Tai Yuan Woven cloth is the popular handicraft of the Sao Hai district. The cloth has a beautiful design in the traditional Tai Yuan pattern.

Traditionally most Tai Yuan women weave during free time after the working in the fields, the woven goods are used within the family and the excess sold.

After machine-made cloth became popular the traditional style of cloth became less common.

The villagers have been trying to revive the craft with encouragement from the government in the “One Tambol One Product” project (OTOP) and have established the Ton Tan Women’s Woven Cloth Club which has about 30 staff for demonstration and training.

The Ton Tan Weaving Centre showroom, which has a variety of beautiful Tai Yuan style cloth, is open every day for visitors.

Woven fabrics of each tribe or group have unique styles due to different cultural influences in the lifestyles or environment. Tai Yuan fabrics have distinctive patterns that incorporate circles or hoops around the skirt.

At the Ton Tan Weaving Centre the technique of weaving using a traditional loom has been revived and visitors can see these looms in action and buy elaborate and unique fabrics woven onsite.

Tai Yuan fabrics are divided into two types, according to the weaving techniques:

1. Plain fabrics such as, Fai cloth or Silk cloth

2. Patterned fabrics, such as Khit, Chok, Muk, Sarong, and Lap

• Pa Lai Khit: a kind of the weaving technique, incorporating stripes with motifs of elephants, birds, flowers and other decorative elements.
• Pa Pook: also uses stripes with the motifs such as a pair of birds or Dook Kaew, a kind of white Thai flower.
• Pa Mook: close to the Pa Lai Khit and Pa Jook style, but quite difficult to weave, this style is the most beautiful and very popular now.
• Pa Saloong: (Tai Yuan pronunciation Pa Takong) used for a simple skirt somewhat like a tube skirt.
• Pa Larb or Pa Yung Larb: used for blankets.

Ancient fabrics and household items can be viewed at Ban Khao Kaeo (contact Prof. Songchai Wannakun in advance on tel. 0-3639-1100). Native fabrics can be purchased at Ton Tan Weaving Centre (Women’s Weaving Group), Tambon Ton Tan in Wat Ton Tan.

Contact the village headman Wongduan Yakun or the head of the Women’s Weaving Group, Tambon Ton Tan, Amphoe Sao Hai, Saraburi 18160, tel. 0-3639-1129, 0-1308-8087.

Getting There :
From Saraburi city via Pichaironnarong Songkram Rd (road nr 3041) after 2km turn right at the junction and continue to the Pasak river bridge, after about 1 km turn left at Ban Pakbang junction. Continue for 1 km past the Tai Yuan Local Culture Centre of Saraburi until you reach Wat Ton Tan on the left side, the weaving center is located behind Wat Ton Tan.