Bangkok, Thailand, April 17, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant Bangkok recently hosted the launch of a unique photo book entitled "TAI, A Woven Culture." It is an illustrated chronology of silk, interwoven with a unique history and culture, and the people involved. The work was created by renowned Belgian photographer Hans Roels and Bangkok-based Napajaree Suanduenchai, an avid Thai textile enthusiast and collector.

Thailand's fascinating silk history isn't actually Thai, but rather Taiwanese. Thailand is the name of the country, while Tai refers to the indigenous people who migrated from China to Southeast Asia. They founded Tai kingdoms that expanded over the centuries, dominating other territories and coexisting with one another. What unites all the Tai is their remarkable, unique weaving culture, at the heart of which is yellow silk, whose thick, smooth fibers are processed by hand.

This unique book, which tells the story of Tai silk, originated over 20 years ago when Belgian photographer Hans Roels, during his travels through northern Thailand, met Napajaree Suanduenchai, known as Nim, a Tai textile collector from Bangkok. Together they decided to document the various Thai subgroups that produced these exquisite silk garments. The book is the result of their shared passion.

Their journey began in Thailand, where various Tai communities led them to other subgroups in Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, southern China, and Assam in India. Their journey was shaped by the fascinating people they met, who expressed their identity through weaving. Each Tai community possessed its own unique patterns and traditions. The people who spun the precious fiber wove timeless designs. Through their craftsmanship and colors, they connected the past and present. These great artists were mostly humble farmers who cultivated rice for their own consumption and produced silk to showcase their culture and preserve their identity.

During their travels through Thailand, Nim and Hans also encountered ethnic minorities who were not part of the Tai people. These people lived in the mountainous regions between Thailand's valleys and had been settled there for generations before the Tai migration. They readily shared their unique and fascinating cultures, as well as their distinctive textiles. In addition to the precious silk and weaving techniques presented in the book, the portraits of the people who created these textiles are also central – each individual was captured and immortalized for posterity as part of a living tapestry and a proud culture.

“Here we have people who were wholeheartedly committed and placed their complete trust in us. That is what particularly impressed and deeply moved me about this project,” said Hans Roels. “This book makes you a witness to a sadly rapidly disappearing culture. Due to modernization, the younger generation no longer chooses this time-consuming weaving art. I am very glad to have started this project in time and to be able to show you the remnants of a beautiful, unforgettable culture. We hope that this book will bring you closer to Tai culture, reveal its essence to you, and even allow you to see the world through the eyes of the Tai,” Hans added.

“The discovery of these TAI textiles reminds me of the beauty of these people, who are farmers and create beautiful works through their textiles, expressing their identity and dignity as TAI,” said Khun Nim.

TAI, A Woven Culture was presented in Brussels in early March 2023 to great interest and enthusiasm. At the Thai market launch in the Blue Elephant Bangkok, the books were exhibited and sold at a special price of 2,700 baht (regular price 3,200 baht).

The large-format hardcover book "TAI, A Woven Culture," with 348 pages and approximately 206 color photographs, is printed in Sweden. It uses uncoated, unbleached FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) paper, thus supporting responsible forestry. The book is durable and printed using 100% wind energy. It is published by River Books.

For further information on the creation of TAI, A Woven Culture, please contact Hans Roels at +32 496 25 37 73. Those interested in purchasing the book should contact River Books at +32 225 0139 or +32 496 25 37 73.

About Mr. Hans Roels and Ms. Napajaree Suanduenchai: Mr. Hans Roels is a passionate photographer from Brussels, Belgium, who combines creativity and technical skill in his numerous works. Always interested in discovering new cultures in Belgium and around the world, he has participated in various cultural and commissioned projects, resulting in impressively beautiful and expressive images, exhibitions, and books. He has a particular interest in group photos, in which—as he himself says—every individual counts and becomes visible.

Ms. Napajaree Suanduenchai (Nim) is a textile collector from Bangkok. She comes from a family that has traded in Tai textiles for generations and followed in the footsteps of her mother, who ran the Prayer Textile Gallery in Bangkok. She also founded the "Tai Textile Collectors Circle" and is one of the founders of the "Tai Textile Society" in Bangkok.