Scarves, Shawls, Wraps & Sarongs – The Art of Traditional Textile Weaving in Thailand

Change is happening everywhere. We see evidence of it in our physical bodies, in the buildings and streets where we work, in our economies, in our climate and in the latest fashions and trends. While change is a very natural occurrence, and necessary for evolution, there are some traditions worth holding onto. The art of traditional weaving in Thailand is one of them.

The kingdom of Thailand is rich with tradition. The traditional art of weaving has been practiced as early as 700 BC. Silk, cotton and hemp were woven into women’s day-to-day dress as well as ceremonial costume. Women’s textiles were woven with distinct local characteristics which revealed their societal status, ethnic origin and place of birth. Men’s costumes were also elaborate, but their everyday dress was not so specific. Textiles woven for clothing were actually very simple in their design. Pieces were crafted in specific sizes and then joined or folded together to create simple, traditional clothing which required no further cutting or fitting.

Textiles woven for traditional clothing in Thailand:

Tubular skirts for women, called “pha sin”

Men’s sarongs, called “salong”

Cloth to be worm by men or women by wrapping around the waist and twisting the ends at the front, passing through the legs and tuckin in at the waist at the back, “chon kab en”

The shorte version of this was worn in the north, called “pha chet”

An all purpose cloth, called “pha khama”

Plain fabric was woven in both cotton and silk to make baggy wrap-around pants, called “tieo sado”, as well as shirts for men and women, including monks’ robes.

Textiles woven for home use:

Blankets, called “pha hom”

Sheets, called “pha sali”

Sleeping cloths, called “pha laep”

Pillows, called “mon”

Bags, called “yam”

Textiles woven specifically for the temple:

Banners, called “tung”

Book binders, called “pha ho khampi”

Textiles were home-woven by women for their own immediate family. These women were not limited by any time constraints or design guidelines, and as a result intricate and extraordinary patterns and designs were made. These magnificent, one-of-a-kind textiles were exclusively home-woven and passed down from generation to generation. Popular designs in Thailand included hooks, called “lai kho”; ferns, called “lai dik kut”, river dragons, called “lai nak”, and elaborate elephants, birds and horses.

Traditionally natural substances such as the indigo plant, mango wood tree, mangosteen fruit, annatto seeds, jack fruit tree, pineapple leaves and the resin of the lac insect are used to make natural dyes. From mother to daughter, these magical recipes for beautiful colors have been passed down by village women throughout generations, along with their magnificent textiles.

Village women in Thailand continue to preserve this traditional handicraft. Buying locally produced handmade accessories such as hand-woven shawls and scarves is one way we, as consumers, can ensure its preservation.

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