Nan Shopping

Thai Payap is a locally operated and run rural development org that aims to raise the living standard of minority hill tribes in Nan province. The income from sales of handicrafts, after the producers are compensated, are funneled back into communities thru development projects to do with agriculture, health and other issues that need addressing. Thai Payap has been teetering on the brink of collapse for years because human resources are stretched thinly and because there is a lot of competition from business that mass produce goods according to a supply schedule in automated factories or in sweat shop-like environs. Items for sale at Thai Payap are made at the homes of producers. There is no pressure to pump out volumes as it is understood that villagers are busy with agricultural activities during the rainy season. Crafts are made in the off season when farmers are not as busy with on-farm activities. So you can see that this arrangment does not suit the supply-demand business model.

What to buy: Woven, carved, sewn goods from Hmong, Mien and other hill tribe groups are sold here at the office and occasionally in Bangkok at ThaiCraft sales. See my Bangkok Shopping tips for details on ThaiCraft sales.
Can also be purchased on the WWW.

What to pay: You will pay less at the shop in Nan than you would at the ThaiCraft sales as there is very little overhead in Nan.