Contemporary Textiles for Urban Living – Patterns Derived from Thailand’s Lanna Culture

Abstract

This research project aimed to establish guidelines to develop traditional woven  textiles in the Tai Yuan and Tai Lue style which is a renowned heritage art form  from Thailand’s Lanna region for incorporation into contemporary living spaces.  First, the unique characteristics of Tai Yuan and Tai Lue weaving were determined  by specialists. Their analysis revealed that the uniqueness of Lanna textiles were  the result of the combination of weaving techniques, materials, colors and patterns. Secondly, a survey of preferences for culture-based textile products was  conducted by consumer orientated questionnaires administered to elicit contemporary pattern preferences. This survey revealed that respondents preferred culture-based textile products made in a modern style with contemporary patterns.  With these fidings of consumer preferences and the study of the characteristics  of Lanna textiles the author designed new patterns and applied them to a sample  collection of decorative products for living rooms.