Thailand
สินค้า - SHOP
About us
"Ethnica" is a Thai brand for bag products featuring exquisite signature handmade craft that reflects the happiness of makers. Founded by Chaiwat Dejkoet and Kemiya Singlor, "Ethnica" does not only producing beautiful bags but it is also a social enterprise capable of honoring local ethnic and tribal wisdom that widely appreciated among buyers. This helps business to grow while ethnic makers can survive. There are meaningful stories behind the design of each piece of fabric, even though weaving yarns and patterns may not be perfect but its value is the beauty inside that brings life to each unique handmade fabric.
From the beginning until now, "Ethnica" has gradually expanded its network to other next-door communities and ethnic groups. The growth of "Ethnica" creates not only profits to the company and satisfaction to customers, but also provides opportunities to contributing ethnic groups to support their families and improve quality of lives. Many families can work together in their local areas without separating to work elsewhere. The family institution has been re-established as fathers work in cotton fields, mothers do weave at home whilst teenage girls reduce using mobile phones and going outside but pay attention to learn the weaving to create own earnings. They start to stay more at home, work and learn from other family members.
Moreover, the working cooperation between tribes and "Ethnica" will help community members to generate incomes from things already existed in the areas including local materials and knowledge. This will assist to prolong the traditional way of life. Once abandoned and nearly vanished wisdom has become more valuable. This is not because it helps generate income but this ancient knowledge will bring the pride to both present and future generations to come.
Designer
Chaiwat DejkoetWhat we stand for
"ETHNICA" comes from the word “ethnic.” Its purpose is to protect the identity and knowledge of tribal weaving in northern Thailand. This is obtained by transforming local expertise into products that can be used in today’s modern world. The products are made from eco-friendly and natural raw materials with traditional production techniques. Ethnica creates local jobs and income in the tribal community.
This collection was inspired by conversations with the elders in the community. A smiling face shows the joy of the storyteller that are relaying stories from the past to us. Then, we picked up the traditional Karen flower weaving pattern as a reminder of happiness with a sweet memory and conveyed on the woven fabric pattern used to make this collection bag, such as:
Spider house pattern (In Karen language is called Pakangdong, it is a traditional pattern created by Karen people by observing the beauty of spiders while nesting in trees. Also, Spider house pattern is one of the popular patterns inherited and woven into patterns on the fabric until now. This pattern can be seen in Karen's clothes, sarongs and bags
Ta Kwai pattern (Buffalo’s eye) from the eyes of innocent friends who help each other in farming. In Karen's view, the buffalo is a "friend" benefactor who helps in agriculture to have rice to eat. Moreover, Karen people have a strong bond with the buffaloes they raise to support their farms.
Pumpkin seed pattern is a traditional pattern originally imagined by Karen ancestors from the appearance of pumpkin seeds, a local plant that Karen people grow for eating in almost every household. The pumpkin seed pattern has been trendy, and this pattern can be found in the sarongs used by women in everyday life, as well as the used in important events such as weddings.
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