Knowledge Management on Karen Ethnic Attire in Mae Hong Son Province

Abstract

The objectives of this research 1) to survey and collect clothing of Karen ethnic, 2) to explore and collect plants used to make costumes and decorate clothes of Karen ethnic, 3) to gain explicit knowledge that appears in the clothing of Karen ethnic and 4) to create a database of plants used to make costumes and to decorate the clothes of Karen ethnic. This research used a sample of 700 people from the following Karen ethnic groups: Skaw Karen, Pwo Karen, and Red Karen. The research instruments consisted of questionnaires and in-depth interviews.
The results of the research found that:
1. The general characteristics of Karen ethnic clothing were mostly made from artificial silk using backstrap weaving. The chemical dyeing process is used rather than natural dyes because of the convenience, fast, and consistent colors.
2. Cotton is a major material used in Karen weaving. Millet is used in embroidering to make beautiful patterns. Natural colors of cotton thread dyeing are commonly from fan-palm seeds, wild Castanea bark, Indian trumpet tree bark, jackfruit bark, etc.
3. Knowledge Management on Karen Ethnic are synthetic as the “KCODA Model” consisting of Knowledge Management: K, Conservation of Clothing: CO, and Database: DA.
4. Data registration of plants used for dyeing, dyeing methods, woven fabric patterns, and decoration. The three subgroups of Karen ethnic have made a memorandum of agreement in accordance with the Royal Initiative Plant Genetic Conservation Project of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (PSU). There is also a documentary on costumes bonding ethnic identity of Pwo Karen, Skaw Karen, and Red Karen.