Communicating Identity through Textile Wisdom of the Lao Ethnic Group in Sri Saket, Thailand

Abstract

        The purpose of this research; (1) to study the identity through the wisdom culture of woven fabrics of the Lao ethnic group, Nong Kaew Subdistrict, Kanthararom District, Sisaket Province, and (2) to study the development guidelines for communicating identity through the wisdom culture of woven fabrics of the Lao ethnic group, Nong Kaew Subdistrict, Kanthararom District, Sisaket Province. This research is a qualitative research using data search methods from documents, textbooks, and related research, and collecting field data through in-depth interviews and participatory observation with key informants who are community leaders, women's woven fabric groups in Nong Kaew Subdistrict, and government agencies, Nong Kaew Subdistrict Administrative Organization, Kanthararom District, Sisaket Province.

        The results were as follows; 1) The identity of woven fabric wisdom of Nong Kaew Subdistrict, Kanthararom District, Sisaket Province is that the community is a Lao ethnic group. Most of the population is engaged in agriculture, followed by weaving, which has passed down knowledge and experience that has been passed down from generation to generation for more than 100 years. They weave fabrics for wearing. The community has cultivated and passed down knowledge starting from the household level, especially from mother to daughter, who dress in sarongs. And there is a sash to wear when making merit or in various traditional events. The weaving of the Khid pattern, the designer of the Khid pattern will be inspired by the way of life, nature and beliefs. Currently, it has been further developed by making it a household weaving career, generating income for the community and extending creativity in designing products from Khid pattern fabrics into new products such as bags, pillows, as gifts and souvenirs. 2) The communication process in transferring local wisdom, the communication characteristics of the community will be communication within the community at the individual and group levels. The communication process has a sender, which is the village sage, the operator of the product. The message is the production process, inheritance, and application through channels, which are personal media, product material media, special media and activity media. The recipient groups are community members, members of the local media operator group and the general public. There are 3 steps in developing the communication format: 1) The production step uses personal media through conversation, teaching, explanation, demonstration and experimentation. 2) The inheritance step emphasizes the use of personal media, activity media, and training using a combination of teaching methods such as telling and practicing. 3) The application step emphasizes the use of product material media to create value together with the use of online media channels to disseminate information more widely.