This documentary is a part of the research on the changes of textiles of the Pwo Karen ethnic group in the Tanao Sri Range in Suan Phueng District, Ratchaburi Province. 

Suan Phueng District lies on the Thai-Myanmar border 150 Kilometers from Bangkok. It is known to be a border area that is situated close to a city and has almost 15,000 Karen ethnic population, the highest among all the districts in the province. Suan Phueng and Tanao Sri are two districts with a larger number of Thai-Karen population compared to other areas in Ratchaburi.  

Despite the fact that they had resettled in Thai territory for about a hundred years, the Karen still need to adjust themselves to the modern context in order to stay up-to-date and to be accepted legally and socially. Moreover, the national security policy of the Thai state has been aiming at “Thai-ization” by assimilating ethnic minorities into the standard Thai traditions and cultures. Therefore, we have found that many traditional elements of Karen arts and cultures have been reduced, altered, or blended with local Thai customs.

Even though they have been trying to adapt to survive under the changing circumstances, the Karen people are still ridiculed and labeled as wild people on a regular basis for their Thai accent, their sometimes Thai sometimes Karen costumes, or their lifestyle, such as smoking tobacco or chewing betels. 

The dignity of Thai nationals of Karen ethnicity seems to fall short just like their civil rights. Nevertheless, the “Karen-ness” still shines brightly in every possible occasion and “safe” space that allows them to be themselves, for example, the Karen New Year’s Festival or Sunday masses at a catholic church. In any case, many Karen cultural elements are hidden in everyday life, such as fashion. However, due to the abovementioned factors, it is concerning that these cultures may vanish if nothing is done.

The documentary “Karen Textiles: The Changes through Time” is thus another endeavor to record stories and values of the Pwo Karen’s woven fabrics as well as to illustrate the impacts of the social, cultural, and political changes on it.