thursday,may 2, 2013 - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

The County TimesThursday, May 2, 2013 24STORYMade in CambodiaBy Alex PanosStaff WriterLocal resident Jackie Buckler travels to Cambodia, athird world country in Southeast Asia, every six months, toshare a common bond with the natives – fashion.This week, her lead seamstress Bopah is doing thesame, coming to America for the first time to watch a fashionshow in Leonardtown.For two weeks at a time, Buckler travels to Cambodiato share ideas and work tirelessly with a group of seamstressesin the heat, surrounded by faulty electric wires andpoverty, on new clothing patterns.Her seamstresses are products of the Threaded LeafFoundation, an organization to help people adjust as theyget too old to remain in an orphanage. Many of the childrenin the orphanage were once sold in to the sex-trade, saidBuckler.Without help, the girls are likely to fall back into thesex-trade, Buckler said. The Threaded Leaf Project helpsthe kids continue school and learn job skills.The project does not try to bring the kids to America,but rather teach them to live fulfilling lives in their owncountry.Korm, left and Heng with Sokren in background work on new sewingtable Butler had built.A young girl Channy, 20, who was sold into the sextradeat 8 years old led the way for the development of theLeaf Project.It became apparent that even though Channy had toleave the orphanage, without proper guidance her futurewas bleak.“When you see her sweet, innocent face,” Buckler said ofChanny, who due to the program now works at a bakery andis taking college classes. “She just wants someone to care.”Channy is a typical person enrolled in the project, andBuckler got involved with the foundation after her friend,Jennifer Culverhouse, held a fashion show in Houston tosupport the Leaf Project.At first, Bucker was hesitant to travel across the worldto a third world country, but she had a change of heart afterthe fashion show in Houston, when she decided to bring herown flair to some of the clothing items.“I was blown away by the quality, but I was also blownaway by the fit,” Buckler said – noting the sizes were neitherconsistent nor proportionate. “After the show I said ‘well Iguess I’m going to Cambodia.’”Bucker made her first trip to Cambodia in 2011, makinga 48-hour trip from America to a place where electricityis a luxury.According to Bucklers estimates during her time inCambodia, 5 percent of the country is rich and 15 percentare middle class – residents who would be considered livingbelow the poverty line in America, she said, because theyare lucky to even have electricity from time to time.The remaining 80 percent of the population are homeless,living on the streets with sheets of metal propped upabove them acting as shelter.While in Cambodia, Buckler wakes up each morningand is escorted on a small electric scooter to Bopah’s house.When she first arrived, the women were working withprimitive equipment around jumbled electric wires thatcould spark at a moment’s notice.Something as simple as a cutting table was foreign tothem before Buckler arrived, she said, recalling them sittingon the floor cutting fabric upon her initial arrival.She introduced a number of patterns for the girls tofollow, and it didn’t take long to realize the work ethic of theCambodian seamstresses.“The work ethic is off the charts,” Buckler said.She decided in January to design her own line, sincethe group was already completing many garments, and sellit in the United States – A percentage of all sales will goto the Threaded Leaf Project and the transitional home inCambodia.Buckler has committed to at least three seasons of sellingthe clothes, but knows the consequences of not makingit to season four.“I really feel pressure because if I don’t make thiswork, their kids don’t go to school,” Buckler said. “I have tomake this work.”The jobs are critical for the seamstresses in order tocontinue supporting their families and without it are likelyto face unemployment – most people in Cambodia sew theirown clothes.Buckler has brought several hundred dollars of herown personal tools to Cambodia to help make the processmore efficient.“They’re so eager,” Buckler said of her relentless workers.“They just want to please.”Buckler visits Cambodia twice a year for two weeks ata time, and even if the clothing line does not take off as shehopes, she will continue her trips.Photos courtesy of Jackie BucklerFabric shopping at the market in Cambodia.What started as a trip to help the seamstresses learnnew patterns has become much more than what she expected– despite all the work, the trips to Cambodia are a break.“My mind goes on a break,” Buckler said, explainingalthough Bopah is the only worker who speaks English, shefeels like a part of their community while she is there. “I’min that moment.”She has become attached to her “eager and intelligent”employees.She described her line of clothes as “classic with anedge,” with majority of the line for middle-aged women.“Not a size 10, but not dead yet,” Buckler said, addingthe line has clothes for younger ages as well.What she is looking forward to the most at the show,however, isn’t seeing the models display the clothes, butrather that her lead seamstress will be living the dream.It took weeks, and several stacks of paperwork, to getapproved, but now that Bopha is coming to America, andBuckler said Bopah feels as though she has won the lottery.The runway will have multiple models – clients andstaff of The Hair Company – on it at all times, wearingclothing appropriate for all ages – work clothes with somecasual items mixed in.A boutique will remain open for an hour after the showends, and feature door prizes.The show is being held May 11 at the LeonardtownWharf, and will also feature fashions items from Bellarusand Isley boutiques, Liviya of Houston and Today’s Brideformal wear.The VIP cocktail party begins at 6 p.m. and the showstarts at 7 p.m. People can purchase tickets to the event atThe Hair Company in Leonardtown or Charlotte Hall.Tickets cost $10, and all proceeds will go to Hospiceof St. Mary’s.Call 301-475-5225 or 301-884-4020 for moreinformation.alexpanos@countytimes.netStudents are taught English lessons at the orphanage in Cambodia.