Artisan Support Group Moves Monthly Markets To Soi 23

[george]

Artisan support group moves monthly markets to Soi 23

By John Le Fevre

BANGKOK (Thaivisa.com): -- For the past 16 years The ThaiCraft Association has been supporting artisan groups from villages throughout Thailand in selling their products locally and internationally based on the principles of Fair Trade.

Over the years more than 80 artisan groups from remote hilltribe minorities in the north, to Muslim fishing communities in the deep south, have benefited from the efforts of a small group of paid workers and a larger group of volunteers.

A key part of the groups capacity building program has been monthly half-day ThaiCraft Fairs in Bangkok, where artisans have been able to present their work for sale at prices reasonable to customers, but which also provide a fair wage to the producers.

According to Bie, one of the communications staff with ThaiCraft Fair Trade, the organization that provides the venue for the artisans, the markets have proven extremely popular with local expats, as well as with visiting private and commercial buyers.

After more than five years of holding the markets at the Ambassador Hotel, the group has moved to the Jasmine City Building in Suhkumvit Soi 23.

Bie says the new venue will allow all the sections to be on one floor and in one large and convenient air-conditioned

space.

The groups is also planning to introduce a kids’ edutainment area, a crafts workshop and an area with organic and healthy foods for sale.

More information on The ThaiCraft Association and how they are working to raise the skills and living conditions of Thailand’s artisans can be found on their website at http://www.thaicraft.org/new/index.html

-- thaivisa.com 2009-07-22

[bkkjames]

Good I say, now I can look forward to getting actual artisans selling their goods on Soi Cowboy, instead of those fakes with the wooden frogs.