Mudmee Silk

Mudmee silk

Mudmee silk is produced from high quality yarns which are tied  together and taken to dye colour as well as to design. Subsequently, it is weaved by traditional hand-operated loom.

Mudmee Silk

Mudmee or Tie-die is one of weaving process by yarn dyed before weaving which is both dyed weft and dyed warp, when woven into the plot that result in many patterns and colors as needed. 

Tie-dye Process

Mudmee silk is found very much in north-east of Thailand, by tying the texture pattern such as naga, lamp, flowers, leaves, animals, etc.

Mudmee Silk : Flower and Animals Pattern

Mudmee Silk : Thai Culture Pattern

Mudmee Silk : Flower Pattern

There are many type of Mudmee in Thailand :

Thai Silk Weaving Methods

First step : Degumming : This process begins with cleaning raw silk which will be used as a warp and weft in order to take away all those dirt and sericin. This cleaning process includes the boiling in hot boiling water mixing with sodium carbonate, it can help to increase the softness and shine to the silk, enhancing the quality color after dyeing.

Second step : Bleaching : Local Thai silk fabric is naturally yellow, so we need to make it lighter by bleaching. We don’t need to do bleaching for those silk yarn or hybrid which is already white unless we want to make it real white. We use Hydrogen peroxide for this method.

Third step : Dyeing: This process starts with taking those bleached fabrics to dye. Then, we may take those to rise in hot boiling and very cold water until they are clean. Prior to further step, we must expose the fabrics to the sun until they get dry. 

Final step : Weaving : Traditional hand operated looms, as a local ancestor method, involve in this step. How it works that is to prepare 1 set of weft and 1 set of warp and put a warp yarn in between a weft yarn. This weft yarn is separated by a harness while a reed is a tool to tighten weft and warp yarn together as a whole piece of silk.

The history of Thai silk

 
        Silk Industry in Thailand had a long history. It started off in 1902 when the actual development of the King Chulalongkorn (King Rama 5th) was undertaken towards the cocoon growing, weaving fabrics and so fort. At that time, the Thai government decided to hire Dr. Kametaro Toyama, an associate professor of Tokyo University, to give the advice about how to raise their cocoon at best quality. Soon, there were a developing research together with the establishment of Thai silk expert group, focusing on the development of this matter in particular.

          In September 30, 1903 the King Chulalongkorn commanded to establish a Thai Silk Technical Bureau, a part of the Ministry of Agriculture at that time. Besides, His majesty assigned the Prince of the First Class Pichai Mahindarodom(a Royal Prince Penpatthanaphong) as a Director of this bureau. Then he developed a school called “a Silk Technical School” as a replacement center of the Japanese professors for those Thai silk workers. From 1969 to 19884 Thailand received a backup from the Japanese government in accordance with the Colombo Plan. By sending 6 Thai silk experts to conduct a research towards the cocoon production, pesticide usage and right fabric pulling, Thailand has ultimately succeeded in producing weft yarns, as a substitution for those imported yarns.

        In July 21, 1976 the Queen Sirikit decided to establish the Foundation For the Promotion of Supplementry Occupations and Related Techniques in order to increase income for those poor in the remote areas. Thai silk is not only part of the jobs this foundation aims to perform, but also promoting Thai custom and tradition through our handicrafts. This foundation is located throughout the country, representing the generosity of Her Majesty the queen to all Thais.