When tourists are preparing to visit Chiang Mai, lists of “best things to do” or “must-sees” recommend activities such as visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, exploring the night markets, and taking a northern Thai cooking class. These are all excellent experiences and should not be missed! However, most of these lists don’t include one very special experience – taking a weaving or embroidery class with skilled hill tribe artisans at Thai Tribal Crafts.
Hill Tribe Weaving and Embroidery Classes
So, what can visitors expect from a weaving or embroidery class with us? Classes should be booked in advance and are 3 hours long. Classes can be scheduled on Monday afternoons (1-4pm), Tuesday-Friday mornings (9am-12pm) and afternoons (1-4pm), and some Saturdays by request.
When you arrive, one of our staff will greet you at our store and give you a short tour as well as an introduction to the history of Thai Tribal Crafts and the hill tribe communities that are represented by our staff and products. Then, you’ll go upstairs to meet your weaving or embroidery instructors! Our instructors are from Karen and Lahu tribes. They’ll give you a handout explaining the steps to the weaving or embroidery process and then demonstrate on a backstrap loom. Once you feel like you understand the general process, you can pick your preference of colors and start weaving or embroidering! It might feel unnatural at first, but our instructors will be there to guide you the whole way and soon you’ll get the hang of it. Remember, this is a skill that is learned over the course of years starting at a young age, so it’s normal to find it challenging at first. It’s all part of the experience.
You can expect to weave or embroider for nearly 3 hours. This is a long time to be sitting and concentrating, which is why we provide snacks, water and coffee/tea to refresh and rest if you need. Before you know it, you’ll have created a masterpiece! You can feel proud of the work you did and have an appreciation for the time, effort and skill that goes into each handmade product. As a bonus, our staff can create a small purse with the textile you wove or embroidered that you can take home at no additional cost. Students also get a 10% discount off any items they buy from our store – perfect for souvenirs or gifts to remind you of your time in Chiang Mai.
Our Amazing Visitors
In the last two weeks, we’ve had lovely people come from England, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the USA to visit our store and take a class with us. Some of these visitors are tourists, others live in Thailand; some are studying or working in textiles or design, others just wanted to try something new. Our classes are perfect for anyone who wants to respectfully experience the culture of northern Thailand’s hill tribes.
Other Offerings at Thai Tribal Crafts
If weaving or embroidery isn’t for you, no problem! You can still visit the store to shop for some ethically handmade gifts. Thai Tribal Crafts also leads Fair Trade tours to a Karen, Lahu or Lisu village where you can “meet the makers.” This is a unique experience to spend a day with the tribal women who make the products in the store, share a homemade meal with them, learn about the process of naturally dyeing yarn, and wander through the gorgeous hilly landscapes.
Get in Touch With Us!
Whether it’s for a class, to shop, or for a tour, we’d love to see you soon! You can find more information on our website or social media. Please feel free to DM or email us with any questions or to schedule a class or tour, and one of our staff will get back to you soon.
Store hours: Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Website: https://ttcrafts.co.th/
Instagram: @thaitribalcrafts @hilltribeweaving @fairtradetour
Facebook: @thaitribalcrafts
Email: info@ttcrafts.co.th ; experience@ttcrafts.co.th
About Thai Tribal Crafts
Thai Tribal Crafts is a certified Fair Trade organization in Chiang Mai, Thailand. TTC sells handmade crafts, primarily woven products, and offers weaving and embroidery classes led by the tribal people of northern Thailand. Currently, our products represent the skills and designs of craftspeople from 5 different ethnic groups (Karen, Lahu, Lisu, Hmong, Akha) living both in highland villages and around Chiang Mai city. For over 50 years, TTC has provided sustainable development opportunities for these craftspeople as well as helped to restore and revive these traditions which otherwise might have been forgotten.
Our work is special because everything is done using the traditional techniques practiced by tribal people, and all profits go directly to the craftspeople themselves. This is important so that hill tribe artisans can earn a dignified wage and continue to work in their homes. Aside from economic empowerment, part of TTC’s mission is to preserve cultural heritage that is unfortunately being lost. Every sale, class, or tour means that a local tribal craftsperson can continue to earn a living by practicing skills and customs passed down through generations. In exchange, visitors and Chiang Mai residents alike have the opportunity to have an authentic hill tribe experience that not only respects the cultures and people of this region, but also sustains them. It’s a win-win.