Abstract
Cultural capital exists in both tangible and intangible forms, encompassing lifestyle, beliefs, architecture, products, and objects that constitute integral parts of societal fabric. Especially concerning tangible cultural capital like traditional textiles, it conveys economic value. Cultural textiles in Thailand are crafted from silk, cotton, or hemp and are produced ethically, benefiting local communities. The diverse ethnic groups in Thailand create unique textiles using a variety of techniques, patterns, and materials. This research aims to explore the objectives, methodologies, and stylistic approaches used in textile design and production, by three emerging local entrepreneurs in Nan province, a region in northern Thailand renowned for its rich Tai Lue cultural capital. The research method is qualitative research, involving interviews with three selected entrepreneur participants in Nan province. The research uncovered the following insights: (1) The primary objective of textile production is to earn a living, leveraging skills and knowledge inherited from past generations. Faced with the decision of preserving or developing new textiles using cultural capital, all three entrepreneurs preferred to strike a balance between both approaches. (2) All local entrepreneurs draw inspiration from ancient textiles found in households, passed down by relatives, or from mural paintings in temples. They gather and merge these designs with predictions of consumer tastes and fashion trends. (3) The stylistic approach varies depending on the designers' ability to predict market trends or through discussions with made-to-order consumers. Additionally, important design elements still in use include the breakdown of traditional patterns, color schemes, and choices of yarn.
Author Information
Atthaphon Ponglawhapun, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Paper Information
Conference: KAMC2024
Stream: Cultural Studies
This paper is part of the KAMC2024 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Ponglawhapun A. (2024) Cultural Capital Development: A Case Study of Local Entrepreneurs on Textile Design and Production in Nan Province, Northern Thailand ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2024: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 145-153) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2024.14
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2024.14
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