THE TRANSFORMATION OF CHARACTERISTICS AND PATTERNS OF TAI SONG DAM TEXTILES PROCESSES: A CASE STUDY OF BAN NAM RUEANG COMMUNITY, THA CHANUAN SUBDISTRICT, KONG KRAILAT DISTRICT, SUKHOTHAI PROVINCE, BETWEEN 1997 – 2024

Abstract

          This study aims to (1) examine changes in the characteristics and patterns of the Tai Song Dam textile production process in the Ban Nam Rueang community between 1997 and 2024, and (2) analyze the factors influencing these changes. A qualitative research design was employed, using the oral history method for data collection. Key informants were selected through purposive sampling and included five individuals: a community leader, a traditional weaver, a tailor and fabric shop owner, a villager, and a local historian. The data were analyzed using interpretive analysis and presented through analytical description. The findings indicate that changes in the Tai Song Dam textile production process can be categorized into five dimensions: (1) weaving equipment, characterized by the continued use of traditional looms and an increase in black fabric orders from other communities; (2) fibers, with a growing use of synthetic materials; (3) colors, marked by the adoption of chemical dyes; (4) patterns, in which traditional motifs remain prevalent while new patterns influenced by Tai Song Dam communities in Vietnam have been incorporated; and (5) designs, where traditional products have been adapted into contemporary forms and new product designs have emerged.       These changes are shaped by both external and internal factors. External factors include government promotion and support, the expansion of cultural tourism, and modern cultural trends. Internal factors involve the scarcity of natural raw materials and the adaptive strategies of community producers. This study provides foundational knowledge for understanding the development of local textile production and the socio-economic transformations of  the community.