Thailand is well known for its silk. It’s made from silkworms’ cocoons that are turned into thread and woven into beautiful and intricate patterns. But what is this fabric used for? How is it worn? Traditional Thai clothing, and what is understood to be traditional Thai clothing, is a really interesting topic with a somewhat unsuspected history.
I recently had the chance to go to the Jim Thompson Farm, where they cultivate silk worms to produce Thailand’s famous silk. It was really cool to peak into every step of the process that goes into making silk. Check out the video!
Of all the textiles that are made in Thailand, silk is far and away the most well known. The visibility and reputation of Thai silk was carefully curated by both Queen Sirikit and Jim Thompson. But how is Thai silk made? Where does it come from?
When I went back to the U.S. for the Top Bloggers’ Tour, one of the things I did was give 15 minute presentations to elementary school students about Thailand. With such a short amount of time, I decided to tell the kids about one aspect of Thailand that it is famous for: its textiles and fabrics, and so I passed around examples of different kinds of scarfs and gave them an opportunity to dress up in some of the Thai clothes that I have. There is a lot going on in the textile, fabric and fashion world here in Thailand.
Over Thai Mother’s Day weekend, I went on a bpai tiao to Nong Khai. The bus ride there passes through Udon Thai, where there is a small village that is well-known for its textiles. Of course, my friend Jill and I had to stop and check it out. There were so many gorgeous fabrics, particularly the traditional kidt and mut mee styles. Check it out!