Prajim Lekdam, 64, is owner of a quality sarong business in Thailand. When a government agency trained Lekdam seven years ago, she did not expect to become the local expert. After a month’s training in Malaysia, Lekdam says she “fell very much in love” with the craft. “It was so interesting that I just love doing it,” she says. After she received her training, she went on to train 50 women in her village – they then launched their business from the beautiful but remote province of Krabi.

In December 2004, the tsunami swept away houses and fishing boats, as well as all of Lekdam’s sewing materials and equipment. “World Vision helped us register in the government’s One Tambon One Product (OTOP) programme that enabled us to participate in province-wide and national exhibitions and certified that our products are of high quality and provided us with nice packaging,” Lekdam says, as she shows off their neatly-packaged products.

Lekdam's business is a family enterprise with Lekdam’s 39-year-old son Chim creating designs. “I already have made 20 designs, all of them in my head,” he says as he prepares his materials and starts daubing them onto a cloth.

Paweena Sangrom, 35, the dye and colour expert, says “This work is exciting. I have been into it for seven years and I still look forward to waking up and doing it every day.”

The group has no display centre in town. "But customers and traders come to buy. Sometimes, orders are just sent, then picked up when completed,” Lekdam says. Going to the village takes a 15-minute boat-ride from Krabi town, and a 50-kilometre motorcycle ride. Despite its remoteness, the village has become popular among livelihood groups and clothing businessmen because of Lekdam’s amazing products.