This is woven basket made from a grass called “Kachū” in Thai, which grows wild around swamps. The distinctive shape made from relatively soft materials is impressive.
The stems are cut from the roots, dried and flattened and then woven. The stems are harvested from spring (around May) to summer (around August).
Longer stems are needed for larger baskets, so harvesting may be delayed a little and wait for further growth before harvesting.
The weavers depend on the region, with some groups having a skilled weaver as a teacher and teaching others, while others have three generations of family members who weave together. Most are made by groups of four or five people in each village.
For most people, basket-making is not a full-time occupation, but is often done in between farming activities such as rice cultivation, and many of the weavers are of an older generation.
Although there are not many young weavers, there is now a renewed appreciation of the quality of these natural material products in Thailand, and young people are becoming interested in baskets.
The weaving of the basket sides is the same as the weaving technique known as ‘Ajiro-weaving’ in Japan.Flattened stems are alternately woven together to form one large piece, which is then formed into the shape of a basket.Kachū stems cut from the water’s edge are coated with clay-based mud and dried in the sun for 3-5 days. This keeps the material tougher and moist, preventing cracking due to drying.In addition, the final step in the basket-making process is to glue the entire surface of the basket. This is also an essential part of Kachū’s basket-making process to ensure a strong basket.This is the rim. The rim is simply folded over, respecting the atmosphere of an outing bag.This is the rim viewed from the inside of the basket. This one is also smoothly folded over. If you look closely, you can see that the strips are fastened upward, passing under a few layers of the rim.This is the rim viewed from above. You can see how thin the rim of the mouth is.The connection between the handle and the rim. The rope of the handle is threaded through the weaving of the Kachū.This is the connection seen from inside the basket. It is made without interfering with the overall weaving.The handle is made of “Kok”, a Cyperaceae group grass. Kok is made into a rope shape and used as a handle.The bottom is square and has sufficient gussets. A long wallet can be placed in it without any problem if you turn it diagonally.This is a view of the bottom from the back. Ajiro-weaving fabric continues to be woven with few gaps.The corners of the basket bottom are also well finished.From above, it is clear that Kachū grass is indeed a very flexible and manageable material.A Kok rope and button can be used to hold the mouth of the basket closed to prevent it from opening.Perfectly sized for outings, it can hold a wallet, keys, cell phone, pouch, and other valuables that are often carried around.
The glue applied to the surface of Kachū baskets is a necessary process that prevents the baskets from losing their shape and increases their strength as commodities. It is also the wisdom of the makers who are always thinking about how to make a sturdy basket.
The glue is well dried, but in rare cases, sensitive skin may react to the glue by touching it. If you are concerned about this, it may be a good idea to wear long sleeves to avoid direct contact with the skin.
Also, due to the features of Kachū, the bottom of the bag may gradually stretch if it is stored with a heavy object in this handbag with the handles hooked and hung.
For everyday use, it can hold slightly heavy objects, but when not in use, it is best to remove all of the contents or place it on a shelf rather than hanging it up to rest before using it again.
The plump shape and stable appearance of Kachū’s handbag are very charming. With a dress, T-shirt and denim, it will surely go well with any outfit.
When worn on the shoulder, you can feel the smooth texture and moderate elasticity of the folded Kachū. This cute bag is shaped to be a perfect companion for a light outing.
<About Thai Kachū work>
In terms of climate, Thailand belongs to a tropical climate where the year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. The land of Thailand is sometimes said to resemble the face of an elephant. The Malay Peninsula is the “nose” of Thailand.
The climate is a little different in southern Thailand, where the monsoon blows from the southwest (Pacific Ocean) or northeast (Indian Ocean), depending on the season. The rainy season is longer and the dry season is shorter, lasting only about two months, than in other parts of the country.
“Kachū” is the name of a grass found in the swamps of southern Thailand in that hot and humid environment. The locals call it that in Thai.
In Thailand, with its high rainfall, flooding is a common occurrence. This can cause “Kachū” to be washed away or damaged in some years, resulting in a poor crop. The demand for “Kachū” baskets in Thailand and abroad is increasing, and securing materials for making baskets has become a problem for the makers.
The “Kachū work” presented here is mainly located on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Gulf of Thailand, such as Suｒat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
This is woven basket made from a grass called “Kachū” in Thai, which grows wild around swamps. The distinctive shape made from relatively soft materials is impressive.
The stems are cut from the roots, dried and flattened and then woven. The stems are harvested from spring (around May) to summer (around August).
Longer stems are needed for larger baskets, so harvesting may be delayed a little and wait for further growth before harvesting.
The weavers depend on the region, with some groups having a skilled weaver as a teacher and teaching others, while others have three generations of family members who weave together. Most are made by groups of four or five people in each village.
For most people, basket-making is not a full-time occupation, but is often done in between farming activities such as rice cultivation, and many of the weavers are of an older generation.
Although there are not many young weavers, there is now a renewed appreciation of the quality of these natural material products in Thailand, and young people are becoming interested in baskets.
The weaving of the basket sides is the same as the weaving technique known as ‘Ajiro-weaving’ in Japan.Flattened stems are alternately woven together to form one large piece, which is then formed into the shape of a basket.Kachū stems cut from the water’s edge are coated with clay-based mud and dried in the sun for 3-5 days. This keeps the material tougher and moist, preventing cracking due to drying.In addition, the final step in the basket-making process is to glue the entire surface of the basket. This is also an essential part of Kachū’s basket-making process to ensure a strong basket.This is the rim. The rim is simply folded over, respecting the atmosphere of an outing bag.This is the rim viewed from the inside of the basket. This one is also smoothly folded over. If you look closely, you can see that the strips are fastened upward, passing under a few layers of the rim.This is the rim viewed from above. You can see how thin the rim of the mouth is.The connection between the handle and the rim. The rope of the handle is threaded through the weaving of the Kachū.This is the connection seen from inside the basket. It is made without interfering with the overall weaving.The handle is made of “Kok”, a Cyperaceae group grass. Kok is made into a rope shape and used as a handle.The bottom is square and has sufficient gussets. A long wallet can be placed in it without any problem if you turn it diagonally.This is a view of the bottom from the back. Ajiro-weaving fabric continues to be woven with few gaps.The corners of the basket bottom are also well finished.From above, it is clear that Kachū grass is indeed a very flexible and manageable material.A Kok rope and button can be used to hold the mouth of the basket closed to prevent it from opening.Perfectly sized for outings, it can hold a wallet, keys, cell phone, pouch, and other valuables that are often carried around.
The glue applied to the surface of Kachū baskets is a necessary process that prevents the baskets from losing their shape and increases their strength as commodities. It is also the wisdom of the makers who are always thinking about how to make a sturdy basket.
The glue is well dried, but in rare cases, sensitive skin may react to the glue by touching it. If you are concerned about this, it may be a good idea to wear long sleeves to avoid direct contact with the skin.
Also, due to the features of Kachū, the bottom of the bag may gradually stretch if it is stored with a heavy object in this handbag with the handles hooked and hung.
For everyday use, it can hold slightly heavy objects, but when not in use, it is best to remove all of the contents or place it on a shelf rather than hanging it up to rest before using it again.
The plump shape and stable appearance of Kachū’s handbag are very charming. With a dress, T-shirt and denim, it will surely go well with any outfit.
When worn on the shoulder, you can feel the smooth texture and moderate elasticity of the folded Kachū. This cute bag is shaped to be a perfect companion for a light outing.
<About Thai Kachū work>
In terms of climate, Thailand belongs to a tropical climate where the year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. The land of Thailand is sometimes said to resemble the face of an elephant. The Malay Peninsula is the “nose” of Thailand.
The climate is a little different in southern Thailand, where the monsoon blows from the southwest (Pacific Ocean) or northeast (Indian Ocean), depending on the season. The rainy season is longer and the dry season is shorter, lasting only about two months, than in other parts of the country.
“Kachū” is the name of a grass found in the swamps of southern Thailand in that hot and humid environment. The locals call it that in Thai.
In Thailand, with its high rainfall, flooding is a common occurrence. This can cause “Kachū” to be washed away or damaged in some years, resulting in a poor crop. The demand for “Kachū” baskets in Thailand and abroad is increasing, and securing materials for making baskets has become a problem for the makers.
The “Kachū work” presented here is mainly located on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Gulf of Thailand, such as Suｒat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
This is woven basket made from a grass called “Kachū” in Thai, which grows wild around swamps. The distinctive shape made from relatively soft materials is impressive.
The stems are cut from the roots, dried and flattened and then woven. The stems are harvested from spring (around May) to summer (around August).
Longer stems are needed for larger baskets, so harvesting may be delayed a little and wait for further growth before harvesting.
The weavers depend on the region, with some groups having a skilled weaver as a teacher and teaching others, while others have three generations of family members who weave together. Most are made by groups of four or five people in each village.
For most people, basket-making is not a full-time occupation, but is often done in between farming activities such as rice cultivation, and many of the weavers are of an older generation.
Although there are not many young weavers, there is now a renewed appreciation of the quality of these natural material products in Thailand, and young people are becoming interested in baskets.
The weaving of the basket sides is the same as the weaving technique known as ‘Ajiro-weaving’ in Japan.Flattened stems are alternately woven together to form one large piece, which is then formed into the shape of a basket.Kachū stems cut from the water’s edge are coated with clay-based mud and dried in the sun for 3-5 days. This keeps the material tougher and moist, preventing cracking due to drying.In addition, the final step in the basket-making process is to glue the entire surface of the basket. This is also an essential part of Kachū’s basket-making process to ensure a strong basket.This is the rim. The rim is simply folded over, respecting the atmosphere of an outing bag.This is the rim viewed from the inside of the basket. This one is also smoothly folded over. If you look closely, you can see that the strips are fastened upward, passing under a few layers of the rim.This is the rim viewed from above. You can see how thin the rim of the mouth is.The connection between the handle and the rim. The rope of the handle is threaded through the weaving of the Kachū.This is the connection seen from inside the basket. It is made without interfering with the overall weaving.The handle is made of “Kok”, a Cyperaceae group grass. Kok is made into a rope shape and used as a handle.The bottom is square and has sufficient gussets. A long wallet can be placed in it without any problem if you turn it diagonally.This is a view of the bottom from the back. Ajiro-weaving fabric continues to be woven with few gaps.The corners of the basket bottom are also well finished.From above, it is clear that Kachū grass is indeed a very flexible and manageable material.A Kok rope and button can be used to hold the mouth of the basket closed to prevent it from opening.Perfectly sized for outings, it can hold a wallet, keys, cell phone, pouch, and other valuables that are often carried around.
The glue applied to the surface of Kachū baskets is a necessary process that prevents the baskets from losing their shape and increases their strength as commodities. It is also the wisdom of the makers who are always thinking about how to make a sturdy basket.
The glue is well dried, but in rare cases, sensitive skin may react to the glue by touching it. If you are concerned about this, it may be a good idea to wear long sleeves to avoid direct contact with the skin.
Also, due to the features of Kachū, the bottom of the bag may gradually stretch if it is stored with a heavy object in this handbag with the handles hooked and hung.
For everyday use, it can hold slightly heavy objects, but when not in use, it is best to remove all of the contents or place it on a shelf rather than hanging it up to rest before using it again.
The plump shape and stable appearance of Kachū’s handbag are very charming. With a dress, T-shirt and denim, it will surely go well with any outfit.
When worn on the shoulder, you can feel the smooth texture and moderate elasticity of the folded Kachū. This cute bag is shaped to be a perfect companion for a light outing.
<About Thai Kachū work>
In terms of climate, Thailand belongs to a tropical climate where the year is divided into rainy and dry seasons. The land of Thailand is sometimes said to resemble the face of an elephant. The Malay Peninsula is the “nose” of Thailand.
The climate is a little different in southern Thailand, where the monsoon blows from the southwest (Pacific Ocean) or northeast (Indian Ocean), depending on the season. The rainy season is longer and the dry season is shorter, lasting only about two months, than in other parts of the country.
“Kachū” is the name of a grass found in the swamps of southern Thailand in that hot and humid environment. The locals call it that in Thai.
In Thailand, with its high rainfall, flooding is a common occurrence. This can cause “Kachū” to be washed away or damaged in some years, resulting in a poor crop. The demand for “Kachū” baskets in Thailand and abroad is increasing, and securing materials for making baskets has become a problem for the makers.
The “Kachū work” presented here is mainly located on the eastern side of the Malay Peninsula facing the Gulf of Thailand, such as Suｒat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
