Artisans

Panmai

Panmai (‘Thousand trees’) is a Thai cooperative of about three hundred people, founded in 1982. The main activity of the cooperative is to produce handwoven and hand-dyed scarves from silk and cotton. Both the fibres and dye are 100% natural.

The majority of the artisan members of the cooperative are women from the poor northeast of Thailand. They are known for their special talent to make dye from bark, leaves, wood, herbs and other natural materials from their surroundings.

The women are capable of producing an extensive colour palette to dye the silk and cotton.

In order to sustainably produce natural dyes, each member of the cooperative has to plant a minimum of one tree or bush a year. Ensuring a steady supply of base materials for natural dyes.

The women of the Panmai group weave their textile, scarves and shawls from 100% silk or cotton. Both silk and cotton are spun by hand. The silk is produced by the Bombyx Mori, a well-known silkworm feeding on mulberry leaves.

Panmai provides training for its members and even grants micro-credits to the women that need to acquire tools or other production items.

The cooperation improves the living conditions of the Panmai women. Their health has improved since they stopped using chemical dyes and replaced them with natural dyes only.

The water is no longer polluted with chemicals. Their income has improved and is more stable, allowing them to better take care of their families.

Take a look at the scarves and shawls from the Panmai group.

Women from the Panmai cooperative at work