Bua Bhat senses opportunity in crisis

Bua Bhat and Ms. Wilai

Set up 25 years ago and offering products made of all-new materials from garment factories and recycled into handmade rugs, carpets, cushions and lamps, the company has been targeting international markets from the very beginning. But the economic crises in the US and EU have prompted it to shift away from foreign customers to domestic ones.

Located in Chiang Mai province and carrying the slogan "Art of Green Home Products", the company purchased high-quality used textiles from garment factories, usually ranging from 40-50 baht per kilogramme, which are then cleaned, dyed if necessary and produced according to the design by communities in San Kamphaeng district, then sold for tens of thousand of baht.

It all started when Ms Wilai, who grew up amid looms and textiles and recalls her grandmother making purses from old fabric, paid a visit to Sri Lanka. Impressed by an old man weaving fabric, she decided to set up a factory in Thailand.

"I want to make products that are not very expensive [around 200 baht] and which Thais and foreigners can easily purchase and give as gifts, such as thung or Lanna flags used for decoration," said Ms Wilai, adding that the move is also a shift away from making products in international styles.

"It's very important to go green, as the world is in a crisis," Ms.Wilai said. "In Thailand, while many are interested in the issue, it's mainly educated people."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/274449/bua-bhat-senses-opportunity-in-crisis