Using simple hand-tools, many made by themselves, tribal silversmiths create natural designs and symbolic engraved patterns that bear the hallmark of ethnic Karen culture on pure silver jewellery – including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, bangles and pendants.
Beside the banks of the Chao Phraya River, women from a small Muslim community deftly weave palm-leaf strips into fish-like shapes as in past generations. Pla tapian (silver barb fish) is said to bring good luck to those who hang its decorated form in their homes.
Young village women of U-Thong Quilts in Suphanburi patch together a livelihood without having to leave home. Their deft Asian skills produce quality appliqué patterns based on Western traditions and techniques, tailor-made to appeal to those with an eye for detail.
Used telephone books are bringing a decent occupational income to physically challenged villagers and their families in Loei. By rolling pages and gluing them together, the Fuen Fu group create distinctive photo frames and boxes that attract admiring shoppers worldwide.
A village of the ethnic monority "Tai Song Dum" is determined to pass on its custure to a new generation in the face of exposure to the world outside. Turning threat into opportunity, Ban Na Panard weaves traditional products redisigned for contemporary use.
Before destruction by the tsunami of December 2004, Ban Talay Nok was a quiet fishing village that changed little over time. Bereaved women faced new challenges by hand0making soap as a therapeutic activity, which has now become a means of make extra income.
By blending Lao patterns with Khmer techniques, silk weavers of Nong Ta Kai have created their own Isan style that sets their fabulous fabrics apart, paving the way to a self-reliant future.
The Karen people of Doi Tao, relying on their backstrap weaving skills, carefully maintain their environment to obtain raw materials. Traditional knowledge enables this tribal community to make ends meet in our modern world.
Lighting the way to a brighter future
(Saraphi Lamps)
Lanterns are a feature of northern Thai culture. Among the lamyai fruit orchards in Saraphi (in Chiang Mai), villagers craft bamboo and twigs into lamps that will enhance both your home and their income.
Stringing together for an improved environment
(Saraburi Craft)
A village community in Saraburi use string from natural and recycled resources to make an array of colourful, attractive baskets and other useful home items in exciting modern styles.
Watch out for more ThaiCraft Fair dates within this calendar year and especially in December 2008, which will be posted on this list as soon as they are confirmed. In the meantime, please contact us if you have any needs for additional information:.
There's a ThaiCraft Fair Every Month!
Why not organise your visits to Bangkok to co-incide with our Fairs?
Many people are doing this from around the region & from around the world!
If you are also interested in arranging
a one-day or many-day trip to visit artisans while you
are here, ThaiCraft runs award-winning* tours for groups
of between 6 to 12 persons that are culturally sensitive
and which help the artisans. There is no better way
to get to know the "real Thailand" far from
the beaten tourist track!
Please contact our associate
company, Pu Phiang, at info@phuphiang.com
for more details. And for more background on our crafts
and culture tours, we invite you to visit: www.phuphiang.com
(* Traidcraft's "Meet the People" Tours were Highly Commended in the
Responsible Tourism Award for Best Tour Operator in
2005. Phu Phiang, with ThaiCraft, organises the tours
in Thailand on behalf of award winner Traidcraft plc,
UK. More details can be found by clicking here)
The venue for the main ThaiCraft Fairs will continue to be on the Third Floor of the Tower Wing of The Ambassador Hotel on Sukhumvit Road Soi 11 in the heart of downtown Bangkok. As we include more groups from across the Kingdom, we will be considering new spaces and new venues that might better suit our needs. We suggest that you revisit this page from time to time in order to check for any additional ThaiCraft Fairs events and also to see whether we have changed our location.
