Turquoise Mountain has partnered with Suu Foundation to promote and preserve Myanmar traditional crafts by supporting the artisans in building up their skills and connecting them to a wider domestic and international market.
A thriving craft industry, with its communities spread across rural Myanmar, would provide good livelihoods to families, and a renewed sense of cultural pride. Turquoise Mountain believes that alongside a beautifully designed products, it is necessary to support and promote a responsible value chain that will ensure sustainable long term impact for Myanmar artisans and their families.
They currently house a jewelry workshop with highly skilled mastergoldsmiths and interns who are learning the trade. All of their pieces are made by hand, a skill which is being replaced more and more by machine casting - removing the need for craftspeople. Each year fewer artisans work in their crafts, and many traditional motifs, techniques and materials are no longer in use. Turquoise Mountain believes that there is enormous potential to drive sustainable economic growth across the country through job creation, whilst empowering women and ethnic minorities, and creating a renewed sense of pride that is so crucial for the country’s future.
