelihoods

2) Provide training for weaving groups in marketing, business development and management

3) We help our partners to network and grow their reach

The GreenHeart weavers hail from diverse ethnic backgrounds found in Laos and Bhutan. Each textile they create reflects their unique traditions of dyeing, weaving, and symbolic meaning. Many still employ the traditional back strap loom, a simple yet revered tool that has stood the test of time. These weavers also utilize natural ingredients for dyeing, resulting in textiles infused with the rich hues and stories of their homelands.

At the GreenHeart Foundation, we incorporate our 3 p’s, which we are passionate about:

Preserving indigenous textile art forms

Perpetuating cultural practices for current and future generations, and

Promoting the amazing skills of young girls/women textile artisans.

Join us as we relaunch our GreenHeart Foundation’s Mission and support these amazing women artists through our training programs and market access. Together, let's make a difference in the lives of our GreenHeart Weavers and pave the way for a brighter future for more traditional artisans around the world.

Donate today and become a part of our traditional art revolution. Together, we can preserve tradition, empower women, and celebrate the exquisite artistry of Laos and Bhutan.

Mahalo for your support!