Mae Waew (Sasithorn Chaiupatham)

On my last trip to Phrae, I stayed at a homestay run by a warm and curious family. I first photographed Kim, the daughter who generously helped me connect with other creatives in town. Her older sister was in Bangkok at the time, but both of them suggested that I include their mother, Waew, in my project. On the morning of the shoot, Waew appeared dressed impeccably in a kimono she had made herself, serving me a generous Northern Thai breakfast.

Entirely self-taught, she began sewing simply because she wanted to wear clothes that felt right to her. Over the years, that curiosity grew into a practice shaped by textile research, garment construction, and a deep admiration for Japanese pattern-making, which she blended with her own sensibility and traditional fabrics from Phrae. In 1991, Waew and her husband founded their batik studio under the name Thaitor. Their early designs drew from natural motifs, gradually evolving into more abstract and contemporary patterns.

This visual language was later carried forward by her daughter, Kansiri, who reinterpreted the family’s identity through her own lens. Under the name KANZ by THAITOR, the work became more playful and modern, balancing Western and Eastern influences while remaining firmly rooted in its origins. After stepping away from her job and the busy life in Bangkok, the family slowly transformed their home into a shared studio, later adding a coffee space for visitors.

What began as a house expanded into a café, a shop, and eventually a cosy homestay. Once a year, they open the entire space as a free annual market, offering small creatives and SMEs a place to gather, experiment, and share their work. For the final portraits, Waew showed me one of Kansiri’s batik pieces, each handmade and entirely unique. I used it as a backdrop to close the shoot. Waew told me that while Phrae’s textile design has become more contemporary, its local wisdom remains very much alive. Behind the lens, in their home, it felt obvious.