Usaato cloth is hand woven from thread that has been hand spun and dyed with plant dyes. Repeated handiwork goes into making the cloth. The breath of the environment in which the weaver lives is also worked into the cloth, and it becomes clothing.

Let's live more in harmony with nature, Let's resound more in tune with the earth, Let's resonate in synch with the energy of the universe. In this way, we can come to understand our true selves. It is this that I want to express through Usaato.

To express thoughts and feelings, Some people play music, while others may dance. Some people may even express themselves through food. As for me, it is through clothing that I want to channel nature's breath and convey love.

Our thoughts and feelings converge and are spun into one thread, tying us all together. I strive to become a "helper," providing "bolts of energy" such as these.

Thank you very much.

Usaburo

Usaato cloth is woven primarily by women's groups in northeastern Thailand. The vestiges of age-old tradition continue today with women from self-sufficient farming families sewing enough clothing for the year, both for themselves and for their families, during the off-season when they have little agricultural work to do.

As industrialization advances in Thailand, many people are leaving the villages for the cities. With a sufficient amount of consistent work to be done in making Usaato cloth, however, increasing numbers of youth, husbands, and wives are returning from migrant work in the cities. With Usaato work, it has become possible to live together with their families in the villages.

In Thailand, with the current reconsideration of traditional and nature-oriented crafts, there are rapidly increasing numbers of urban people who are also shifting their lifestyles towards a more natural orientation.

Because of this, there are increasing numbers of new groups who have taken up hand weaving and natural dyeing in Northeastern Thailand and other parts of the country. Usaato is also working to help some of these groups to establish themselves.