Khao Ma Fabric Fashion Show Year 9 "Return to Flow": From Roots to Runway - Elevating Local Wisdom to Contemporary Fashion and Cultural and Economic Sustainability
Fashion Design Department, School of Fine and Applied Arts, showcased student work through concept ideation to the fashion show "Khao Ma Tho Jai" (Woven with Heart) Year 9. This year, the work was featured at SUSTAINABILITY EXPO 2025 (SX2025), one of the largest sustainability events in ASEAN and a key activity of the annual seminar by the Grassroots Economic Development Working Group. The main objective is to promote fashion design work from community Khao Ma fabric while supporting the conservation, extension, and creative development of Thai local wisdom.
Khao Ma fabric, a valuable textile that has been part of Thai society for a long time, was reinterpreted through the fashion dimension. Over 161 pieces from local communities across the country were collected and presented in the "Return to Flow" fashion show format.
This event resulted from close collaboration between faculty members and 48 fourth-year students in course FSD446 Fashion Presentation. The project was supervised by Dr.Pathitta Nirunpornputta, A. Sorapong Ngewthong, Asst. Prof.Dr.Natsupa Jaroenyingwattana, and A.Dalita Ketsak, who provided support and guidance for the students' creative learning process to produce work that is beautiful, valuable, and clearly reflects local wisdom.
The "Khao Ma Tho Jai" fashion show is not only a platform for audiences to witness the potential and beauty of Khao Ma fabric as Thai heritage wisdom, but also an important channel for promoting community products that have been designed and supported by various universities to reach wider recognition. This activity also creates a creative experience that elevates the image of Khao Ma fabric, advancing it into contemporary fashion, creating connections between academia and grassroots economics, which will lead to increased value and sustainability of Thai Khao Ma fabric products in the future.
