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Orasa Khunsangkham

"I began my apprenticeship at 13 years old, and learned all the silk-making stages – and I really mean all of them: growing the worms, reeling the silk from the cocoons, dying the threads and, finally, weaving complex patterns on a loom.

"I learned everything from my grandmother, who was renowned for her expertise in silk. For many years I watched her weave various patterns such as pha mai yok dok, brocaded silk, or chock sam thang, a three-pattern design. One day, when she went away for a few days, she asked me to finish a skirt she was weaving. That was the first item I ever wove. It took me two years to master that particular pattern.

"When I was 29 years old I started to weave professionally. I no longer raise silk worms myself, but I continue to enjoy the complicated process of weaving silk on a traditional loom. I am now an expert at brocading silk with metallic threads, and my work has received considerable attention, which always delights me. I also enjoy teaching people who are interested in learning this ancient style, but few people really have the patience to master these techniques. If you want to weave silk you must truly love the fabric and be patient – only then will you succeed.

"Each time I weave a silk item, a fabric is created that cannot be duplicated – because it is hand-woven with different patterns, different colors and at different times. Still, even though I cannot weave the same item twice, I can proudly remember every piece of silk I ever wove. I look forward to continuing to weave silk every day."