Tuoc weaving Blue Fields.

In 2008, Daniel Flickinger visited Takeo Province, Cambodia, for the first time. He had traveled to the Kingdom of Wonder previously, but this was his first trip to the hub of traditional Ikat weaving in Cambodia. This experience and a gift of silk Ikat became the catalysts to create Push Pull Cambodia one year later.

Weaving is a way of life in Takeo; each home houses at least one wooden handloom. Dan was at once impressed by the high number of skilled artisans in the area and saddened by the poverty of the region. Thus, we want to celebrate the culture of weaving and foster the unique skills that already exist in Takeo.

Our goal is to stimulate a renaissance of Cambodian Ikat. This will provide long-term employment and result in improved quality of life for our artisans and their families.

To do this, we have opened a Push Pull Cambodia weaving center in Cheu Teal Village, Takeo Province. We employ approximately 46 Khmer artisans who specialize in different phases of Ikat. Each process –tying, dyeing, spinning, and weaving—utilizes the traditional technique and is done by hand.

Commonly, Cambodian Ikat patterns are passed down verbally from generation to generation. Push Pull Cambodia works with a Khmer Master Designer to develop new patterns that are modern, bold, and globally resonant.

We believe that the combination of historical handmade techniques with modern design aesthetics makes Push Pull unique in the world of woven Ikat.