The Siem Reap Thread
$55
Delicate wrist bracelet of hand-knotted silk thread in saffron, rose, and ivory using a traditional Khmer macramé pattern with adjustable sliding knot.
Materials
Silk thread (saffron, rose, ivory), hand-knotted macramé pattern
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Why Liz Chose It
“Sophea knots silk with a precision that survived everything her country lived through. Something so delicate holding so much history — that's why I can never keep it in stock.”
— Elizabeth Groch, Founder
The Story of This Piece
The Siem Reap Thread is the most delicate piece in the collection — a whisper of silk on the wrist that belies the extraordinary skill required to create it. The macramé pattern used in this bracelet has its roots in Khmer textile tradition, where knotting techniques were used to create everything from fishing nets to ceremonial garments.
The silk thread is sourced from Cambodia's Golden Silk region — a variety of silk produced by golden-colored silkworms that create a naturally warm-toned fiber. The saffron, rose, and ivory colors are achieved through natural dyeing with turmeric, hibiscus, and undyed silk respectively.
The adjustable sliding knot allows the bracelet to fit any wrist size and makes it easy to put on and remove without assistance. Despite its delicate appearance, the knotting technique creates a surprisingly strong piece that withstands daily wear.
The Artisan
Sophea Keo
Age 24 · Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sophea Keo is the youngest artisan in the Dens of Thieves collection, and her story is one of resilience. Sophea grew up near the temples of Angkor Wat, where her mother sold snacks to tourists. As a teenager, she began learning silk knotting from an elderly neighbor who had been a master weaver before the Khmer Rouge era destroyed Cambodia's textile traditions.
Sophea proved to be a prodigious talent, mastering complex knotting patterns that would take most artisans years to learn. She combines traditional Khmer patterns with a minimalist aesthetic that feels thoroughly modern — a reflection of her generation's ability to honor the past while facing forward.
At just 24, Sophea has already trained several other young women in her technique and is working to document traditional Khmer knotting patterns that are at risk of being lost. She sees each bracelet as a small act of cultural preservation — keeping alive a tradition that powerful forces once tried to destroy.