Report on Today’s Traditional Textile Scene in Laos and Chiang Mai

Abstract

   The present research was conducted by Otsuma Grant-in Aid for Individual Exploratory Research. The theme is today’s traditional textiles in Laos and Thailand. The author researched the circumstances surrounding traditional textile weaving and their sales at galleries and stores in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Chiang Mai in 2019. The result is that the support for traditional weaving techniques is active and there are many stores which benefit from this trend. Some galleries raise their weavers to become experts, and some stores sell traditional textiles through fair trade. This trend supports the traditional skills and saves people from poverty. But as traditional textiles become commodities, the meaning of traditional textiles in the community is also changing. In other words, they make products that are easy to sell and weave trendy textiles for sale. Serious consideration needs to be made to the problem of resolving poverty but also to that of keeping the traditional system.