Pak Thong Chai Silk Weaving Village Thailand is known throughout the world for its production of exquisite silks and fine silk products.  Although Thailand is home to some major silk factories, the majority of Thai silk is still produced in the homes of people living in villages dedicated to silk production.  One of these villages famous for silk weaving is Pak Thong Chai, located approximately 32km south of the provincial capital, Khorat, in Northeast Thailand.  Stepping off the bus in Pak Thong Chai, we had no difficulty in finding the stores where finished silk products were on sale.  We browsed in the stores for about an hour before meeting a knowledgeable local who was eager to show us the village's silk weaving process.As he guided us through the quiet and winding backstreets of the village, he explained to us the process of producing silk.  First, silkworms are fed upon the leaves of mulberry trees.  Upon maturity, the silkworm creates a cocoon made of silk filaments, which unwound produces approximately 550 - 730 meters of silk thread.

Thai woman spinning threads of silk using the traditional human powered spinning wheel.

These threads are then spun upon a wheel to create a consistent gauge and texture. After removal from the wheel, the threads of raw silk are soaked in hot water to remove any impurities and are then dried in the sun.  Next comes the dying process, where the threads can be dyed one color or certain sections of the threads can be tied off and dyed several times to create a pattern not dissimiliar to "tie-dye".  After dying, these threads are again dried in the sun and spun onto smaller spools ready for the loom. At this point, the silk weavers work their magic creating the amazing silk products seen in Thailand and exported around the world.

Silk threads soaking in boiling vats of dye.

While we wandered through the village witnessing this silk weaving process, we were forutnate enough to be invited to a traditional Issan (the term for Northeast Thailand) lunch with some of the local silk weavers.  We all shared large plates of Pad Thai (a noodle dish) and Som-Tam (spicy, grated papaya salad), an Issan speciality.

Mike, our guide, showing Karen the various colored silk threads drying in the sun.

The final process of silk production.  This woman is weaving the multi-colored silk on a traditional loom.

Woman tying off pieces of silk thread before the dying process to create a multi-colored design.

Our traditional Issan lunch, Pad-Thai and Som-Tam.

Brian sharing lunch with some friendly silk weavers.

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