Being Colorful in Thread: The Challenges Involved in Sustainably Creating and Developing Plow Karen's Textiles
Main Article Content
Abstract
This article endeavors to answer the research question “How can the Plow Karen of Dan Chang community sustainably create and develop their woven fabric products to meet consumer needs in both offline and online markets and gain financial benefits?”. Anthropological fieldwork and the Empathy Map Canvas were employed as tools to comprehend community needs. According to the study results, the Ban Huai Hin Dam Naturally Dyed Fabrics Women Group's members recognized the value of woven fabrics as their folk wisdom, and outsiders were becoming more interested in purchasing the Karen textiles. They were also aware of the “natural capital” found in abundance in their community, which could be used as production inputs along with “human capital” when young people returned to work in the community. The design and production of Plow Karen woven fabrics, both traditional and applied patterns, emerged from interactions on textile preservation among people in and outside the community. The findings highlight the challenge faced by Plow Karen Dan Chang in identifying opportunities and channels for communicating their cultural products, moving from on-site to online platforms, along with communicating the diverse stories of Plow Karen to society.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization). (n.d.). Creative economy as a new landscape of the global economic system. Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization) https://www.cea.or.th/research-creative-economy (in Thai)
Pisatphen, W. (2016). Thailand 4.0 revives the creative economy and drives the economy through innovation. BOI e-Journal, 27(10), 6 – 12. (in Thai)
Chaniam, R. (2021). The power of local brand: A strategy for creating differences with the power of local brands. DIPROM e-Journal, 63(May – June), 8 – 11. (in Thai)
Burusphat, S., Deepadung, S., Suraratdecha, S., Patpong, P., Ardsmiti, N., & Setapong P. (2011). Language uses and attitudes towards languages and ethnic tourism of ethnic groups in the Western Region of Thailand. Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University. (in Thai)
Thongpaiboonkit, J. (2012). Creative economy and cultural industries, traveling to the same destination. DIPROM e-Journal, 54(November – December), 20 – 21. (in Thai)
TCDC. (n.d.). Seminar documents: Creative Thailand: Building the Thai economy with creativity: The way to survive... choices (Facing the challenges). (in Thai)
Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council. (n.d.). BCG economic model. Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council. https://www.nxpo.or.th/th/bcg-economy/# (in Thai)
Krusanphisit, S. (2021). New economic model, BCG for sustainable development of Thailand. The Public Relations Department. https://www.prd.go.th/th/file/get/file/20210208bad3e100342ab5f77c639c956a2c052b144040.pdf (in Thai)
Phongpanich, J., Phurikasem, S., Laorngoen, P., Waruttama, W., Chomphukham, C., Tangwongprasert, C., Jangariyawong, M., Buranathai, C., Puangmee, P., Siripho, B., & Vajraphai, S. (2021). Driving the Bio - Circular – Green – Economy: BCG Model) in the central northeastern provinces. Devawongse Varapakorn Institute of Foreign Affairs. (in Thai)
Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. (2019). Economic model for sustainable development. Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. (in Thai)
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. (2022). Guidelines for driving agricultural promotion with the spatially integrated BCG Model. Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. (in Thai)
Wisartsakul, W., Hirunsalee, S., Chasri, P., & Wanmeechai J. (2021). A guide to using tools to help you work with communities. Thailand Science Research and Innovation. (in Thai)
Yayici, E. (2016). Design thinking methodology book. ArtBizTech.
Montrivade, V., & Singkul, N. (2021). Dan Chang’s Plow Karen people: Understanding ethnic group through cultural and ethnic tourism. DAMRONG JOURNAL, 20(2), 207 – 230. (in Thai)
Deepadung, S., & Khammuang, S. (1997). Encyclopedia of ethnic groups in Thailand: Pwo Karen. Institute of Language and Culture for Rural Development, Mahidol University. (in Thai)
Sasomjit, A. (2016). The research and analysis of the PGA K’NYAU (KAREN) native garments identity for design usage in modern fashion and textiles [Unpublished master’s thesis]. King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. https://opacimages.lib.kmitl.ac.th/medias/pdf/09016392.pdf (in Thai)
Singkul, N., & Montrivade, V. (2019). Dynamics of the Karen ethnic community in western Thailand, Phase 1, study area: Suphanburi, Uthai Thani, and Nakhon Sawan provinces. Project series to research the dynamics of ethnic communities for creating living culture maps, Year 1 (2019). Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre (Public Organization). (in Thai)
Research project on developing a database system for the utilization of local plants for natural dyeing under the Royal Initiative Plant Genetic Conservation Project. (n.d.) Knowledge about natural dyeing. https://cmru63.com/naturaldyes/km/ (in Thai)