Thai
Souvenirs
Silk
Thai silk reflects a variety of Thai culture.
The northeastern region of Thailand is home to a diversity of ethnic
origins and each has their own weaving and dyeing styles and techniques.
Thai people of Lao origin (Tai Lao) dwelling in the southern region
are famous for their Mut Mee and Khit silk,
commonly made into tubular skirts, or Phasin.
In the south, Thai Muslim villagers produce Pum Riang silk
and they have applied traditional weaving patterns to Japanese silk.
The Yok Nakhon cotton of Nakhon Si Thammarat is
evenly beautiful and distinguishing. Batiks and
Patae skirts glow with the many colours of Malay-influenced
designs.
Gems and Jewelry
Certain areas of Thailand have good quality natural resources of
rubies, sapphires, onyx, zircon, jade and opal. Local cutting, design
and manufacturing skills insure a large number of quality items
with a variety of prices.
There is a first-rate lapidary on Samui Island,
while other stones or set pieces of precious and semi-precious quality
are brought in from Bangkok. The specialty of the South,
Pearls are in various sizes, makes and colors. From the pearl farms
come the rare south sea pearls, cultured pearls, and Mobe pearls
in every shade of cream, to pink and black. Imitation pearls are
made from ground pearl dust and cemented by a secret formula.
Tailor made
You will find some custom clothes in Chaweng and
Nathon area where tailors and dressmakers make clothes to order.
You can also bring your own sketches, or have a photograph of the
style you want and you will get them within a few days. Print cottons,
blended wools and imported linens are popular fabrics, while the
lustrous Thai silk is hard to find.
Pearl
Cultured pearl farming mimics the natural
process to produce pearls of guaranteed quality. Cultured pearl
farms are mainly found in southern Thailand, mostly in Koh Samui,
Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong and Surathani provinces.
Gold
Gold is mostly used in temples and palaces,
as golden Buddha images, jewelry, royal insignias and decorations.
Buddha images are embellished with gold leaf.
Lacquerware, Silverware, Nilonware,
Pewterware
An ancient oriental craft, lacquerware consists
of a repeated process of coating structural bamboo or wood with
lacquer before hand-painting it with intricate designs. Items are
made in either gold and black, or yellow and green on a red-brown
background.
Another traditional northern craft is silver beating.
Boxes, bowls, cigarette cases, vases and cutlery are proficiently
produced with relief patterns.
Nilonware
is a craft that has been practised in southern Thailand for decades.
Nilonware, or khrueang thom, is the craft of decorating
objects with intricate etched designs
which are filled with a metal alloy to make a smooth surface in
black and gold. The art is mostly practised in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Pewterware is an alloy of lead and tin, which
produces a metal with a smooth feel, comes mostly in the form of
beakers, goblets, tankards and decorative figurines. |
