About Brand
FolkCharm Crafts is a Thai social enterprise that partners with natural cotton farmers, artisanal communities and local craftswomen to create apparel with the right blend of contemporary living and traditional wisdom.
Through this, they hope to build a culture of ethical consumers and prove to the younger generation that this is not only an art worth conserving, but also an activity that allows them to generate sufficient income so that they do not have to leave their families to work.
The Story
FolkCharm Crafts launched as a project in May 2014 and began its operations as FolkCharm Co.,Ltd. in February 2016. They try hard to continuously increase the depth of engagement of home-based women workers they work with, both in rural and urban Thailand.
FolkCharm's products are crafted by rural communities where they work together under an honest cost-structure. In return for their crafts(wo)manship, the artisans receive return for their skills and techniques, rather than settling for the ‘amount sellable’ where loss is often the case. They also appreciate weaving techniques that have been passed on many generations for hundreds of years and hence they use only local craftswomen. FolkCharm's products are also made from 100% natural, locally sourced cotton. This comes with great benefits in softness, chemical-free, great comfort, easy wash-easy dry.
FolkCharm's three core values are:
Fairness: Fair financial return for livelihood. Fair to the environment. Fair to their health.
Mutual Interest: Ensure understanding of that business model that they are not a non-profit. Sustainability vs. discontinuous support.
Opportunities: No interest loans (through materials) those who lack capital to get started. Providing support on capacity building and design development. Awareness of access to market. Grow together through trial and error.
By ensuring that even the smallest pieces of remaining textile from tailoring is used, waste is minimised. This helps to build a culture of ethical consumers.
The Impact
Since its foundation in 2014, FolkCharm Crafts now works with 10 local weavers in Wangsaphung District of Loei Province and 12 home-based women tailors, seamstresses and craftswomen in Bangkok and Ratchaburi Province. Indigo textiles are also sourced from 'Bhukram', their social enterprise partner in Buphan District, Sakonnakhon Province. Since July 2016, FolkCharm has encouraged 8 women farmers in Phuluang District of Loei Province to grow chemical-free natural cotton on 3.5 acres of land. Together with these inspiring women, they create unique pieces of carefully crafted products from organic and natural materials.