Development and Creation of Bamboo Earrings Combined with Woven Fabric Patterns for Studying Identity in Mae Poen Sub-district, Mae Poen District, Nakhon Sawan Province

Abstract

This research aimed to examine bamboo materials and local woven fabric patterns of Mae Poen Sub-district, Mae Poen District, Nakhon Sawan Province, to develop and create earring jewelry integrating bamboo with woven fabric patterns, and to evaluate the suitability of the developed jewelry. The study was conducted as research and development, employing a mixed-methods approach that combined qualitative and quantitative research. Purposive sampling was used to select participants, consisting of local entrepreneurs, community leaders, and local scholars (3 persons); jewelry design experts (3 persons); and local residents and tourists in Nakhon Sawan Province (100 persons). The research instruments included interview forms, design evaluation forms, and satisfaction questionnaires. The findings from the study of local materials and patterns indicated that the bamboo and woven fabric patterns of Mae Poen Sub-district possess distinctive characteristics in terms of form, structure, and cultural meaning, making them suitable as a foundation for jewelry design. Based on these findings, three earring design styles were developed: natural, geometric, and a style representing the Chinese New Year identity of Nakhon Sawan Province, totaling twelve pieces. Three pieces were selected as final prototypes. The evaluation results from experts and users revealed a high level of satisfaction in terms of functionality, aesthetic quality, and the representation of local identity. These results demonstrate that integrating local materials and indigenous knowledge into a creative design process can lead to the development of valuable contemporary jewelry and can be further extended to community product development within the context of the creative economy.