Who are Karen Weavers of Utah?

 

Karen weavers are mostly women and girls who came to the U.S. as refugees, without the tools and supplies needed for their traditional back-strap looms. The thread they need to weave traditional shoulder bags and clothing is not readily available in the U.S. and needs to be imported from Thailand. 

 

With help from the Division of Occupational Therapy at the University of Utah, the women were able to obtain the supplies that they need to wevae. They come to together weekly to weave at the Hartland Partnership Center and while weaving have the opportunity to maintain their social networks, participate in the production of their traditional craft and pass their knowledge of this craft on to the next generation.

 

This opportunity has allowed several of these women and teenage girls to become leaders in their community and entrepreneurs, supplementing their family’s income through sales of their products at the Pioneer Craft House, local farmer’s markets and other locations.