Crafts
From their hands to yours
We commission village artisans to produce exquisite products for Banyan Tree Gallery. This allows our guests to take home unique crafts from around the world, while helping improve lives, empower women, educate children and build resilience in communities.
Each long-term partnership potentially impacts an entire ecosystem that supports the craft technique, with different stakeholders responsible for each step in the process. For example, a typical textile village cluster that comprises loom makers, yarn spinners, dyers and weavers.
Ceramics
Handmade by artisan partners in Chiang Mai, our ceramics are hand-thrown, carved and painted with the exquisite leaf pattern of our logo, the banyan tree — a powerful symbol of Asian heritage.
Basketry
Combining art and functionality, basketry evolved to service specific cultural needs. From bulrush baskets of Narathiwat fishing village in South Thailand to jewellery boxes made of dried pandan leaves in Indonesia, materials may differ, but the underlying principle — coiling, plaiting and twining — transcends geographical boundaries.
Metal
Inspired by Asia’s forging heritage, our metalwork collection from Thai repousse bowls crafted with intricate reliefs to silver jewellery worn by local tribespeople demonstrates how the craft flourished in the region, spreading from India to Tibet, Nepal, Thailand and Burma.
Textile
Textiles have an ability to tell the story of a people stitch by stitch, weaving traditions, mythology and functionality into each fabric. The perfect example is the Mien reverse cross-stitch embroidery painstakingly creating motifs influenced by Taoism and the Mien culture.
Recycled
Stationery made of cans, para rubber leaves refashioned into decorative flowers and bags made with leaves from deciduous Tong Tung tree. By empowering communities, not only do we give a second life to once disposable materials, but we also help preserve unique crafts.
Greening Projects