Moore, Cambodian Grrrl, book
Cambodian Grrrl, Self-Publishing in Phnom Penh, by Anne Elizabeth Moore, forward by Mu Sochua
Winner of The Society of American Travel Writer's Bronze Travel Book Award! In Cambodian Grrrl: Self-Publishing in Phnom Penh, writer and independent publisher Anne Elizabeth Moore brings her experience in the American cultural underground to Cambodia, a country known mostly for the horrific extermination of around 2 million of its own under the four-year reign of the Khmer Rouge. Following the publication of her critically acclaimed book Unmarketable and the demise of the magazine she co-published, Punk Planet, and armed with the knowledge that the second generation of genocide survivors in Cambodia had little knowledge of their country’s brutal history, Moore embarked to Southeast Asia hoping to teach young women how to make zines. What she learned instead were brutal truths about women’s rights, the politics of corruption, the failures of democracy, the mechanism of globalization, and a profound emotional connection that can only be called love. Moore’s fascinating story from the cusp of the global economic meltdown is a look at her time with the first all-women’s dormitory in the history of the country, just kilometers away from the notorious Killing Fields. Her tale is a noble one, as heartbreaking as it is hilarious; staunchly ethical yet conflicted and human. The in-depth examination of Moore’s stint among the first large group of social-justice-minded young women from the impoverished provinces is told in intimate, mood-evocative, beautifully-written first-person prose. Cambodian Grrrl is the first in a series of short essay collections on contemporary media, art, and educational work by, for, and with young women in Southeast Asia. Part memoir and part investigative report, Moore’s story could only be told by her, and the result is illuminating, and vital, reading.
95 pages
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Moore, Cambodian Grrrl, book
Social & Environmental Responsibility.
When it comes to sustainable fashion, reducing the need to throw and buy again is crucial. Artisans are skilled labourers who work with traditional techniques. These techniques have been around for centuries, passed down from a time when machine made, “disposable” fast fashion did not yet exist. Meaning, artisan hand-crafted garments generally lasts longer, and can also be mended if they experience slight wear and tear.
Recognising the intricacy, patience, and tedious labour that goes into the craft gives us a new perspective on our wardrobe. It was our visits to our artisan partners in India that made us realise how the value of craft is intrinsically interwoven into the lives of Indian culture and society. It taught us that clothes are not merely commodities, easily disposable and replaceable. Clothes that are made with love demands to be cared for with love. While fast fashion disconnects us from the supply chain behind a product, and makes us prone to throwaway without much thought, artisan-made clothes teaches us to treasure what we have, because we are connected to a face, a family, or a culture behind what we wear.
The better you treat your clothing, the longer your clothes will last and look great. In general, we wash clothing much more than we need to. Laundry wastes water and energy, breaks down fabrics, fades colors and releases tiny microplastics into our oceans. It’s impossible to skip the washer all together of course, but it’s good to be conscious of what’s in your laundry basket and skip washing until it’s really needed.