Helping others to help themselves

ARTIST AND organiser Sombatsara Teerasaroch, fashion guru Kullawit Laosuksri, and actress and social activist Khemupsorn Sirisukha have joined with the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage for a new exhibition, “Doi Tung and Friends”, to raise funds for the human development projects run by the MFLF in Chiang Rai. 

The show, which was launched last week at Siam Discovery, features a range of exclusive handcrafted products by the three guest artists created in collaboration with the hilltribe members of the Doi Tung project, as well as ceramic works by Yeejang Namkae, a representative of Doi Tung.

Thanpuying Putrie Viravaidya, the foundation’s secretary general, formerly opened the exhibition in the Creative Lab Area on the mall’s third floor. 

The non-profit, which was founded by the Princess Mother in 1972 and renamed MFLF in 1985, aims to offer market access for craft-making villages in the Northern highlands. 

“The bond between the urban designers and the local artisans have been created, lessening the gap between the city and the country people. The urban designers have helped ‘cultivate people’ in Doi Tung while the local people ‘cultivate love’ in the hearts of the city dwellers,” said ML Dispanadda Diskul, deputy chief executive of the foundation. 

Sombatsara told XP that he was very proud to be a part of this project. “The product I designed with the locals is the ‘Ying Carpet’ (Prom Ying), which is one of the most famous products of Doi Tung. I named this work ‘Today is my Good day’ because if we believe that today is a good day, then every day is a good day.”

Sombatsara sketched the three graphic patterns for hand-tufted carpet, which is inspired by the landscape of Doi Tung. Measuring 150x240 centimetres, it’s priced at Bt29,999.

Vogue’s editor in chief, Kullawit, selected hilltribe fabric for his modern bag. After witnessing the skills of Doi Tung locals, he was very impressed by the beauty, delicacy, and commitment put into the work. 

“Being part of this project helps give the works done by MFLF a wider perspective,” he said.

Kullawit worked closely with three Thai fashion brands including the leather house Mettique in creating 20 eye-catching totes made from woven hemp with leather handles in blue and brown. The inside has special pockets for a mobile phone and money. There are two styles to choose from and each bag is priced at just Bt3,999.

Local brand and winner of the “Vogue Who’s On Next” prize Narsha came up with a geometric clutch made from black-and-white hilltribe fabric edged with leather, It’s on sale for Bt39,999. For its part Lapas designed the Doi Tung Fabric Backpack with leather clips in various positions to add a modern dimension. Four backpacks are available in two different sizes, the smaller one going for Bt29,999 and the larger one for Bt35,999.

Actress Khemupsorn used mulberry paper from Doi Tung to create her stationery set called “Le Voyage des Fleurs”, which is inspired by the fabric in Doi Tung Palace that the Baan Gad Women Development Group in Chiang Mai presented to the Princess Mother. There are 15 sets of stationery available at Bt4,999 per set.

Also on sale are Yeejang’s six ceramic collections titled “Mae Fah Luang Garden”, “Sarong”, “The Hill Tribes”, “The Drought”, “Childhood Memory” and “The Seeds of |Doi Tung”. 

 

 n The products are on display in the Creative Lab Area on the third floor of Siam Discovery. To place an order, call (02) 252 7114 extension 236 or visit Facebook.com/DoiTungClub. The show ends tomorrow.