Are you interested in traveling to Thailand? Please visit this section for more information.
Two long-time friends from two continents joined their fifty combined years of business experience, expertise and love of textile and home decors to create GobieCo.
All GobieCo. products are artisan made in SE Asia. GobieCo owners work directly with producers to ensure unique and high quality results. GobieCo prides itself in being a socially responsible company, paying fair prices while sharing business information and respectfully working with our producers.
Shawls and Scarves
A village cooperative in the northwest of Thailand, near the Burmese border, produces these 100% cotton shawls and scarves. The villagers grow their own cotton and natural dye plants, as they have been doing for several generations. The entire process from growing to spinning and weaving is done within the village.
Pieced Cotton Accessories
These exquisite pieces are made in teh a cooprative headed by a retired art teacher. She started the co-op by inviting other retired art and home economic teachers to join her; it is now in its third year. All of the members are women, most of whom are in their 60s. A primary goal is to encourage the younger generation to carry on the art of sewing and handwork despite technological advancement.
Wood Ware
Produced by a husband and wife team, their wood trays, boxes and textile hangers are high quality and limited editions. The teak used in their products is old wood salvaged from buildings: shingles, window frames, doors, stc. No new teak is used, as it is an endangered hardwood. It hsa long been their dream to have their own cottage industry and work together. They lovingly and proudly construct, polish and pack each piece themselves.
Check out our GobieCo. product selection.
Established in August 1992, The ThaiCraft Association was the successor to the Hilltribe Sales (volunteer-run events organised by the International Church of Bangkok at International School Bangkok's former downtown campus from 1975-1992). For the first year only, small start-up administration grants were received from Dutch (ICCO) and British (ODA/Oxfam) funding agencies, but by retaining a small share of sales revenue, ThaiCraft soon became and has remained financially self-sufficient. By utilising volunteers from local and international communities in Bangkok, and with support from a small full-time staff, most of the first ThaiCraft Sales - a half-day market in Bangkok eight times a year - were held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Since September 1996, The Landmark Hotel in Sukhumvit Road has been its main venue. Smaller events have been held annually at International School Bangkok (ISB) in Nonthaburi and at Bumrungrad Hospital in Soi Nana Nua.
During the past ten years, ThaiCraft has received revenue for artisans at these sales in excess of 120,000,000 Baht (US$3,000,000). ThaiCraft's export sales began in a very small way but more interest in Thai craft products came from importers following a marked devaluation of the Thai Baht, caused by the Asian financial crisis of 1997/8. ThaiCraft underwent a restructuring process in 2000/1 to expand export and domestic sales opportunities by employing an expanded, professional staff team, enlarging the headquarters, and implementing database technology. In 1992, there were just to employed staff but the fulltime staff team has since grown to ten employees.
ThaiCraft's goals are:
- Keeping craft traditions alive
- Creating income for village artisans
ThaiCraft does this by: - Promoting high-quality crafts
- Providing networking, information, and artisan training
- Marketing craft products in Thailand and overseas
In the beginning, ThaiCraft partnered with 25 artisan groups from villages in Central, North and Northeast Thailand. Some southern groups later joined in 1995. Over the years, more than 80 groups have been involved, from remote hilltribe minorities in the north to Muslim fishing communities in the deep south; from city slum dwellers to rice-paddy farmers far off the beaten track. Small but valued grants came at times from the Ford Foundation and the Canada Fund to help strengthen producer capacity in villages and to provide training opportunities. ThaiCraft's 60+ partner groups now come from all regions of Thailand. Their representatives meet our staff and volunteers and, just as importantly, each other at ThaiCraft Sales and also share experiences and learning at our periodic workshops and seminars.
Contact Information:
The ThaiCraft Association
ThaiCraft Fair Trade Co., Ltd.
242 Soi Akharn Songkroh Road, Sai 15,
Sathorn, Bangkok, 10120
THAILAND
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +66 2 6760636-8
Fax: +66 2 2860675
Website: www.thaicraft.org
Check out our ThaiCraft Fair Trade Co., Ltd. product selection.
Thai Tribal Crafts has been a beacon of light and hope for many hilltribe people living in northern Thailand. The traditional weaving, needlework, basketry, and other craft skills of many tribal people were in danger of dying out as villagers were discovering the convenience of purchasing cheap ready-made clothing, plastic utensils, and other doubtful "blessings" of the 20th century. However, Thai Tribal Crafts, a self-help organisation, has provided a marketing outlet through which the tribal people can sell their superb handicrafts. This not only had the effect of giving the northern villagers a much-needed income, but also helped them to gain a renewed sense of self-worth.
As their beautiful crafts are becoming increasingly popular, the market is growing. Consequently, the hilltribe members have begun to value their skills and gain a greater appreciation of their distinctive clothing and traditional arts. Their crafts range from the Akha peoples' unique indigo-dyed cloth, brightened with embroidery and silver, to the bamboo-made musical instruments of the Lahu tribe, and the extraordinary silver work of the Mien and Lawa people. The effect and significance of Thai Tribal Crafts has been far-reaching, as thousands of mountain-dwelling-people can now provide more adequate nutrition for their families, educate their children, obtain medical care, and in general raise their standard of living.
Thai Tribal Crafts works with seven hilltribes living in about 50 isolated villages in the mountains of Northern Thailand. About 60% of the price of each product goes to the producer. Any financial gain realized beyond our basic needs goes back to the tribal people in the form of benefits.
The products sold by the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store are made by members of three different hilltribe groups: the Lisu, the Lahu, and the Hmong.
The Lisu (lisaw) are an ethnic group living in the mountains of China, Burma, and northern Thailand. There are approximately 22,000 Lisus living in Thailand. For many generations, the main means of livelihood for many of the Lisu has been the cultivation of the opium poppy. Some of these people have given up poppy growing, and are now seeking to supplement their income through the sale of skillfully produced crafts.
The Lisu of northern Thailand make their clothing from brightly-colored cloth stitched into outfits trimmed with row upon row of vari-colored strips of cloth, appliqued patchwork, elaborate tassels, and beadwork. The more affluent wear massive amounts of hand-crafted silver ornaments for festive occasions. Lisu men produce crossbows, musical instruments, bird and animal traps, and other items made of wood, bamboo, and rattan.
The Lahu (musur) people live in the mountains of China, Mynmar, Laos, and northern Thailand. There are approximately 73, 500 Lahus now living in Thailand. Their practice of slash-and-burn agriculture does not provide them with even the basic essentials of life, much less the enrichment to be found in education for their children, adequate medical care, and the simple amenities of modern life. They have found that their skills in producing high-quality handicrafts can be a welcome means of augmenting their meager income.
Lahu women are skilled in weaving cloth both on back-strap and foot-treadle looms, producing delicate patchwork trims, and unusual embroidery work. Lahu weaving is unique in that the pattern appears on only one side of the cloth. Men and women together make some of the finest baskets to be found anywhere in Southeast Asia. Lahu men produce excellent crossbows, musical instruments, and other items made of wood, bamboo, and rattan.
The Hmong (meo or maeo) people live in the mountainous regions of China, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. In Thailand, there are about 124,500 Hmong people settled in villages throughout a wide area of the north. These proud and aristocratic people have supported themselves for the most part by the cultivation of the opium poppy for many generations. Some of the Hmong people are turning from opium growing, and are now seeking to market their exquisite needlework in order to supplement their income.
Hmong women traditionally make clothing for their families from cotton or hemp, which is then woven on unique looms that use both back-strap and foot treadles. Their clothing is richly decorated with magnificent embroidery, applique, cutwork, pom-poms, batik cloth, and silver jewelry.
Hmong men make crossbows, musical instruments, and other items of wood, bamboo, and rattan. Many of the men are also skilled in blacksmithing and gunsmithing.
Check out our Thai Tribal Crafts product selection.
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