Traditional Crafts and Designs from Thailand highlight unique textiles and techniques

If you’re feeling the blues from the gloomy UK winter, there is a good chance that you are not alone.  A recent research from the Ukash Travel Money Prepaid MasterCard card reveals that more women across the UK suffer from the winter blues than men and are more than likely to book a holiday to combat the blues.   

How about Thailand which many consider to be a favourite holiday destination for that special place in the sun. But often we are attracted to the beach resorts and may not get to see the wide range of traditional craftsmanship available from the land of smiles.

A contemporary twist for traditional crafts.  Clothes by Nakarin Yano, Thailand's award-winning designer made in Chiang Mai in a village where natives are known as an "Ethnic of Happiness".

A recent exhibition of Thai Craft highlighted some of the design and innovative talents that Asian country has to offer.

The exhibition (held at Top Drawer earlier this month) was brought to London by the British Council in association with the SUPPORT Arts and Crafts international Centre of Thailand or SACICT.

Thai designer Prach Niyomkar established Mann Craft to preserve and showcase the unique indigo-dyed textiles and vegetable-dyed fabrics produced in the area of
Sakon Nakhon in Northeast Thailand.

Among the key products on show was a range of dyed and woven textiles in a large spectrum of blue tones as well as hand-painted fabrics using assorted natural dyes from Mann Craft.

According to Mann Craft designer Prach Niyomkar, the unique textiles are produced by local people in the area of Sakon Nakhon in Northeast Thailand, the centre of Thai indigo-dyed textiles where the craft has been produced for hundreds of years.  

Prach established Mann Craft  to support and preserve a weaving tradition.  Calling himself a dyer, he designs each piece and work with local weavers in order to achieve the desired effects.

From the Gemio brand are footwear made of hand-woven Thai textiles.  The shoes have special rubber soles which are said to be durable, super flexible and eco-friendly.  They are produced by the Seshaun shoes factory Akkarachai Techaweerapat which has been making footwear for four decades.

Larinn By Double P also showed laced up shoes made of woven natural-dyed fabrics sourced from the Thai Queen’s SUPPORT foundation mentioned earlier, and in support of weaving communities from the Northern Thailand region.  This brand was founded by two sisters to continue the family textiles tradition.

On exhibit also was a selection of handmade clutch bags from Pakpuraan featuring individually hand-embroidered patterns on leather. 

This was described as a new and contemporary application of the Royal Court of Thailand’s embroidery technique which normally serves religious and royal functions.

From Kaewwanna Natural Indigo were cushion covers and home textiles made from pure cotton yarns dyed in natural indigo known  as "Moh Hom", a crafted associated with Phrae in the North of Thailand.

Elsewhere there was a range of home wares, such as Varni's basketry made with “krajood”, a kind of sea grass from the Pattalung people in the south of Thailand; blue and white pottery and ceramic containers from Thaniya for holding their handmade aromatic products; contemporary designs from Pym jewellery and Maxima Creation; handmade silver jewellery from Agnsa from a village in Chiang Mai, and many more.

Next time you visit Thailand, seek out these unique crafts and products.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.