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Sommai

"My name is Sommai Suwansri, but most of my friends call me Dang. I was born on June 24, 1960 and am the youngest of four sisters. I've loved my country since I was very young. Our Buddhist religion is very good and peaceful too, and I always liked the idea of expressing to everyone this beauty we have.

"Since I was the youngest in my family, I had the chance to learn a lot from my older sisters. They were very patient and taught me many things from cooking to sewing. It is sewing that I liked most, and this passion led me to apply for a job in a factory. When I started, I didn't how to make a hat, I just knew how to sew. But the factory owner, Mr. Nakada, taught me many things.

"I love to work with silk and also with linen and cotton – they are natural textile products originally from Thailand. For the silk, I use a new kind of silk called Thai golden silk that is a new discovery! We use a special golden cocoon that is softer and more durable than the usual one and especially more shiny. In fact its natural color is gold, which gives it its name. Moreover, by using this cocoon we are helping the earth too, because to grow the golden silk worm we have to plant many mulberry trees. And I honestly think that this is wonderful for our world!

"I like to make hats and the idea of selling them abroad thrills me. It is good to show foreigners what we can do. Thailand is a great country with talented people and I want people to know about it."