INDIGO DYED COMMUNITY: A STUDY ON PHU TAI WOMEN'S WISDOM TO STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY ชุมชนผ้าคราม : ผู้หญิงผู้ไทกับการใช้ภูมิปัญญาสร้างความเข้มแข็งของชุมชน

Abstract

The paper aimed to study the Indigo dyed community and focused specially on Phu Tai women's wisdom to strengthening the community, who make indigo dyed clothes in the following villages: Ban Nong Khrong, Ban Don Kloy, Ban Na Dee, Ban Kham Kha and Ban Oun Dong of Sakon Nakhon Province. The people of the villages use local wisdom and scientific knowledge to produce the indigo-dyed textile since the remote past and this process perpetuates continuously from generation to generation, such as planting, harvesting, and fermenting indigo, dyeing cotton with indigo water, and weaving the textile by using local loom machinery. The textile product of the community shows the remarkable lifestyles of the community’s living in close relation with nature. It also reflectsthe indigenous people’s belief and faith in Buddhism. Today, the indigo-dyed textile product has become the socio-cultural product which brings substantial amount of annual income to many communities living in Sakon Nakhon Province of Thailand. The result of this article found that the indigo dyed cloth knowledge of Phu Tai in Sakon Nakhon had been sustained due to the wisdom of the elderly women living in the community. In 2002, the indigo-dyed cloth was revived and became popular. Its production process consisted of dyeing, pattern creation, and weaving. These three procedures were taught verbally and trained by the elderly women of the family such as mother, aunt, and grandmother to younger generations. At present, the indigo dyed cloth was well-known as a cultural product of many communities in Sakon Nakhon Province because of its uniqueness. It is the outstanding symbol of women’s wisdom inherited from generation to generation. It also represents the particular characteristics of women’s learning and socializing culture.