ปลาบู่มัดย้อม Plaboo Tie-Dye Group

Plaboo village is a rural community of 68 families located in the Maha Sarakham Province of Isan, Thailand. The region is known for spicy food, basic living, farming, and muan -- fun in the local language, Isan. The village was founded by a woman named Nang from Roi Et. Nang and her friends were on a fishing trip when they discovered an area teeming with a tasty fish called plaboo. Soon after Nang’s family and four others settled in the village and named it after the delicious fish that brought them there. Nang became the first president of Plaboo village. For centuries the people of this region lived the humble life of a farmer. However, in the last few decades much has changed. The basic farmer income no longer keeps pace with the cost of living and the new generation is moving to cities for higher paying jobs. The sustainable balance, traditions and culture that has existed for centuries is threatened. However, the creation of the Plaboo Tie-Dye Group is a hope that the balance will be restored. The idea was simple: to create an opportunity to earn an income without having to move to the city during the seven months of the year rice is not farmed. In 2006, the Plaboo Tie-Dye Group was created, a community of 30 women with sewing machines, cotton, bamboo pins, and other necessities for a basic linen business. Until May 2010, sales were limited to local markets and word-of-mouth orders. However, while continuing the integrity of the handmade process we now offer our products to the world. The Plaboo Tie-Dye Group hopes to be an inspiration to other communities in similar situations. We aim to prove it is possible to embrace the opportunities of the 21st century and the globalized world while keeping the traditions and culture that have defined us for centuries.