Laos is the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world. From 1963-1973, the US Air Force dropped cluster bombs throughout the country. Right after the war, villagers began gathering aluminum from exploded bombs and making it into spoons, bracelets, earrings, and pendant jewelry.
We work with artisans in Ban Naphia located in the Xieng Khuang Province who source aluminum from airplane parts and bombs dropped throughout Laos during the Vietnam War. The community which produces the recycled bomb products has been trained by Helvetas, a Swiss NGO, on how to handle the metals safely, including smelting and cleaning the aluminum before use.
The generous spirit and ingenuity of Lao artisans is evident in our collection of recycled bomb products, transforming the remnants of war into emblems of peace.
