Thai Silk in Chiang Mai
The majority of the Thai Silk is produced in Chiang mai. Most of the production work is done in the Thai Silk Village located on the San Kamphaeng Road. It is a suburban centre to the east of Chiang Mai.
The silk village has a showroom as well as a shop from where you can buy the finest quality silk. The shop sells Thai silk scarves, suits, ties, clothes, tablecloths, etc made from natural silk.
The quality of weave and fibre ply is top-notch due to which the silk produced has the strength to bear the strong dyeing. You can find the articles in almost all shades.
Experience the magic of Thai silk, renowned for its exquisite texture and vibrant colors.
How is Thai Silk Produced?
The process of Silk Production is very interesting to watch. Most of the Thai Silk is still woven by traditional methods i.e using by hand. The production starts with the silk moth laying an egg.
The moth egg then develops into silk larvae and then begins to build a cocoon from a single silk strand.
Depending upon the silkworm that produces it, the length of the silk strand varies from 500-1500 metres. A small worm, Bombyx Mori then comes out from the eggs of the silk moth and produces the silk thread.
The silk thread produced ranges from light gold to green. A single thread filament is too thin so several strands are joined using a wooden spindle to make a usable silk thread.
The procedure is very complex and takes about 2 days to make about 500 grams of silk. The resultant product is then soaked in hot water to remove additional substances produced by the larvae.
The silk yarn is then bleached, dyed and woven into the fabric using a hand-operated loom.
Now the producers have started weaving silk on mechanised looms which makes the process efficient and less time-consuming. When the production time and labour cost is reduced significantly, the silk fabric becomes cheaper.
Where to buy Real Thai Silk in Chiang Mai
Owing to its popularity the Thai Silk is now widely produced and even duplicated with the cheap Chinese silk that looks identical. Therefore, it is important to know the places that sell genuine Thai silk.
Read along to find out the places that sell Thai silk in Chiang Mai.
4 Everything You Need to Know About Thai Silk In Chiang Mai
1.Studio Naenna
It is one of the most authentic places to buy Thai Silk fabric. The studio claims to preserve the Lanna heritage and traditional craftsmanship.
The studio has a shop in the Nimmanhaemin area and the main gallery, office and showroom are situated towards north at the base of the Suthep Mountain.
It also offers workshops where the entire dying process is demonstrated to the attendees. The studio specialises in ethical fashion and has an exquisite collection of Traditional Thai Silk dress, scarf, shawl, and home decor.
Location: 138/8 Soi Chang Khian, Huay Kaew Road, Chang Peuak, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
2.Thai Silk Village
It is also situated in the Sam Kamphaeng area. It deals in beautifully crafted Thai silk scarf and shawl with Lanna prints. You can also buy silk skincare products from here.
The weavers here are incredibly patient and skilled with their hands. If you like an item that is not in your size, they will get it ready the same day.
You can learn about the entire weaving and dying process beginning with the life cycle of the silk worm on your
visit here. The silk articles are reasonably priced.
Location: Thai Silk Village, San Klang, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
3.Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
It is located at the intersection of Chang Khlan Road and Loi Kroh Road. You can find premium quality Thai silk products such as scarfs, shawls, pillow cases, etc.
You can get good bargains here for gifts and souvenirs you can take back home.
The local market section is where you will find the shops that sell real silk, however be careful of imitation synthetic silk, aka ‘Chinese silk’, which has a similar appearance but isn’t as soft.
It’s also about a fifth of the price. The Night Bazaar is one of the most famous places in Chiang Mai.
Location: Night Bazaar, Chang Moi, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
4. Shinawatra Thai Silk
Location: Shinawatra Thai Silk, Ton Pao, San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
It was established by the Shinwatra family in 1911. It is by far the oldest silk factory in Thailand. You can find the Shinawatra Thai Silk Showroom on the road leading to the famous Bor Sang umbrella village in San Kamphaeng.
Besides buying beautiful silk handicraft, shawl, cosmetic bags, etc. you can also learn about the process of how silk is woven.
How to recognise Real Silk?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST1hRSJ4COM
There are numerous ways to determine the authenticity of genuine silk. To find out if a product is made from real silkworm silk, the easiest and the obvious method is to burn it.
While synthetic silk produces a hard, plastic-like residue on burning, real silk burns like a hair with acrid smell.
Another method to determine the authenticity is the sheen test. The combination of threads gives a particular sheen to silk. The colour on the surface appears to change as the angle of the light changes. However, if the silk is artificial, it will give a white sheen irrespective of the angle of light.
Bottom Line
Hence we see that Silk is one of the things you should not miss buying on your visit to Chiang Mai. Not only will you get it cheaper, but also the original raw silk in Thailand.
