Text and photos by: Thomas Bo Pedersen

“When you see the view from my work desk, I think you will understand, how fortunate I am to have this daily inspiration in front of me. It is my privilege to sit here with the magnificent Mekong River in front of me. Just look at the light from the sky and the reflections in the water. Forever changing, but somehow always familiar. Knowing that the Nagas – the spirits of the river – are down there below the surface, protecting us all.”

Vanida Phimphachanh has chosen to launch her jewelry under the heading Saneha, a key concept in Buddhist philosophy, reflecting the multitude of positive emotions, humans should strive to live by: devotion, affection, love, passion, true friendship, and cohesion.  

Gold of the finest quality is the key component in her rings, bracelets, and necklaces, but there is more to the design than the exquisite materials. 

The Spirit of Laos

“I am constantly looking for ways to embody the spirit of the Lao people and our rich culture in my collections. I would never be bold enough to claim that I have succeeded fully in doing so, but the overwhelming response from my customers tells me that I am moving in the right direction as my roots get stronger and more meaningful.”

Vanida Phimphachanh grew up in France and spent most of her life there, the only child of a Lao mother and a Vietnamese father, who immigrated to Europe, when her father got a grant to study medicine in France. 

“I did not have any other Lao relatives around me as a child. I was raised in the French language and culture. I even learned to drink wine and eat strong French cheese. I was also brought up in the very creative culture of France, but as a young woman I started to mix European blouses in a Parisian style with a sinh (Lao skirt) or a Lao shawl to express my true identity.”

Vanida Phimphachanh’s first visit to Laos in 1990 made a very strong impression on her.

“I discovered, where I really come from, when I encountered the kindness and the smiles of the Lao people, wherever I met them. I was seduced by the scent of Lao herbs and the multitude of flowers in my grandmother’s garden. I was fascinated with the beauty of colors – the rice fields and the saffron robes of the monks, just to name a few. The diversity of patterns in Lao fabrics was a revelation to me.”

Life lessons in Laos

“At first, I got involved in my mother’s weaving company, which had become so successful that even the New York Times wrote about the Oudone P. brand. This led me to develop my own creativity within interior decoration, based as much as possible on local materials. It might surprise some, but for me, it was a logical step further in my career to focus on jewelry, even though it was – and still is – a challenge to enter into this very protectionist business with many famous brands around the world.  However, being in Laos has been very helpful for me with what we call the ‘slow life’ – meaning that people can take the time they need to achieve their goals. In addition, I am surrounded by amazing artisans to support me. I have so many people to thank for the opportunity to develop my brand, Saneha, now with my own store in Vientiane and a reseller in Luang Prabang.”

Coping with the challenges

“Of course, it is a challenge to do business in the current economic environment. I am fortunate to have a growing number of returning customers, who also share my collections with their friends and family. I am receiving special orders for important occasions, such as weddings and anniversaries in the family. The diplomatic community in Vientiane is very supportive of me. A growing number of expatriates, including tourists, have become aware of my collections. I am very much touched by the fact that members of the Lao diaspora are becoming customers as well. I think they see the Saneha collections as symbols of their own identity.

Do you see yourself as Lao-French-Vietnamese – perhaps a living reminder of colonial history?

“Haha, yes, you may say so. In any case, I am certainly proud of my heritage and happy to have this unique mix of genes. I think my soul is very much Lao. My collection Strings of Blessing is inspired by the Baci ritual. I acknowledge the importance of the spiritual world and its invisible energies. In this context you also find the reason why I work with gold, because I see it as an everlasting material, making it very meaningful for gifts coming from infinite affection and love.”

You have had great success with your most recent work, especially the collections called ‘Banyan leaves’, ‘Mythical animals’, ‘Pagoda’, and ‘Monsoon’. 

“They are based on my life in Laos, and what I experience here.  I believe I only started. There is so much more here to inspire my work. Laos has a rich history of cultural traditions and a huge diversity, if you consider the tribal communities in our country. “

What will be in the next Saneha collection?

“The slow pace of life in Laos is very important to me. You will have to wait and see. I will do my best to reward the patience of my customers with jewelry, which will help them appreciate the cultural values of the Lao people.”

More info: Visit Saneha’s website (by-saneha.com) and the flagship store in Vientiane near Wat Ong Teu or their collection at Maison Sam San in Luang Prabang

Getting there: Lao Airlines has many domestic and international flight routes to Vientiane