Close Window

Tanyashanok Chaichana

"My name is Tanyashanok Chaichana, previously Sirilak Chaichana, and I was formerly known to Novica's customers through Wanida Chaichana, my dear cousin and partner. Some prominent Thai silk circles are a bit conservative, and they believe that some of the silks shouldn't leave the country, that the processes, patterns, textures should be kept secret and that their beauty should only embellish Thai people. I asked Wanida (who's more in charge of the elaboration processes) to use her name fully. But now Wanida will be fully in charge of the silks she will make and trade with all these domestic channels. For my part, I continue with silk but also diversify my handicrafts. Consequently, you can now see my real self and know my real name.

"I grew up in a humble middle class family with three younger sisters who are still studying. My dad is a cab driver and my mother is taking care of the home, which is also a huge task. I highly love and respect both my parents. My father is an example to me; he taught me to make the most of my work and my life. My mother is tough; she taught me to never worry and to face life and its intricacies. We are a tight family and we love one another. My sisters love fashion as much as I do and we regularly call one another, resulting in telephone bills that are driving my parents to despair. To describe myself in a few words I would say that I am curious, over-trusting, I like to laugh and I enjoy life to the fullest.

" When I completed my accounting degree, I launched out into the silk trade, borrowed one of my friend's car and went to Isarn – the northeastern Thai region. There the beauty of the landscapes took me aback, the rural life was quite foreign to me and I genuinely enjoyed it – the morning mist over the rice fields, the silhouettes of the farmers pushing their buffalos at sunset, the smells of the countryside and burning wood in the evening, the spicy Isarn food and this incredible workmanship. I am completely addicted to it now and cannot stay away too long. I roamed about Isarn and the neighboring Laos… I met hundreds of 'silk people' I saw old men dyeing, women weaving and children raising silk worms. They often put me up and generously taught me their handicraft.

"Although I like rural life, to a great extent I am above all a contemporary town-dweller, which is evident in the way I dress, the way I speak and think, but more importantly the way I design. In fact I always use traditional fabrics such as the madmee, chock, din thong and yok dok weaving techniques and sew them onto contemporary accessories and clothes to be used in every occasion, not only to work or to follow a cultural trend. Of course I did not think the same way at first and my style has evolved overtime, but I mostly keep using traditional fabrics. I use silk, hemp, sometimes cotton but I am not making the fabrics myself. After many years close to the silk and cotton makers I, of course, know the whole making process and I have enough knowledge and experience to dye and weave myself, but I am above all a collector, a needlewoman and I am more interested in the trading part. I have also designed jewelry, aromatherapy sets, lacquer works, ceramics and worked closely with small artisans and large factories to understand the making processes.

"My challenge is to set lofty goals and to put them into concrete form. My favorite things in life are my family… to visit my friends in Isarn and Laos… to help them sell their work… to please my customers and now to design products. I have a private collection of ancient Thai handicrafts, mostly exceptional silks. I only trade with special people, hence I hope that the customers will appreciate the pieces presented on Novica's web site. In fact my dreams are to show off this Siamese culture and past of ours to the world through my handicrafts, while still offering a fresh contemporary flair, the result being sometimes quite like myself - anachronistic. Each country has beauty and importance, at least in its own eyes. In Thailand we have many beautiful things, and among them are unique silks and handicrafts. I think it is wonderful that Novica allows people all over the world to get affordable products directly from the world artisans. These people are able to discover and display in their home foreign history, culture and beauty without having to travel. That is just great!"