Thailand’s populations in the countryside are masters at utilizing their surrounding raw materials and local art to craft a variety of household and subsistence items essential for their everyday life. Nowadays, this handicraft expertise is being expanded upon to create very beautiful and unique goods popular among Thais and foreigners alike. Woven wares are especially sought after for their beauty, their varieties of design and style possibilities, high quality craftsmanship and of course their durability.

Bamboo Products are primarily made from Sisuk Bamboo which is noted for its straight long tubes. After the bamboo has been collected it is cut to the desired length, and then split before finally being sliced into strips of desired sizes. The more delicate the strip, the more delicate and intricate the final product. Depending on the style and design of product the drying process either consists of utilizing the sun and open air or that of a fire producing much smoke, leaving the strips the desired colors. Color can be attained either from the above smoke method or from dying in a vat of boiling water and pigment. By varying the type of woven pattern and the color of the strips of bamboo, a variety of designs and styles are possible creating truly unique one of a kind handbags of lasting beauty.

Jute is a long, shiny, round tubular plant from the Malvaceae family composed primarily of cellulose material. As a rainy season crop, Jute grows plentifully in warm humid climates throughout Southeast Asia . Harvesting begins about four months after planting with the stalks cut off close to the ground and tied into bundles for transport. Jute, utilized for weaving, is allowed to semi dry before it is run through rollers to flatten out the stalks, producing a flat strand generally 4mm in width. The actual weaving process is much the same as Bamboo; with the acceptation that pre-dyeing is generally not done. Rather, Jute Bags and Purses are mostly “dip” dyed after the weaving has been finished. The abundance of Jute in Thailand means it is an economical alternative to Rattan with nearly unlimited size and weaves possibilities.

Palm Leaf Products are crafted from the leaves of the Sugar Palm trees available throughout Thailand . After gathering the leaves they are cut into long strips of the desired size which is dependent on the type of weaving to be done – either a flat or a braided design. Next the strips are washed thoroughly with soap and water and air dried in the sun for 1 – 2 days. Dying of the strips is accomplished by soaking them in a mixture of water and pigments. Prior to the actual weaving process the strips are re-soaked in water for 15 – 30 minutes to soften them and make them more pliable. Palm products tend to be a bit fragile which is why we weave them in conjunction with Bamboo producing an item of beauty with one of strength and durability.

Rattan products are made from the Calamus family of plants found throughout select parts of Southeast Asia . For Basket and Purse quality Rattan the skin of the Rattan is commonly peeled in uniform widths of 3mm or 5mm, mostly referred to as Rattan Peel.This is the most valuable part of the Rattan and accounts for Rattans higher values as opposed to Jute or Bamboo products. After it is split the peel undergoes a semi-bleaching process which results in a light uniform color and then is woven into sheets. From here the Rattan is sent to be dyed in the different colors available and allowed to dry naturally. All of our Rattan purses are cut from these Rattan Sheets, thus the edge seam's not found on our other woven products. Products made from Rattan are one of the strongest and longest lasting of all woven goods.

Thai Silk projects the natural blended textures and patterns that is so very Southeast Asian. If you hold a piece of good Thai Silk up to the light, the overall color tone will change depending on the angle of the light. The silkworms (actually moths) are fed mulberry leaves with the silk filaments being anywhere from 500 to 1000 meters long per cocoon. An individual Silk thread is too fine to handle so up to ten cocoons are grouped together in the unraveling to make 1 silk thread. Our 2-Ply refers to a medium weight, very smooth, "Shot Silk" weave where the weft is one color and the warp another, which is what gives this Thai Silk its natural sheen and luster, and makes Thai Silk so unique in terms of color tones and blends. 4-Ply refers to a heavy weave of "Natural Thai Silk" in which the "Slubs" (thick areas) remain, resulting in a unique horizontal textured effect. It is very durable fabric and luxurious in appearance.

Our Water Hyacinth is a handicraft made from the stalk of these freely growing wild aquatic plants. The first step is gathering the wild stalks by hand after which they are left in the open air and sun to dry. Once thoroughly dry they are fumigated to prevent mold and insect damage which makes them very durable and long lasting. Depending on the pattern some of the stalks are dyed in a mixture of boiling water and dried again. The actual weaving process can last from a few hours to more than a day depending on the complexity of the design and size of the project. Some are further varnished for added beauty and protection.

For more information please contact us at: info@classicthai.net