The roots of change in the contemporary Cambodian fashion scene

This article problematizes the lack of interest among fashion scholars in Cambodia, despite the fact that Cambodia is rapidly maturing into an important player in the global fashion industry. However, the primary focus of the article is a case study of the indigenous textile/fashion production of Project Wisdom from the Forest (PWF). It demonstrates that the PWF is a pioneer and exemplar of the cultural, social, economic and environmental revitalization of textile/fashion production in Cambodia. The PWF merits attention not only because it has been successful in reviving traditional Cambodian weaving practices that had been on the verge of extinction as a result of the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime, but also because it has instinctively employed a holistic approach to sustainable production. The study details the practices at the PWF that embrace the principles of social development, equity, ecological stability and economic viability and suggests that the PWF might represent the first step in creating fashion that is genuinely Cambodian, as fashion always references the past to create new styles. It is proposed that similar holistic models of sustainable fashion production might be adopted in other fashion peripheries to provide local solutions for the development of indigenous fashion production.