Weaving Culture

Handweaving in Thailand & Laos


Handweaving, one of the world’s oldest arts, continues to be practiced with amazing skill and well-deserved pride in many rural villages in Thailand and Laos. The silks and cottons woven by women in these areas reflect cultural traditions that have endured from earlier times, passing from mothers to daughters.

Rice fields are the lifeblood for Thai and Lao villagers and culture. Without rice, there can be no weaving.
Rice fields are the lifeblood for Thai and Lao villagers and culture. Without rice, there can be no weaving.
A young Lao weaver at the Houey Hong Vocational Training Centre for Women creates silk that reflects her culture and helps support her family.
A young Lao weaver at the Houey Hong Vocational Training Centre for Women creates silk that reflects her culture and helps support her family.
Looms sit in the shade under or next to village houses to protect the artisan and the silk from the harsh rays of the sun.
Looms sit in the shade under or next to village houses to protect the artisan and the silk from the harsh rays of the sun.
Once fallow land now flourishes with organically grown mulberry -- the heart of TAMMACHAT's Thai and Lao organic silk. Kommaly Chantavong, founder of Lao Sericulture Co., proudly stands amidst her carefully nurtured, organic mulberry bushes.
Once fallow land now flourishes with organically grown mulberry -- the heart of TAMMACHAT's Thai and Lao organic silk. Kommaly Chantavong, founder of Lao Sericulture Co., proudly stands amidst her carefully nurtured, organic mulberry bushes.
TAMMACHAT works with natural dyers like this member of Prae Pan weaving co-operative to help preserve local dye knowledge and to create eco-friendly textiles that are safe for their makers' health and their environments.
TAMMACHAT works with natural dyers like this member of Prae Pan weaving co-operative to help preserve local dye knowledge and to create eco-friendly textiles that are safe for their makers' health and their environments.

Silk Weaving


Naturally dyed silk yarns derive their colours from nature and will be transformed into stunning, handwoven silk creations.
Naturally dyed silk yarns derive their colours from nature and will be transformed into stunning, handwoven silk creations.
This Lao village artisan, whose silk work supplements her subsistence farming activities, twists the silk yarns to condition and strengthen them prior to weaving.
This Lao village artisan, whose silk work supplements her subsistence farming activities, twists the silk yarns to condition and strengthen them prior to weaving.
This Thai weaver uses a warping board to measure 40 metres of organic silk yarn to keep it free from tangles.
This Thai weaver uses a warping board to measure 40 metres of organic silk yarn to keep it free from tangles.
Silk weaving requires care and skills that this Thai weaver has honed since she sat at the loom at her mother's side as a young girl.
Silk weaving requires care and skills that this Thai weaver has honed since she sat at the loom at her mother's side as a young girl.
The painstaking work to prepare the yarns and set up the loom means much of the work is already done when the weaver sits at her loom.
The painstaking work to prepare the yarns and set up the loom means much of the work is already done when the weaver sits at her loom.
A skillfully tied string heddle on the loom controls a complex design. Strips of bamboo are used to carry the pattern.
A skillfully tied string heddle on the loom controls a complex design. Strips of bamboo are used to carry the pattern.
Lao weavers enjoy the community of weaving together in what is usually a solo activity, performed at home.
Lao weavers enjoy the community of weaving together in what is usually a solo activity, performed at home.
This Thai silk weaver enjoys the benefits of being a member of a weaving co-operative as she proudly displays her sumptuous silk fabric.
This Thai silk weaver enjoys the benefits of being a member of a weaving co-operative as she proudly displays her sumptuous silk fabric.


Cotton Weaving

Like in silk weaving, each cotton weaver spends much time preparing her loom. Kaew adjusts the string heddle, which controls the pattern.
Like in silk weaving, each cotton weaver spends much time preparing her loom. Kaew adjusts the string heddle, which controls the pattern.
Benjaw learned to weave when she was 10, like most cotton and silk weavers in Thailand and Laos. She weaves when she has time, after caring for her 3 children and running a small village shop in her home.
Benjaw learned to weave when she was 10, like most cotton and silk weavers in Thailand and Laos. She weaves when she has time, after caring for her 3 children and running a small village shop in her home.
Cotton weavers, like silk weavers, usually work at home, but belonging to a weaving group allows Nuu Pun to receive training and other support.
Cotton weavers, like silk weavers, usually work at home, but belonging to a weaving group allows Nuu Pun to receive training and other support.
Yvon and Kaew prefer to work together on a complex design.
Yvon and Kaew prefer to work together on a complex design.
Praphai has been weaving for more than 50 years. Today she weaves a plain cloth in a checked pattern, but her greatest love is to weave every day.
Praphai has been weaving for more than 50 years. Today she weaves a plain cloth in a checked pattern, but her greatest love is to weave every day.