Thai silk fabrics have been produced

by local people in Thailand

for hundreds of years.

Production of Thai silk fabrics
          The production of Thai silk fabrics has been carried out for hundreds of years by local people in the northeastern part of the country. In the past, people wove silk fabrics in their daily lives to make different types of garments for themselves. As Thai silk fabrics became more popular, people began to weave silk fabrics for commercial purposes. Their silk fabrics are famous for their unique colours and designed patterns.

          Thai silk fabrics are woven with silk yarns produced by silk worms. The production process begins with people planting white mulberries. Silk worms live on the leaves of these mulberries. They live inside cocoons and feed on the leaves of these mulberries. Then, at an appropriate time, the cocoons are spun into silk yarns.

Silk yarns before the dying process

Silk yarns after the dying process

          The yarns, with the original cream colour, are bleached in a mixture of hot water and a chemical substance to become white. Then, the yarns are wound into a long, continuous line which is smooth, shiny, and flexible. The yarns are dyed and then woven to create different types of Thai silk fabrics.

Silk weaving process
          There are several weaving methods of which different types of Thai silk fabrics are produced. Every piece of Thai silk fabric consists of weft and warp yarns. Weft yarns are the yarns woven across the downward set of yarns while the warp yarns are the yarns running along the length of the fabric. The most common type of Thai silk, or plain-colour Thai silk fabric, is woven with weft and warp yarns of different colours. The result is a single piece of plain-colour silk fabric with a glossy look.

A skilled weaver is weaving a plain-colour silk fabric.

A handloom called "Kee Mue"

          Thai silk fabrics are woven manually with one of the two handlooms called “Kee Mue” and “Kee Kratuk”. Weavers must use both their hands and feet at the same time to produce a piece of silk fabric. Skilled weavers must know how to balance their feet and hands to produce a beautiful piece of Thai silk fabric.

Equipment to wind silk yarns around a bobbin

Silk yarns ready to be woven into fabrics