Article written by Ilona Kauremszky, youtube.com/user/mycompasstv.

Set at the base of one of Thailand’s most spiritual mountains, a thriving indigo sanctuary is where spirituality meets. It’s also where Patricia Cheesman prophetically allows me into her inner sanctum at the Studio Naenna (https://www.studio-naenna.com/ to meet an ancient Mother Goddess.

An eco-textile maverick with 40 years under her belt that includes authoring countless books and reviving over 100 traditional designs she smirks then whispers, “Meet the Goddess of Indigo,” an affectionate nickname she uses describing her ageless indigo dye as our hands dip deep into the bubbling blue vat during an indigo tie-dye workshop. 

Inside the traditional Thai house located in the foothill of the Doi Suthep mountain in Chiang Mai, the indigo tie-dye queen alongside daughter Lamorna have resurrected the intricate art of heritage Thai weaving. On any given day visitors can experience the exquisite weaving techniques of weft ikat, a type of patterned design, in a community project called Weavers for the Environment created by Patricia in 1992.

Image Courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand

“The craft is an alternative to migrating to the city to find work and allows these women to work from home with flexible hours,” she says and adds, “It’s not just the weavers benefitting it’s the extended family because we do fair trade. They get a good income from their work.”

Patricia together with her head weaver she mentored, train and offer satisfying life sustaining work and skills to young women mainly from two hill tribes, the Karen and Hmong in North eastern Thailand.

While the highly skilled quality handmade product she further notes has been sought after by luxury brands like Neiman Marcus, Patricia has no interest in expanding the fair trade project into a larger studio.  

“Our aim is to maintain the culture. This means members weave in their homes and the Studio is the only outlet for their magnificent creations.”

Later over fragrant tea infusions surrounded by her jungle garden she rolls out ribbons of exquisite textiles in Thai silk and cotton fabrics with some creations in three shades of blue.

Image Courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand

“Like my clothes that are 10-15 years old these beauties appeal to those who know they’re going to get exquisite quality that won’t biodegrade,” she says widening her grin.

Slow fashion rules.

Advance Thai indigo workshop reservations are needed for the Studio Naenna

https://www.facebook.com/studionaenna/

Image Courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand