Creative Economy Agency

Fashion is not just about clothes we wear. It’s a powerful way to express stories, identity, and creativity, from personal to national levels. To promote Thai fashion globally, the Creative Economy Agency (Public Organisation) or CEA has launched the "Material District" project. It opens the door to a world of materials and local shopping areas, giving you a new perspective on Thai fashion.

What is Material District?
Imagine you’re a passionate fashion designer or just want to make your own clothes. You’re looking for amazing materials to create your masterpiece, but it’s hard to find the right ones with good quality and affordable prices. You might have to travel to many places to get everything you need. Sounds tiring, right?

Material District solves this problem by gathering information about creative material sources in Bangkok. It focuses on fashion materials like fabrics, gems, and fashion accessories. Material District can guide you to interesting areas that match your artistic needs, with 5 districts and 5 styles, helping you create everything from headwear to footwear.

Charoen Krung: A hub for jewellery, silver and gems as well as stones and meteorite stones
Charoen Krung is not only Thailand’s first road that is rich in history and culture, but also a district full of delicious restaurants, hip cafés, and art spaces. It’s also known as the centre of Bangkok’s famous jewellery and gem industry. This area is a diverse source of materials for making jewellery, with decades of expertise in the industry. Whether you’re looking for diamonds, gems, rubies, rare dinosaur fossils, or even meteorite stones, this place offers jewellery materials to meet every need, from small-scale projects to factory-level production.

Charoen Rat: A hub for leather and leather craft parts, bag making supplies and plastic heels 
A leather trading district with over 30 years of history, Charoen Rat is a must-visit for leather enthusiasts. Here, you’ll find genuine leather from various animals, such as ostrich, crocodile, fish, and even chicken feet, as well as synthetic leather in all grades.

Another highlight is the wide range of leatherworking tools available, including hammers, chisels, nails, polishing agents, and tanning solutions. It’s a one-stop destination for everything related to leather, from raw materials to finished products.

Banthat Thong-Sam Yan: A hub for screen printing and tailoring
Located in the heart of Bangkok, this area has transformed from a hub for old car parts to a famous street food destination. But the interesting thing about this area is not just food, Banthat Thong-Sam Yan is a hub for ready-made sportswear shops, quality screen printing, and printing services that can apply designs to various materials like shirts, hats, and tote bags. You can also find all the materials needed for screen printing, such as printing blocks, inks, and tools. 

For those looking for finely tailored suits, this area offers bespoke tailoring services with high-quality fabrics, perfect for executive wear or special occasions.

Wat Son: A Hub for Stretch Fabrics
Wat Son, or Soi Suksawat 35, is Bangkok’s largest stretch fabric market. Here, you’ll find a variety of stretch fabrics, both basic and custom-made, catering to both large and small businesses at reasonable prices.

The area also offers other fabrics like cotton, linen, spandex, wool, and polyester, with experienced shops providing advice to help you choose the right fabric for your products.

Sampeng-Pahurat: A Hub for Fabrics and Craft Supplies
Bangkok’s old district dating back to the reign of King Rama I, Sampeng-Pahurat is famous as a wholesale shopping area. It’s also known for its fabric shops, sewing supplies, and materials for crafts.

Here, you’ll find all types of fabrics, from handwoven fabric, cotton, silk, linen, lace, and printed fabrics to synthetic fibres in different grades. The area also offers craft supplies, clothing accessories, and decorative items like zips, buttons, beads, ribbons, and tassels. It’s a treasure trove for designers, artists, and craft lovers.

Material District: From Creative Material Hub to online platform
The Creative Economy Agency (CEA) has developed the TCDC Material Database (www.tcdcmaterial.com) to gather information about materials and entrepreneurs across Thailand, both producers and distributors in key commercial districts. This database makes it easier to search and access information about Thai materials. The fashion industry is vital to Thailand, both in terms of economic value and employment. Moreover, we have five key material hubs with unique characteristics: Charoen Krung, Charoen Rat, Sampeng-Pahurat, Banthat Thong-Sam Yan, and Wat Son.  

In addition to material information, the database also provides maps of material shops and online guides, so you can easily access over 30 curated shops in these districts.  

How does material district build Thailand’s soft power?  
Showcasing the potential of creative material districts in the fashion industry not only boosts Thailand’s creative economy but also promotes Thai identity and creativity globally. When designers and entrepreneurs have access to high-quality and diverse materials, they can create unique and outstanding fashion pieces which will help enhancing the image of Thailand’s fashion industry on the world stage and building long-term soft power.  

Supporting local entrepreneurs and promoting community identity in these districts also stimulates grassroots economies by creating jobs and distributing income. Moreover, it attracts entrepreneurs and tourists, adding economic and cultural value, which will lead to sustainable development at both community and national levels.  

The future of Thai fashion  
The Material District project is just the first step in promoting and supporting the sustainable growth of Thailand’s fashion industry. By sharing information and stories about materials and districts, the project not only makes it easier for designers, businesses, and the public to access quality materials but also inspires creativity and innovation in Thai fashion.  

In the future, we may see the development and expansion of Material District in various forms, such as workshops, exhibitions, or even an online platform connecting people in the fashion industry. Let’s explore the world of creative materials and step into a new chapter for Thailand’s fashion industry!  

Learn more about these districts and interesting materials at www.tcdcmaterial.com

Photo by : TCDC Materials

Story by : Chuonjarern Chujinda