Hand-Painted Thai Silk Shawl - Firework Festival in Brown

Artisan Organization: Nutcharath

Country: Thailand

"Hello, my name is Ting (Nutcharath Chumpanichwasut); I was born and raised in Chiang Rai. My family and I have been making eco-friendly products for more than ten years. My parents were civil servants who had to move to Chiang Mai in 1984. I studied economics in Bangkok and then moved to work at the Cooperative Promotion Department in Phayao, working on cooperatives to promote women's careers. After retirement, I started working on these eco-friendly products.

"After retirement, my husband went to study natural fabric dyeing at the Industrial Promotion Center. He also went to AEC fabric training with the Ministry of Commerce. So I was interested in doing natural colors. I used to oversee a group of women from Phayao. They used chemical dyes and then wove them into the fabric. But, unfortunately, the chemicals enter the body too much, and some of them had to go to the hospital. So I thought it was better not to use chemicals anymore. I start using longan leaves that have muscle relaxing qualities to boil and dye. Natural pigments are safe for users and for the environment. Plus, it will help relax muscles, and be comfortable when sweat is absorbed into the skin.

"My husband and I continue to study, emphasizing the benefits for people who turn to holistic health practices. We try to get knowledge and bring innovation to make it the most useful, because when heavy metals get into us, they won't come out. We went back to study and research herbal science for ten years. Our products received the most innovative award (Most Innovation OTOP Award 2018 by OTOP IGNITE 2). We don't sell fabrics; we sell creations. With natural-based paints which are safe for users and the environment, the material delivers value beyond its price.

"Batik is a printed fabric that uses wax to write and draw designs. But we use a handmade brush and herbal colors to control the flow of the stripe pattern. With the inspiration to preserve the art and culture, tradition, and lifestyle of Thai Lanna, we have combined the existing Lanna patterns with universal art to become 'Modern Art.' Lanna art has been passed down for a long time, so we want to pass it on to the next generations.

"Now my son, my husband, and I run this small business together. We have a group of craftsmen totaling about 20 local people. We obtain all our materials from Chiang Mai. Our dream is to expand the market and focus on people who understand these values. We want to preserve these things for future generations, to carry on this Lanna wisdom and make more people know them. I hope you will like our beautiful, healthy, and environmentally friendly products." "