- Thai Tribal Crafts (TTC), established in 1973, is an agency sponsored by the Christian Service Foundation (Baptist) and registered in Chiang Mai in the name of « Thai Tribal Crafts ». The main objective of TTC is to provide opportunities for improving the quality of life of the tribal people in the Northern Thailand.
- We have over 25 years of experience of exporting to many commercial and fair trade organizations in the USA, Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, Japan and Asia.
- Thai Tribal Crafts has become a legal membership of International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) since 17 May 2002. (Profile 1/2).
- Member of World Fair Trade Organization.
Main Page;
Products; New Products; Background Tibal People; Inquiry online; Online Orderform;
Address: THAI TRIBAL CRAFTS FAIR TRADE CO.,LTD., 208 Bamrungrat Rd., P.O. Box 3, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand;
Contacts.
Profile 2/2 … /OUR VISION: The vision of Thai Tribal crafts is to trade as a Fair Trading Organization through providing development opportunities for the tribal peoples of Northern Thailand so that they can have a better life. In all we do, our aim is to show the love and mercy of God.
OUR MISSION:
- 1. To be a non-profit marketing agency of tribal handicrafts in both the domestic and overseas markets.
- 2. To be a Fair Trade Organization by treating both producers and customers in a fair way.
- 3. To help lift the economic level of the tribal people of Thailand.
- 4. To practice fair trade and to show justice, so that both customers and producers are satisfied.
- 5. To help tribal people to be able to preserve their traditional crafts and arts.
- 6. To encourage and promote the appropriate church activities.
THE PRODUCERS: … (full text Profile).
THE STORY OF THAI TRIBAL CRAFTS:
In the decade of the 1960’s, several American Baptist women missionaries based in Chiang Mai who were working with Karen and Lahu tribal people became very concerned about the poverty of those they were serving in Northern Thailand. Because of their dedication to serve these people at every level, including their economic needs, the missionaries decided that perhaps they could help the tribal people by seeking ways to market their beautiful craft products which might provide them with much needed cash income.
Thus, these women added to their primary responsibilities in mission work, the acceptance of tribal crafts on consignment and sought places where they might sell them. During that time, Chiang Mai began to attract tourists from around the world. The missionaries took boxes of tribal handicrafts to the hotels and guest houses and got permission from the managers to spread their wares out where the guests could see them. As tourists are always looking for authentic local items to take home for their own collections and to use as gifts to family and friends, the missionaries were quite successful in selling the unusual tribal items … (full long text The Story).