Shopping / Handicrafts
Thailand is extraordinarily rich in handicrafts. Most famous of course is handwoven Thai silk which is cheaper in Thailand than anywhere else in the world. Aside from silk, there is a wide array of pottery as well as of wood carvings. Among the most original Thai handicraft products are painted umbrellas of handmade paper. Available in Thailand are also large quantities of handicrafts of neighboring countries, especially Burma. Actually, as the current Burmese government still prefers to keep the country isolated, more Burmese handicrafts are traded in Thailand than in Burma herself.
Aside from Burmese handicrafts, Vietnamese products are also readily available, especially in towns along the borders to Laos and Cambodia. It is said that Vietnamese handicrafts smuggled into Thailand are considerably cheaper than the same products in Vietnam.
Thai Silk
It is believed that the Chinese were the first to develop the technique of producing silk fabric some 4,000 years ago. The secret was closely guarded for centuries and gave rise to the overland trade route known as the Silk Road. Exportation of the cocoons or the hiring from abroad of craftsmen skilled in the art of making silk was banned. But eventually some cocoons with the information about the technique were smuggled out of China.
In China at the time of Confucius, it seems that silk was, curiously enough, cheaper and more easily obtainable than cotton-type fabrics. To the contrary, in most other countries silk was long regarded as being suitable only for royalty, nobles and celebrities. It stood out among all fabrics and has retained its unrivalled position as Queen of Textiles up to the present.
Archaeological evidence found among the relics of Ban Chiang (a human settlement site in today’s northeast Thailand dating back in it’s origin some 5,000 to 7,000 years and existing probably for several thousand years) proves that the people who lived in the Northeastern part of Thailand were already using silk cloth in prehistoric times. Though it is not clear whether the silk used then was of the Mutmee type, there are indications that some of it was; the typical patterns of Mutmee silk are among the most ancient patterns to appear on cloth, and these patterns have great similarity to the ancient cloth designs found in Russia and many other countries (more on Mutmee below).
While the people living in Thailand several thousand years back were ethnically not Thais, the Thai silk home industry nevertheless dates back many hundreds of years. Manufacture of silk was for a long time an important traditional occupation of Thai girls. Following the steps of their mothers and their mothers?mothers, Thai maidens used to rear their own silkworms, produce fibers and weave fabrics for their families. The masterpiece of their weaving was naturally their own wedding costume.
The caterpillar (silkworm) spins a yellow cocoon consisting of up to 1000m (3300ft) of reelable filament. The caterpillar, after stuffing itself with mulberry leaves, weaves the cocoon around itself as a protection during its metamorphosis into a moth. The filaments from tens of thousands of cocoons are reeled together into strands making raw silk for the spinning and production of the fabric.
As Thai silk is hand-woven from hand-spun pure silk yarn, the resulting fabric is naturally uneven and knobby in texture. The weaving is done with great skill and care taken to retain a matching consistency. Authentic Thai silk cannot be mass-produced; no weaver can substitute for another’s labour without damaging the yield.
Thai silk does not undergo mechanized finishing treatment. In its natural form, it catches light more effectively, giving off a lively glow of rich colors. It is costly if compared to other textiles because of the care taken to preserve standards and consistency.
Thai silk can be washed only with the mildest soap, then rinsed in tepid water as many times as necessary, but never wrung. In the last rinsing, a spoon of clear white vinegar can be added to retain the original luster. It should be allowed to drip dry in the shade.
Under no circumstances should Thai silk be put into a washing machine. Thai silk should be ironed on the inside just before it is dry or later only with a damp cloth over it.
It is recommended to shop for Thai silk only in stores that carry the approval signs either of the Thai Silk Association or the Tourism Authority of Thailand, as only in these places is the quality of Thai silk guaranteed.
Mutmee (Tie-Dye Silk)
Part of the northeastern people’s rich cultural heritage is the production of a unique silk fabric locally known as Ikat but internationally referred to as Mutmee. Mutmee silk is so called because of the particular tie-dye process by which the silk threads are tied according to the desired pattern before they are dyed. Actually, Mutmee can be made of both silk and cotton. But Mutmee silk is much more popular.
To make Mutmee, only filaments uniform in size and texture are used. In the past natural dyes derived from roots, vegetable or earth were used. However, today chemical dyes are given preference for they save a great deal of time and permit more color varieties. Traditionally, the prevailing Mutmee color is an inky blue which used to be extracted from the indigo plant.
Typical Mutmee designs are nature motives: animals such as birds or serpents, especially pythons, or trees or flowers.
Until not long ago, Mutmee was produced for domestic use, mostly in religious ceremonies or on auspicious days such as wedding days. Only at the beginning of the 80’s, Mutmee was promoted beyond the villages of the Northeast chiefly by Queen Sirikit. The manufacture of Mutmee silk has since then become part of the economic development of this poorest region of the country. Trade organizations under the patronage of the Queen help in the distribution.
Today Mutmee is popular among Thai men as well as women. To encourage people to use this unique local product, the Royal Family regularly wears clothes made from Mutmee silk. Recently, King Bhumiphol suggested that a national Mutmee attire should be worn in place of western style suits which are uncomfortable in the tropical climate. Mutmee shirts are now accepted as formal wear and are commonly seen at social gatherings.
Hill Tribe Textiles
Hill tribe textiles are usually made of cotton and can be easily distinguished by their bright colors, usually on a black background. Often, hill tribe textiles are richly embroidered and often decorated by metal ornaments, especially by old silver coins.
In Bangkok, hill tribe textiles are available at the Hill Tribe Foundation (Tel 251-9816) on the grounds of Srapatum Palace on 195 Phaya Thai Road. The foundation which is under the patronage of the Princess Mother, is open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00, Sat 10:00-13:00. Aside from hill tribe textiles, hill tribe jewelry is also available.
Pottery & Ceramics
Thailand offers an exceptionally wide selection of pottery and ceramics. Thai plant pots, especially of large sizes, are exported to many countries ; even pots in ancient Roman or Greek design sold in southern Europe are actually made in Thailand.
However, pottery is a Thai craft not primarily export oriented. In many villages of the Northeast, water is still today stored near homes in giant earthenware jars. Furthermore, the manufacture of pottery is only partially industrialized. In many cases, it’s rather a supplementary home industry of rice farmers. There are only few really large pottery manufacturers. Much bigger quantities are produced by small factories where villagers work between the rice planting and harvesting seasons when there is little work in the fields.
Ordinary tourist shops often carry some porcelain but seldom terra-cotta items, probably because they are too bulky to store and too heavy and too breakable to be taken along as tourist luggage. A good selection of terra-cotta pots can be seen at the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Those who contemplate buying terra-cotta pots containerwise may find it worthwhile to contact Global Merchants, No 108/5 Soi 38 (Santisuk), Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok, Tel (66) 2 / 392-7301, Fax (66) 2 / 391-6976.
Global Merchants is specializing in terra-cotta pots and a major exporter. Terra-cotta pots can be ordered with customers?own designs but production will take its time as the order will be given to home industry factories up-country - and as indicated above, the priority of those making the pots are their rice fields. However, this system ensures prices which are hard to beat anywhere in the world.
Blue and White Pottery
This generally low-priced variety of ceramics is widely sold in Thailand. Among the items available are pots and vases of all sizes, table sets and decorative pieces of every size including elephant images which double as stools. Lots of blue and white pottery is available at the Chatuchak Weekend Market and nearby on Kamphaeng Phet Road
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