Wicker straw and raffia handbags are hot right now around the world. They might look familiar to you because we’ve seen these since forever in the market, but we might never want get our hands on them. Today, it’s changed. Thailand catches up the trend by upgrading its longstanding woven technique using rattan, raffia, reed, bamboo and straw to create more modern and prettier handbags.
These are five Thai brands that successfully combine locally sourced materials, traditional technique, and creative design together to create the bag perfect for the summer.
VT Thai gathers local artisans and designers to give traditional Thai weaving a new life with more modern designs. The brand’s wide range of products are made from local materials like straw, rattan, seagrass, bamboo, and vine which take more than a month to prepare for weaving.
B1,225. King Power Rangnum; Ecotopia, Siam Discovery; and Another Story, The Emquartier
Colorful threads and handwoven bags are a recipe for a Beach Daze Bag. The straw is grown and collected by communities along the river in the northeast of Thailand, and then turned into a bag. Each thread color represents the owner’s passion for travel from the pastel pink walls of Petra to the aqua blue sea of Dibba in Oman, resulting in a simple, yet unique handbag that you can personalize your own.
B2490. Ecotopia, Siam Discovery
Classic hand-woven totes and shopping bags made by local experts are turned into something personal with handpainted personalize tag, perfect for a beach day.
B640. Instagram.com/weekend.bkk
Thai weaving technique gets an upgrade with new designs and fun patterns. Each bag is skillfully created with the use high quality leather and handwoven materials by villagers before being decorated with colorful patterns inspired by local art.
B4,950. Facebook.com/chaksan
With an aim to preserve and promote local wisdom, the center establishes a learning center and art projects focusing on the bamboo weaving technique for those who are interested.
Apart from a shop, the center also displays bamboo-weaving products created by talented local weavers.
36 Intha-Asa, Phanat Nikhom, Chonburi. 08 1899 4471. Tbhc1978.com
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