I-GENIUS: What is the Kohtard Silk Project?
FARQUHAR: The Kohtrad Silk Project is an enterprise that works with the silk producers in the Isaan area of North East Thailand. The purpose of the project is to give an online platform for the silk producers to sell their products to the world.
I-GENIUS: How did the idea of the Kohtard Silk Project come to birth?
FARQUHAR: I ended up travelling to Thailand where I met a girl who had family and friends in the poor Isaan region of Thailand that produced silk. I decided to take a trip to see them as I was interested in how they made silk. The weavers were making some great products, the problem was they could not speak English and had no idea on how to market their products online. I found out that the problem existed for many independent weavers across Isaan. It was here that the idea for the Kohtrad Silk Project started to take shape. I could create an online platform where their products could be sold – simple.
I-GENIUS: Why is the Kohtard Silk Project important?
FARQUHAR: The project is important because it provides an extra income to the silk weavers. By using the internet it connects the skills of people in a poor region with buyers from around the world. The income generated from the project helps many of the weavers to pay school fees for their children, build a business, stay in the area, enjoy their everyday work and keep their silk weaving skills and traditions alive.
I-GENIUS: What has been the biggest challenge so far?
FARQUHAR: There have been many challenges so far. One is teaching the older silk weavers how to use the internet. I want the project to work in auto pilot mode so every time a sale comes through the website it goes directly to the silk weavers who can then send the product in the post. When you are of a generation like I am that has grown up with the internet you forget that it can actually be quite a difficult concept to grasp for someone who has never used it before. It came to a point where it was decided that the children of the silk weavers would take over the role of receiving the email and sending the product. This in its self had been a good result as the project starts to involve even more family members, the older generation working with the younger, both passing skills to each other.
I-GENIUS: What is the future of the Kohtard Silk Project?
FARQUHAR: The project is only four months old, so it is all about getting the two websites that sell the products – www.silkshirtstore.com and www.silkscarfshawls.com further up the search engine listings so we can sell a greater number of products. 100% of the profits that we make are also being put towards further social enterprises in the Isaan area, the first being a community internet hub in the village where many of the silk shirts and silk scarves are made. The purpose to this idea is about keeping profits that a business makes in the area where the business operates, instead of moving the profits elsewhere. This means that not only do the silk weavers benefit from the extra income they receive from selling their products online, but the profit made from the project is also used to benefit their community.
I-GENIUS: What book are you reading now?
FARQUHAR: I am not currently reading a book as I have been a bit too busy. The last few books I have read have been on economics and finance. Since the banking collapse occurred I have become more and more fascinated by these two subjects. A book I would recommend to anyone interested in social enterprise is ‘The End Of Charity’ by Nic Frances – great read.