9 Thai handicrafts you’ll actually want to buy

From woodwork to weaving, Thai handicrafts are leaving the village and are taking the design stage by storm. Designers work together with local artisans, creating homewares, jewellery and cosmetics that combine ancient techniques with modern know-how. We’ve selected some of our favorite Thai souvenirs at ICONCRAFT, who brought together some of Thailand’s best contemporary crafts at their ICONSIAM retail space.

Cocosui enamel plates

1  Whether you’re serving breakfast, lunch, or a quick snack – you can’t go wrong with a set of blue-rimmed enamel plates. Illustrator Sanon Tempiem, working under his brand Coco Sui, upgraded these ubiquitously Thai dishes with his signature drawings: cutesy tigers, roses and bikini-clad cartoon figures adorn the rim. If you’re after something more eye-catching – Iconcraft also has a few of Coco Sui’s framed screenprints up for sale. (THB 280)

Srinlim Typotown prints

2 Bangkok-based design studio Srinlim delivers colorful homewares with a strong Thai theme. Their Typotown collection features a range of graphic prints highlighting the beauty of Thai typography and graphical elements inspired by Bangkok’s Old Town. Each richly-decorated character is hand-embroidered on a colorful canvas and framed in lacquered wood. Budget-conscious shoppers should opt for the screen-printed versions, sold without a frame. (from THB 880)

Fatcat wood coasters

3  You’ll find plenty of Thai woodwork in practically any craft market and souvenir shop in the country – but if you’re after something truly unique, seek out the wooden coasters by Fatcat. Using 100% natural food-grade coating and paint, these colorful coasters jazz up even the dreariest dining table. The same collection also includes cutting boards, wooden plates and serving trays – all richly decorated with vibrant floral patterns and nature scenes. (THB 1420 for 4)

SOLT pillows

4 Solt, a subsidiary brand of interior design collective Salt and Pepper Studio, has some incredible cane- and rattan stools for sale at Iconcraft. They’re –unfortunately– not exactly wallet-friendly, nor are they easy to transport back home. Their hand-woven pillows make a nice alternative. Done in natural tones, they’re made from 100% cotton and hand-woven by the hill tribe people in the North of Thailand. (from THB 1450)

Iconcraft tote bag

5 Don’t sleep on Iconcraft’s own merchandise, because their wallets, tote bags and pencil pouches are way nicer than you’d expect store-branded wares to be. Made using traditional weaving techniques, Iconcraft’s tote bags come in a multitude of bold color combinations and designs. The fabric is sturdy, and the insides of these bags are lined with cotton for extra durability. (THB 390)

Trimode.C sandals

6 With their Trimode.C collection, Bangkok-based multidisciplinary design studio Trimode shows that their area of expertise reaches far beyond interior design and branding. Following their Trimode Accessories launch, the C brand focuses on heritage crafts and traditional techniques. The team works together with artisans around the country to design and produce unique jewellery and fashion pieces, such as these sandals made using traditional fabric weaving techniques. (THB 2590)

Sluklai vase

7 Inspired by Thai handicrafts, motifs and the local way of life, woodwork studio Thxful For Small Mercies creates furniture and home accessories for the modern household. Their stools and side tables are fantastic, but their range of wooden Sluklai vases are a tad bit more suitcase-fitting. They’re inspired by the Thai Lai Krajang pattern, and come in various sizes and wood types (such as teak and ash). (THB 2650)

Nude Organic Coffee

8  Thailand is a coffee nation – from the plantations in the far North to the hundreds of coffee shops in Bangkok and beyond, you’ll have no problem finding a quality brew. Bring a bit back home by packing some locally-sourced coffee beans in your suitcase. Nude Organic Coffee, for example, sources certified organic coffee beans and package them in cute textile sacks (which make great gifts!) or bottle their brews in ready-to-drink variations like cafe noir or cafe au lait. (THB 295)

Ruen Rom hand cream

9  Few scents are as satisfying as those of sweet mango sticky rice, fragrant jasmine garlands, or tangy lemongrass. You can now enjoy them long after you leave Thailand with these typically Thai-scented hand creams by Ruan Rom. They even stock Tom Yum- and durian ice cream- scented varieties, if you’re really into that kind of stuff. Better yet, Ruen Rom’s skin care products are created with materials sourced from local farmers, resulting in products that combine ancient Thai wellness remedies with ingredients that contribute to the wellbeing of the local community. (THB 130)

Occupying parts of the 4th and 5th floor of the ICONSIAM mall, ICONCRAFT brings together contemporary Thai design from all corners of the country into a state-of-the-art retail space. On its shelves, you’ll find wares categorized in seven distinct product categories, including objets d’art, fashion, home accessories, wellness products and artisanal foodstuff. They all have one thing in common: using traditional Thai skills and techniques, they prove that the domain of Thai craft reaches far beyond woven baskets and elephant trinkets.

Info

Address
4F-5F ICONSIAM
299 Soi Charoen Nakhon 5 Charoen Nakhon Road
Khlong San, Bangkok

Opening hours
Monday – Sunday: 10 am – 10 pm

This post is sponsored by Iconcraft. However, opinions and ideas are entirely our own

Don’t miss a post: like rice / potato on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.