These slippers are handwoven from water hyacinth, an aquatic plant that grows in calm rivers and ponds. We introduce three types of slippers, each featuring different weaving patterns on the upper part.
Even among water hyacinth products, the types of items—such as baskets, basket bags, small containers, and pot mats—vary depending on the artisans (region) and weaving techniques.
Most artisans are women in their 40s to 70s. Most of them weave baskets within village groups or as part of family-based teams.
Many artisans weave as a full-time occupation, while others make baskets alongside their farming activities. Those working part-time often pause weaving during harvest seasons to focus on agriculture.
As with Krajood basketry, although young weavers remain few, there is a renewed appreciation within Thailand for natural material products, and it seems that more young people are starting to take an interest in basketry.
After harvesting, water hyacinth is thoroughly sun-dried and then fumigated.Fumigation removes moisture from the material, making it stable for basket weaving. It also helps deter insects.Depending on the artisan, fumigation may be done either after drying or after the basket has been woven.The base of the slippers’ upper part is woven using gozame-ami, where vertical stalks and horizontal wefts alternate in a front-and-back pattern, creating a tightly woven structure with no gaps.The upper part is thin, yet it retains its shape without collapsing, even when gently pressed.The insole of the slippers is made from thicker water hyacinth, woven in the “gozame-ami” technique, where vertical stalks alternate with horizontal ones in a front-and-back pattern.This is the bottom of the slippers. There is no anti-slip treatment, so please be cautious when using them on slippery surfaces such as hardwood floors.Each type is approximately 9.84″ in size. Now, let’s introduce them.This is the “Fore” type, with an open weave on the front part of the upper.The open weave extends all the way to the connection with the insole.It has a cool and clean finish.This is the “Center” type, with an open weave in the middle part of the upper.A larger open weave is incorporated as a band.This gives it a slightly different feel from the “Fore” type.This is the “Entire” type, with an open weave across the entire upper.The open weave extends all the way to the connection with the insole in this type as well.It has a cool and airy image.It seems great to have them in different types.
While the material is by no means weak, repeatedly bending the toes to walk or raising the heels to squat can cause the upper part of the slipper to bend, leading to breaks in the water hyacinth material and resulting in wear and tear. Please avoid such actions.
When walking, it is preferable to walk quietly, as if sliding your feet, rather than lifting your heels too high. Also, it is best to avoid squatting as much as possible. If you need to squat while working, it would be better to remove the slippers first before proceeding with the task.
Since water hyacinth is particularly sensitive to humidity, a matte varnish has been applied to the entire basket as a finishing touch. This coating helps prevent the material from absorbing moisture.
The varnish is thoroughly dried, but in rare cases, those with sensitive skin may experience slight redness upon contact. If you are concerned, it may be a good idea to wear socks to avoid direct contact with the skin.
These water hyacinth slippers have a refreshing appearance and can be enjoyed as part of your interior decor just by placing them.
Please choose the type you prefer.
About Water Hyacinth Craftwork in Thailand
Also known as “hotei aoi” in Japanese, water hyacinth is an aquatic plant that floats and grows on the surfaces of lakes, marshes, ponds, and gently flowing rivers.
This plant is commonly found throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand, and basketry using water hyacinth can be seen in many regions.
In Thailand, water hyacinth can be harvested year-round, but it is said that healthier plants are harvested outside of the dry season (January to April). The color of the grass (and thus the basket) also varies depending on the harvesting region.
Various methods are used in processing: splitting the thick stems into different widths for weaving, twisting the stems into rope-like strands before weaving, peeling the stems thinly and wrapping them, or compressing and shaping them. Water hyacinth is a material that is relatively easy to work with. For baskets and basket bags, weaving is often done along wooden molds, while items like pot mats and slippers are typically crafted by hand without molds, relying on the artisan’s sense of touch.
The pieces introduced here are crafted in the fertile central plains of Thailand, along the Chao Phraya River, where rice-growing regions spread across Suphanburi, Ang Thong, and Chainat provinces.
These slippers are handwoven from water hyacinth, an aquatic plant that grows in calm rivers and ponds. We introduce three types of slippers, each featuring different weaving patterns on the upper part.
Even among water hyacinth products, the types of items—such as baskets, basket bags, small containers, and pot mats—vary depending on the artisans (region) and weaving techniques.
Most artisans are women in their 40s to 70s. Most of them weave baskets within village groups or as part of family-based teams.
Many artisans weave as a full-time occupation, while others make baskets alongside their farming activities. Those working part-time often pause weaving during harvest seasons to focus on agriculture.
As with Krajood basketry, although young weavers remain few, there is a renewed appreciation within Thailand for natural material products, and it seems that more young people are starting to take an interest in basketry.
After harvesting, water hyacinth is thoroughly sun-dried and then fumigated.Fumigation removes moisture from the material, making it stable for basket weaving. It also helps deter insects.Depending on the artisan, fumigation may be done either after drying or after the basket has been woven.The base of the slippers’ upper part is woven using gozame-ami, where vertical stalks and horizontal wefts alternate in a front-and-back pattern, creating a tightly woven structure with no gaps.The upper part is thin, yet it retains its shape without collapsing, even when gently pressed.The insole of the slippers is made from thicker water hyacinth, woven in the “gozame-ami” technique, where vertical stalks alternate with horizontal ones in a front-and-back pattern.This is the bottom of the slippers. There is no anti-slip treatment, so please be cautious when using them on slippery surfaces such as hardwood floors.Each type is approximately 9.84″ in size. Now, let’s introduce them.This is the “Fore” type, with an open weave on the front part of the upper.The open weave extends all the way to the connection with the insole.It has a cool and clean finish.This is the “Center” type, with an open weave in the middle part of the upper.A larger open weave is incorporated as a band.This gives it a slightly different feel from the “Fore” type.This is the “Entire” type, with an open weave across the entire upper.The open weave extends all the way to the connection with the insole in this type as well.It has a cool and airy image.It seems great to have them in different types.
While the material is by no means weak, repeatedly bending the toes to walk or raising the heels to squat can cause the upper part of the slipper to bend, leading to breaks in the water hyacinth material and resulting in wear and tear. Please avoid such actions.
When walking, it is preferable to walk quietly, as if sliding your feet, rather than lifting your heels too high. Also, it is best to avoid squatting as much as possible. If you need to squat while working, it would be better to remove the slippers first before proceeding with the task.
Since water hyacinth is particularly sensitive to humidity, a matte varnish has been applied to the entire basket as a finishing touch. This coating helps prevent the material from absorbing moisture.
The varnish is thoroughly dried, but in rare cases, those with sensitive skin may experience slight redness upon contact. If you are concerned, it may be a good idea to wear socks to avoid direct contact with the skin.
These water hyacinth slippers have a refreshing appearance and can be enjoyed as part of your interior decor just by placing them.
Please choose the type you prefer.
About Water Hyacinth Craftwork in Thailand
Also known as “hotei aoi” in Japanese, water hyacinth is an aquatic plant that floats and grows on the surfaces of lakes, marshes, ponds, and gently flowing rivers.
This plant is commonly found throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand, and basketry using water hyacinth can be seen in many regions.
In Thailand, water hyacinth can be harvested year-round, but it is said that healthier plants are harvested outside of the dry season (January to April). The color of the grass (and thus the basket) also varies depending on the harvesting region.
Various methods are used in processing: splitting the thick stems into different widths for weaving, twisting the stems into rope-like strands before weaving, peeling the stems thinly and wrapping them, or compressing and shaping them. Water hyacinth is a material that is relatively easy to work with. For baskets and basket bags, weaving is often done along wooden molds, while items like pot mats and slippers are typically crafted by hand without molds, relying on the artisan’s sense of touch.
The pieces introduced here are crafted in the fertile central plains of Thailand, along the Chao Phraya River, where rice-growing regions spread across Suphanburi, Ang Thong, and Chainat provinces.
These slippers are handwoven from water hyacinth, an aquatic plant that grows in calm rivers and ponds. We introduce three types of slippers, each featuring different weaving patterns on the upper part.
Even among water hyacinth products, the types of items—such as baskets, basket bags, small containers, and pot mats—vary depending on the artisans (region) and weaving techniques.
Most artisans are women in their 40s to 70s. Most of them weave baskets within village groups or as part of family-based teams.
Many artisans weave as a full-time occupation, while others make baskets alongside their farming activities. Those working part-time often pause weaving during harvest seasons to focus on agriculture.
As with Krajood basketry, although young weavers remain few, there is a renewed appreciation within Thailand for natural material products, and it seems that more young people are starting to take an interest in basketry.
After harvesting, water hyacinth is thoroughly sun-dried and then fumigated.Fumigation removes moisture from the material, making it stable for basket weaving. It also helps deter insects.Depending on the artisan, fumigation may be done either after drying or after the basket has been woven.The base of the slippers’ upper part is woven using gozame-ami, where vertical stalks and horizontal wefts alternate in a front-and-back pattern, creating a tightly woven structure with no gaps.The upper part is thin, yet it retains its shape without collapsing, even when gently pressed.The insole of the slippers is made from thicker water hyacinth, woven in the “gozame-ami” technique, where vertical stalks alternate with horizontal ones in a front-and-back pattern.This is the bottom of the slippers. There is no anti-slip treatment, so please be cautious when using them on slippery surfaces such as hardwood floors.Each type is approximately 9.84″ in size. Now, let’s introduce them.This is the “Fore” type, with an open weave on the front part of the upper.The open weave extends all the way to the connection with the insole.It has a cool and clean finish.This is the “Center” type, with an open weave in the middle part of the upper.A larger open weave is incorporated as a band.This gives it a slightly different feel from the “Fore” type.This is the “Entire” type, with an open weave across the entire upper.The open weave extends all the way to the connection with the insole in this type as well.It has a cool and airy image.It seems great to have them in different types.
While the material is by no means weak, repeatedly bending the toes to walk or raising the heels to squat can cause the upper part of the slipper to bend, leading to breaks in the water hyacinth material and resulting in wear and tear. Please avoid such actions.
When walking, it is preferable to walk quietly, as if sliding your feet, rather than lifting your heels too high. Also, it is best to avoid squatting as much as possible. If you need to squat while working, it would be better to remove the slippers first before proceeding with the task.
Since water hyacinth is particularly sensitive to humidity, a matte varnish has been applied to the entire basket as a finishing touch. This coating helps prevent the material from absorbing moisture.
The varnish is thoroughly dried, but in rare cases, those with sensitive skin may experience slight redness upon contact. If you are concerned, it may be a good idea to wear socks to avoid direct contact with the skin.
These water hyacinth slippers have a refreshing appearance and can be enjoyed as part of your interior decor just by placing them.
Please choose the type you prefer.
About Water Hyacinth Craftwork in Thailand
Also known as “hotei aoi” in Japanese, water hyacinth is an aquatic plant that floats and grows on the surfaces of lakes, marshes, ponds, and gently flowing rivers.
This plant is commonly found throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand, and basketry using water hyacinth can be seen in many regions.
In Thailand, water hyacinth can be harvested year-round, but it is said that healthier plants are harvested outside of the dry season (January to April). The color of the grass (and thus the basket) also varies depending on the harvesting region.
Various methods are used in processing: splitting the thick stems into different widths for weaving, twisting the stems into rope-like strands before weaving, peeling the stems thinly and wrapping them, or compressing and shaping them. Water hyacinth is a material that is relatively easy to work with. For baskets and basket bags, weaving is often done along wooden molds, while items like pot mats and slippers are typically crafted by hand without molds, relying on the artisan’s sense of touch.
The pieces introduced here are crafted in the fertile central plains of Thailand, along the Chao Phraya River, where rice-growing regions spread across Suphanburi, Ang Thong, and Chainat provinces.
