Lecture examines the art behind Thai textiles

Lecture examines the art behind Thai textiles

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE

The Thai Textile Society is holding a lecture on "Innovative And Sustainable Dyeing Techniques: Inspiration Behind Wearable Art" conducted by designer Pring Bunnag at the Conference Room, 4th floor of Bandara Suites Silom, Sala Daeng 1, on Saturday Oct 8 at 10am.

Contemporary silk sin. (Photo courtesy of Thai Textile Society)

Traditionally Siamese women, especially in the Northeast, North and Central Thailand wove and wore their own silk sarongs or pa-sin, sometimes simply referred to as sin.

These beautifully woven silks ranged from simple everyday pieces to intricate patterns that took months to weave and were reserved for special occasions. Such silk sarongs were worn around the waist, and the silk got softer and more fluid with each wash and wear. The very special pieces are considered heirlooms and are passed down the generations.

Inspired by the poetry and elegance of this tradition, Pring attempts to recreate the feeling of how the traditional sin was worn, and how this garment can be adapted for the contemporary woman, effortlessly and gracefully, for both everyday wear and very special occasions, while upholding the values of sustainability and handcrafted artistry.

Designed as wearable art, each piece is made from an entire length of uncut silk that can be worn in different ways for various occasions. It is an elegant one-of-a-kind tunic dress, a contemporary reinvention of the traditional silk sin, individually hand-printed using a combination of eco-print and botanical dyeing techniques.

Pring is the founder of Sucette, a small business that was started recently when she came to Thailand and remained during the pandemic. She studied art history and dance in California and curated exhibitions, but silks and other textiles seem to capture her heart.

For over 10 years, she owned the Pring Paris boutique in Paris but decided to stay in Thailand after rediscovering the country's rich cloth culture, wanting to share her knowledge with others as well as support the craftspeople and artisans in this field. Some pieces will be available for sale.

The fee is 400 baht (300 baht for members). Email bkk.tts@gmail.com.

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