Design and Technique Development for Vetiver Leaf Products using Thai Silk

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to study the importance of natural resources in relation to soil and water conservation under the Royal Initiative of His Majesty the King as well as the development of innovative process in vetiver grass product combined with other local materials such as Thai silk. In addition, the study was to develop a product prototype for knowledge base and transfer to the community or an interest group of people through the knowledge integration for expansion on the use of vetiver grass product-making and for selling to the markets to supplement the household income. The approaches and methods used in this research vary across the followings; literature review, information seeking and studying, collection of contents and concepts regarding vetiver and vetiver grass product as well as Thai silk work. The initiative theories integrated with fieldwork into content analysis for innovative model and new techniques in production. Recent research has revealed that the combination of traditional vetiver grass product-making techniques and those of new fabric initiative generally resulted in a different fine-looking and innovative product from diverse types of traditional woven products. The vetiver grass products combined with Thai silk have been carried out through exhibitions as well as public lectures to inspire the community to create and expand the innovative vetiver grass product-making further. This study has also shown that the aesthetic perception was the greatest on average value when participants directly experienced the substantial products with their own hands. Their true experience that was more sophisticated than that from other mass media provided learning and understanding how to increase their income from the waste even how to make the products for use in their households. As a result of a mass of cut and dried vetiver initially planted for soil protection and waste of silk fabrics derived from traditional weaving and cutting process, new technique to make products by the combination of vetiver leaves and waste of silk fabrics has been advised to the community for further expansion of vetiver grass production.