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DevTrade-THAILAND – Woven Stoles

We source hand-crafted woven stoles from Thai Tribal Crafts in Thailand.  They are proud members of the World Fair Trade Organisation.

Traditionally the tribal people of Thailand have supported their families by engaging in slash and burn agriculture which required them to move their village every few years in search of new fields when the old ones lost their fertility.  It is now no longer possible for them to continue this semi-nomadic lifestyle as there are no new places to move on to.

Mainly for ecological reasons the Thai Government now prohibits the felling of tress and the clearing of hillside land.  Thus, the tribal people are finding that they have less land on which to support their families.

The production and sale of handicrafts is an obvious answer to their problem and one which does not destroy the traditions of the tribal community life.  In fact, handicraft production helps to restore and revive these traditions which otherwise might have been forgotten.

Today, seven hill tribes, also known as the tribal people or highland people of Northern Thailand (namely the Akha, Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lawa, Lisu and Mien groups), as well as many tribal women living in Chian Mai are working together in this fair-trade journey for Thai Tribal Crafts.

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