KAJ.011

This one-of-a-kind garment is reversible and unique from each side. 

This light weight relaxed string knot kimono style jacket crafted out of vintage hand woven naturally dyed Mat-mi cotton from Northern Thailand in shades of sand, other side is vintage hand spun Mat-mi in shades of slate  . 

Traditional Thai textiles are beyond fashion. They are the beauty that transcends time. Thai textiles began as a way of life and over time they have become arts. Hand-woven and hand-dyed , these textiles require high level of skills and incredible attention to detail.   They also empower women as they play a key role in handcrafting Thai textiles. 

Mat mi (or mad mee) is a fabric made with a tie-dyeing process before weaving to create a design. The technique has long been practised in Thailand, particularly in the Northeast as well as some central provinces such as Chai Nat, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi and Lop Buri. It is also made in the Northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Nan. To create a design, cotton or silk yarns are made into bundles with a number of yarns appropriate for the design. They are stretched on a frame called hong mi and are tied at specific positions to block the dye, a procedure known as ob in Thai. In the past, strings made from banana trunk were used for tying, but now plastic ropes are preferred. Tying must be done tightly and carefully. Positions that are tied will not absorb the dye. Tying and dyeing can be done as many times as required by the design. Weaving must be done carefully, following the order of the reels. Weavers must also draw on their experience to adjust dyed yarns to create to a perfect design. Mat mi weaving is therefore a traditional craft that requires advanced skills.