The Sunflower Association was started as a family art gallery led by Artist Maung Maung Thein. His daughter Phyu Ei Thein has extended the association into a social enterprise to bring showcase another kind of artist: weavers.
Phyu Ei Thein has reintroduced natural dyeing methods as well as a variety of traditional and new weaving patterns and techniques.
The sunflower studio on the shores of Lake Inle employs graduates and cooperates with the extended system of regional weaving schools. They now work together with a number of studios to produce high quality textiles and promote Myanmar textiles to an international audience. Phyu Ei Thein has shown great leadership for bringing Myanmar textiles to an international audience and promoting the craft of weavers across the country.