TAMMACHAT joins Fair Trade Fair in Victoria, BC!

We've recently relocated to Victoria, BC, where we're happy to find a great interest in ethical consumption.

Join TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles as we present our handwoven, naturally dyed, fairly traded Thai and Lao textiles for the first time in Victoria. You'll find a variety of pieces perfect for gift giving or for yourself:

cotton & organic silk SCARVES 
~ knitting & shoulder BAGS ~ hand-stitched CUSHION COVERS ~ & more

VIDEA's FAIR TRADE FAIR
Saturday, November 28, 2015 
10am-4pm
First Metropolitan Church Hall
932 Balmoral Street
Victoria, BC  Canada
www.videa.ca

Introducing TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles: 

TAMMACHAT is a social enterprise (established in 2007) that believes in fair trade -- not charity -- as a model for supporting both artisans in the developing world and consumers who want to shop ethically. Concern for people and the planet before profits drives TAMMACHAT's work. Our fair trade relationships are based on long-term commitment to women's artisan groups, advance payments, fair prices (set by the artisans), and mutual respect and learning.

TAMMACHAT's fairly traded textiles from Thailand and Laos are hand-loomed or hand-stitched, and -- for the most part -- are coloured with sustainably created, beautiful natural dyes. They are made by women farmers, who mostly grow rice, the staple food in this region. The work of creating and dyeing yarns, then weaving them into fabrics for unique products provides important income to rural families, and helps sustain communities and traditions.

At the Fair Trade Fair:

Here's a sampling of the handwoven, naturally dyed textiles we'll be offering, along with  photos of a couple of our artisan partners in Thailand and Laos. For more about the women's weaving groups that create these special textiles, visit our Artisans page. And browse through our blog for stories from our annual trips where we work directly with these artisans groups.

~ handwoven, organic silk scarves ~

~ handwoven, organic silk scarves ~

~ Thai artisan displaying her organic silk fabric ~

~ an assortment of handwoven cotton products ~

~ Lao artisan winding organic silk yarns ~

TAMMACHAT is still in business!

Although TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles is closing its doors in 2016, we're not done yet! You can still find select, handwoven organic and Eri silk scarves in our Online SHOP. If you are looking for silk fabric, we still have a few special pieces left, also available in our SHOP.

And we continue to support Big Brother Mouse, bringing books to children in rural Laos. TAMMACHAT sponsored 2 more reading programs in rural Laos schools, Attapeu province. Read more here: Feb. 10, 2015 and Feb. 11, 2015.

Weaving still calls to us in our travels

Imagine our surprise! Visiting the Hilltribe Museum in Chiang Rai, Thailand today, we encountered handwoven, flowing scarves, dyed with indigo and mango, in cotton and silky cotton-rayon blends. Unlike the backstrap looms favoured by tribal weavers, the "parrot beak" pattern gracing these pieces require the comb and heddles used on the floor looms traditionally used by lowland Lao and Tai weavers. Not surprisely, the designer/weaver/dyer, Atittaya, is originally from Sakhon Nakhon where we purchased these styles in the past. Atittaya says she puts her heart into each piece because she loves this work. If she feels good, she will weave; if she's not feeling calm and meditative, she'll do some dying or wind bobbins. It's easy to see her feelings when you look at her scarves, bags, blankets and even dresses.

Long-time TAMMACHAT customers will recall the indigo scarves with deep colours and a wonderful drape: the ones we brought back in 2008 that quickly sold out. The good news is these are available now in Chiang Rai! Do visit.

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The Hilltribe Museum is a public-benefit organization which aims to help educate local and foreign tourists about Hilltribes' fast disappearing culture. The Museum aims to preserve artifacts and to provide information to tourists and tour operators so that responsible tourism can occur. When people are informed about Hilltribe culture, it is hope that negative impact of tourism on Hilltribe life will be minimized.

The Hilltribe Museum is under the supervision of the Population and Community Development Association.

620/25 Thanalai Rd., Chiang Rai

05371-9167