Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Opens the PatPat Reed Mat Handicraft Products’s Shop at Central @ CentralWorld
On 12 October 2023, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn traveled to open the PatPat Reed Mat Handicraft Product’s Shop at Central @ CentralWorld with the cooperation between PatPat of the Chaipattana Foundation and Central Tham Project of the Central Group.
Her Royal Highness also attended the fashion show featuring PatPat products and reed mat weaving bags carried by celebrities. On this occasion, Her Royal Highness graciously presented reed mat bags to the winner in the auction. The revenue will be used for activities conducted by the Chaipattana Foundation. After that, Her Royal Highness proceeded to open the PatPat Reed Mat Handicraft Products’s Shop. PatPat of the Chaipattana Foundation designed 5 exclusive series of reed mat bags to be available only at Central Department Store (Only@Central), which are Baguette Bag, Pom-Pom Bag, Northern doll & Pom-Pom, Ombre Bucket and Graphic Square. Later, Her Royal Highness observed the exhibition and the products from PatPat, the collaboration with the Central Group and communities to develop and design handicraft products such as vetiver grass, water hyacinth, handwoven silk fabrics, etc.
Her Royal Highness granted an initiation to the PatPat of the Chaipattana Foundation to develop the reed mat products of the Royally-granted Jasmine Rice 105 Production Group “Friends for Friends” by Prince Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development. It started from the Ban Nong Phai reed mat weaving group in Ra Ngen Sub-district, Sri Khoraphum District, Surin Province and then expanded to 2 reed mat weaving groups in Surin Province, which are Ban Nong Kaen Weaving Group in Samrong Thap District and Ban Chalik Weaving Group in Sri Narong District. The reed mat products were developed by the support and assistance from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Tango Leather Co., Ltd., Practika Co., Ltd., Mobella Galleria Co.,ltd. and ODA Studio. Thanks to the support from them, the farmer group in Surin Province can develop the modern designs of reed mat while maintaining the original local characteristics.
In 2022, PatPat of the Chaipattana Foundation and Central Group under the “Central Tham Project” joined hands in developing the products made from reed mat. By this, the Central Group provided 1,000,000 Baht financial support to set up the product for developing the products from reed mat. The initiative aims to enhance the market of reed mat products produced by Ban Nong Phai reed mat weaving group in Ra Ngen Sub-district, Sri Khoraphum District, Surin Province to develop and sell under the brand Good Goods. This brand aligns with the sustainable development principles of the "Central Tham Project”, which aims to support the local communities while creating opportunities in a sustainable manner.
