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Part of the northeastern people's rich cultural heritage is the production of a unique silk fabric locally known as Ikat but internationally referred to as Mutmee. Mutmee silk is so called because of the particular tie-dye process by which the silk threads are tied according to the desired pattern before they are dyed. Actually, Mutmee can be made of both silk and cotton. But Mutmee silk is much more popular.

To make Mutmee, only filaments uniform in size and texture are used. In the past natural dyes derived from roots, vegetable or earth were used. However, today chemical dyes are given preference for they save a great deal of time and permit more color varieties. Traditionally, the prevailing Mutmee color is an inky blue which used to be extracted from the indigo plant.

Typical Mutmee designs are nature motives: animals such as birds or serpents, especially pythons, or trees or flowers.

Until not long ago, Mutmee was produced for domestic use, mostly in religious ceremonies or on auspicious days such as wedding days. Only at the beginning of the 80's, Mutmee was promoted beyond the villages of the Northeast chiefly by Queen Sirikit. The manufacture of Mutmee silk has since then become part of the economic development of this poorest region of the country. Trade organizations under the patronage of the Queen help in the distribution.

Today Mutmee is popular among Thai men as well as women. To encourage people to use this unique local product, the Royal Family regularly wears clothes made from Mutmee silk. Recently, King Bhumiphol suggested that a national Mutmee attire should be worn in place of western style suits which are uncomfortable in the tropical climate. Mutmee shirts are now accepted as formal wear and are commonly seen at social gatherings.

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Directly from Thai growers in North Thailand, Chipped butea superba, shipped worldwide as small packet, air parcel and surface mail.


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http://www.asiatour.com/thailand/e-02trav/et-tr239.htm
Jan Garanoz
869/116 Thanon Pemavipat,
Chiang Rai, 57000 Thailand
Created: September 1, 1995
Last updated: September 14, 2009