|
|
|
|
|
THAILAND
|
|
Thai Tribal crafts was established in 1973 and is sponsored by the
Christian Services Foundation.
Its objective is to provide opportunities for improving the lives of the
Hill Tribe people. The ongoing goal is to be non-profit but self-sustaining and
to operate under the principles of Fair Trade.
The foundation provides advice, training , quality control and assists in
creating new designs.
The Thai Hill Tribes migrated to
Northern Thailand many years ago from the surrounding countries but have
preserved their original culture and way of life . All the tribes are hospitable
and welcome visitors into their villages.
Traditionally they have supported
their families with slash and burn agriculture which required a semi-nomadic
lifestyle to find new fields. For ecological reasons the Thai government has
prohibited the clearing of hillside land , so the women turned to handcraft
production using the traditional skills of their tribe which otherwise could
have been lost forever.
Each tribe
has a distinctive culture, religion, art, language and style of dress and this
is reflected in their handcrafts.
|
|
|
KAREN is the largest tribe and make up about
50% of the hill tribe population. The women are noted for their cotton tie-dye
weaving using natural dyes which is completed on a simple back strap loom. Their
widespread population creates a rich diversity of designs.
|
|
HMONG or
MEO women produce
some of the most exquisite needlework found in the world. Their clothing is
richly decorated with embroidery, appliqué, pom-poms, cutwork, batik cloth and
silver jewellery
|
|
|
AKHA women wear sombre blue and black
clothing but is brightened with many decorations including embroidery, appliqué,
coins, shells dyed chicken feathers and bright green beetle wings.
|
|
LAHU
people have four
sub tribes and each produce a diversity of design.The women
are skilled in weaving on back strap and foot treadle looms Lahu weaving is
unique in that the pattern only appears on one side of the cloth. They also
produce colourful patchwork trims.
|
|
|
LISU women make their clothing from
coloured fabric trimmed with many rows of multicoloured strips of cloth,
appliqué, patchwork, tassels and beads. For festive occasions handcrafted silver
ornaments will be added.
|
|
YAO people are a minority group who
originated in Southern China and are the only tribe to have a written language
.They originally cultivated opium but are now noted for their magnificent
cross-stitch embroidery which richly decorates the clothing of every family
member.
|
|
|
The Mobile
and dolls depict in a simplistic way each of these cultures.
|
|
| |
|
|
Earthlink is a member of
'The Fair trade Association of Australia and New
Zealand'
|
|
|
|
|
