Beyond Songkran water guns: Thailand's quirkiest soft-power weapons
As armies of locals and tourists lay down their water guns to end the world-famous Songkran Festival, The Nation takes a look at four other soft-power weapons that Thailand is wielding to conquer international hearts and minds.
Elephant pants
The origin of Thai elephant pants is lost in the jungle of history but the stampede for the colourful and cheap fashion items began in Bangkok’s Phahurat area. Comfortable and cooling in the tropical heat, the pants quickly caught on among foreign travellers, who took them home as souvenirs. The trend got a boost when staff at the Grand Palace began handing out elephant pants as appropriate attire to visitors wearing short skirts or shorts.
Eventually, the pants became synonymous with travel in Thailand, adorning the legs of a generation of tourists.
The trend also caught on among Thais, who appreciated the thin cotton fabric and cooling ventilation offered by the pants in hot weather.
However, local media estimate that around 70% of “Thai” elephant pants on sale in Thailand were made in China.
If you want to buy a pair made with authentic Thai craftsmanship, here are the characteristics to look for:
– The pants should be made with spun fabric that is soft and comfortable to wear, providing a cooling effect.
– The pattern on the material should show elephant trunks pointing downwards. Reject any pants adorned with upside-down elephants.
– The pattern should also match at the seams with no visible overlap.
– The seams should be neatly stitched and not easy to pull apart or unravel.
Various provinces in Thailand have also developed themed pants that showcase the identity of each area.
These include Mae Klong mackerel pants from Samut Songkhram, Korat Cat Pants from Nakhon Ratchasima, Fiddler Crab Pants from Samut Sakhon, and Giant Gourami Fish Pants from Uthai Thani.
Art toys
Art toys are decorative collectables designed by artists who convey their stories through unique designs. Art toys are often produced in limited editions, leading to high-value and sought-after models. Thai artists excel in this field and have gained global recognition for their art toy creations.
One example is Crybaby, an art-toy character created by Mod-Nisa Srikumdee, better known as Molly. She drew inspiration for the design from emotional breakdowns, believing that crying doesn't always signify weakness. Crybaby has collaborated with Chinese distributor POP MART to release a wide range of blind box collections. Among the most popular editions is the Crybaby × Powerpuff Girls collaboration, which has garnered positive social media reviews.
Other Thai artists famed for their art toy works include Fat Lane 17, KREME, and MOTMO Studio.
The latest big trend is Yamo Art Toys, featuring a collection that highlights famous figures in Thai history such as Tao Suranari or Yamo, the heroic woman of Nakhon Ratchasima. These art toys are presented in a colourful, cartoonish format that appeals to younger generations.
3D ice cream
Even quirkier than art toys, 3D ice cream showcases Thai art, culture and history in intricate designs inspired by Thai landmarks like Wat Arun, and the Temple of Dawn.
Created by Namtan-Sirinya, the owner of the Pop Icon brand, these dainty popsicles went viral in 2023 and are being lapped up by Thai and foreign tourists again this year.
Choose a lion- or dragon-shaped frozen treat for your visit to Chinatown or try the Ancient City Si Thep Ice
Cream for a taste of Thailand’s latest Unesco Heritage Site.
But don’t forget to check the stick when you’ve finished licking: each one is adorned with a cute message or Buddhist blessing.
Artistic manhole covers
An ingenious way of guiding tourists through the unique heritage of Bangkok communities, artistic manhole covers feature designs that reflect the areas in which they are set.
Visitors can also enjoy the fun challenge of discovering this colourful street art hidden throughout the city as they explore the famous neighbourhoods of Bangkok.
Pick up the trail in the historic neighbourhoods of Chinatown and Khlong Ong Ang, where the "Art Design on Manhole Covers to Promote Cultural Maps of Communities" project was launched in 2021. This soft-power project has solid backing from Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Printmaking and Graphic Arts. Keep your eyes glued to the road and you can spot the vividly painted lids at 19 locations across the city.
