UNESCO, SACIT, Siam Piwat Spotlight Thai Craftsmanship
UNESCO has joined forces with the Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (Public Organization), or SACIT, and Siam Piwat Group to support local textile artisans from seven provinces as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). This collaboration marks a milestone, as Siam Piwat, the founder of ICONCRAFT, has been selected as the only private partner by UNESCO and SACIT for 'UNESCO x SACIT x ICONCRAFT: A Celebration of Thai Artisans and Creative Cities.'
This extraordinary campaign celebrates Thai artisans and elevates local wisdom from the seven Creative Cities — epicentres of cultural heritage and Thai craftsmanship — into contemporary works of art, with the SIRIVANNAVARI brand and 14 of Thailand's top designers. The three parties recently signed a Letter of Intent to support craftsmanship and the creative economy, empowering local communities and the next generation of Thai designers.
A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of two silk clutch bags designed by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, Creative Director of the SIRIVANNAVARI brand. Under her vision, each bag features intricate embroidery crafted by skilled artisans from the SIRIVANNAVARI Atelier & Academy.
The first clutch is a dazzling creation featuring a radiant golden peacock — the emblem of the SIRIVANNAVARI brand — with its fanned tail adorned with ears of rice, symbolising prosperity and abundance, and shimmering with beads and crystals. The second clutch draws inspiration from traditional woven textiles, with embroidery echoing the fabric's intricate patterns, enhancing their dimension and elegance.
Both pieces are one-of-a-kind works of art — true masterpieces that embody exclusivity and refined craftsmanship. Crafted from Kaew Ching Duang silk — a textile symbolising prosperity, unity, and harmony — the bags were handwoven by nationally honoured master artisan Weeratham Taragoonngernthai, grand master of Thai silk and founder of the 'CHANSOMA' brand in Surin Province. Each piece was specially designed to honour the spirit of Thai artisans and reflect the magnificence of Thai craftsmanship through a contemporary lens.
The royally designed silk clutches were auctioned to raise funds for a youth-focused UNESCO programme that promotes education and creative development for young people in Thailand's seven Creative Cities: Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Sukhothai, Phetchaburi, Chiang Rai, and Suphanburi.
Another highlight of the event is an exhibition featuring eight traditional Thai ensembles from the royal wardrobe of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya. On loan from the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, this marks their debut public showcase in Thailand. Designed and tailored by Tirapan Wannarat, owner of the TIRAPAN couture house and Thailand's 2019 National Artist in Visual Arts (Fashion Design), the pieces — including Thai Ruen Ton, Thai Chitralada, and Thai Amarin styles — are worn for royal ceremonies and official occasions and are imbued with historical significance.
Ms Soohyun Kim, Regional Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, stated,
'This collaboration is about sustaining the knowledge systems and cultural identities that Thai craftsmanship represents. By linking local artisans with leading designers and supporting creative education for young people across Thailand's Creative Cities, we are investing in the future of intangible heritage and creativity. UNESCO is proud to work alongside SACIT and Siam Piwat to ensure that the next generation not only inherits these traditions, but also shapes them in new and inspiring ways.'
Asst. Prof. Dr Anucha Thirakanont, Chief Executive of the Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (SACIT), stated,
'As an organisation with a mission to preserve, innovate, and promote Thai craftsmanship in all dimensions, it is a great honour to be part of this collaborative initiative with UNESCO and Siam Piwat. This project serves as a model for integrating creativity with Thai wisdom, making traditional crafts more contemporary. In particular, the Thai artisans supported by SACIT are highly skilled professionals with great potential for further development. This initiative presents a dynamic opportunity for artisans and creatives to collaborate meaningfully, while also aligning with various dimensions of sustainability. It marks a new chapter that highlights the potential of Thai craftsmanship on the global stage.'
Ms Usara Yongpiyakul, Retail Business Consultant, Siam Piwat Retail Holding Company Limited, stated,
'Forming a partnership with UNESCO and SACIT to promote Thai arts and crafts marks a significant step for Siam Piwat in advancing its mission to serve as an opportunity platform, with a focus on honouring Thai artisans and elevating local wisdom on the global stage. Siam Piwat has always been committed to growing our business while delivering shared value for people, communities, society, and the nation.
To integrate our efforts to support Thai talent into our retail models, we established ICONCRAFT as a platform to create opportunities and a space of inspiration for over 1,000 local artisans and small-scale entrepreneurs from every region of Thailand — giving them a stage to showcase their capabilities and present Thai heritage in a creative way. We have been working actively with our public and private partners to build value and sustainability for the Thai handicraft industry, and to foster a strong network that proudly showcases the quintessential Thai identity on the global stage.'
Through this collaboration, Siam Piwat aims to support cultural entrepreneurs and inspire Thailand's new generation of leaders in the cultural and creative sectors by building upon the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, with a focus on providing sustainable educational support for local youth.
This partnership led to the creation of the 'UNESCO x SACIT x ICONCRAFT: A Celebration of Thai Artisans and Creative Cities' campaign, which connects the local wisdom and Thai handicrafts of the seven Creative Cities with 14 designers.
SACIT has long been a key partner of Siam Piwat and recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly support and enhance the capacities of Thai master artisans, craftsmen, their successors, producers, and designers, as part of a strategic initiative to elevate Thai craftsmanship and expand its recognition on the international stage.
To create this exclusive collection, seven leading Thai designers were invited by ICONCRAFT to collaborate with seven designers from the Thai arts and crafts sector selected by SACIT. The designer pairings are as follows:
ATELIER PICHITA working with Tai Lue woven fabric from the Kru Dok Kaew Tai Lue Weaving Group (Chiang Rai)
THEATRE with Thai Song Dam fabric from the Ban Don Manow Thai Song Dam Weaving Group (Suphanburi)
CHAI GOLD LABEL with Lanna-style batik from Rak Batik (Chiang Mai)
HOOK'S BY PRAPAKAS with hand-painted batik from the Ying Batik Paint Group (Phuket)
WISHARAWISH with Lai Yang fabric from Phusa Pha Lai Yang (Phetchaburi)
PYVET with Jok Khon Men fabric from Suntree Thai (Sukhothai)
JANESUDA with colourful batik from Marionsiam (Bangkok)
Each of the seven brands will design two exclusive garments using these local Thai textiles, resulting in 14 unique, one-of-a-kind ensembles.
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