Every one of the many diverse ethnic groups for whom Thailand is their
home has been a vital contributor to the existing unique art and craft heritage of this ancient Kingdom.
Over centuries, this ethnic mix that gives us the important legacy of Thai
art and craft, in both design form and applied skill, has gradually developed, integrated and adapted to meet local contemporary need, identity and pleasure. But today, with new communications and internationalism, maintaining this cultural inheritance meets new challenges which require
new, imaginative methods to keep Thailand's living craft heritage alive.
No one with a love for history, tradition and who values the concept of cultural inheritance would wish other than that the ancient crafts in their original form should be maintained and handed on to future generations,
if at all possible. But life is not a museum and sentimentality cannot stand
in the way of progress that improves the way life for people, especially the poor and underprivileged. Thailand's craft heritage is not only the
artefacts of a by-gone age but also the human desire to be creative, both
for utility and for pleasure – or, in its best form, for both. Thus the heritage that is to be handed on may take on different and often exciting new
forms using new kinds of materials in new products but which stem from
the heritage or inherited cultural practice of craft activity in Thailand. It is
our duty to preserve the heritage of (handmade) craft production in
Thailand and not just the traditional crafts as such.
Backed by over three decades' experience of marketing support for craft producers in all parts of Thailand, working with most ethnic groups, lowland, highland and coastal, the owners of Heritage Craft (organisers of the popular monthly ThaiCraft Fairs) are creating a new approach to highlighting the values of living art and craft as well as presenting new and exciting products that speak not just of what was (in the past) but also what can and hopefully will be (in the future): a combination of craft preservation with the aesthetic desire for that which is handmade.
This means you can expect new products for today that reflect old values and trusted forms of yesteryear. None is mass-produced
and many combine the different skills and efforts of several artisans using locally sourced natural and organic materials wherever possible and practical. Our selection is eclectic but with a geographic link and common values. Supply is often limited and will be replaced with other interesting things when there's room; so what is available today may not be tomorrow! And who knows what tomorrow may bring that is new?
Our products and the fascinating story that brings them to you are featured in two interlinked ways:-
The first is the website (this one!) supported by and linked to our pages on regularly used social media. Browsing our on-line catalogue will be an adventure, with one page leading to another, and constantly expanding as new exciting
items are added and more stories are told, making this a place worth a regular revisit. for the start of your journey!
The second is much more traditional but nonetheless rewarding. Our Heritage Craft Shop and Café is situated only a few minutes' walk – or cycle ride! – from The Grand Palace in the heart of Bangkok old city area. Our renovated shop-house, one of the oldest in Thailand, though quite small and, perhaps, somewhat unremarkable from the outside, is well worth a look-in for its own historic value and is also adjacent to an old, little-known square of traditional family shop-houses. Inside our shop, we extend a warm welcome (cooled only by the air) with fresh fairtrade coffee, home-made snacks and, of course, the handcrafted products themselves. At hand, are the stories behind the items (who made them, where and how) and the what and why of our heritage objectives and fair trade philosophy. We look forward to meeting you. to find out how to reach us.