The Thai yaam and its kin — a strap, a body, and a story. These handwoven shoulder bags are made from naturally-dyed cloth and natural fibre, worn across the body and built to be lived in. Woven first and then cut and stitched by hand, each bag carries the maker's pattern the way it left the loom, and wears in like a favourite jacket.
Honest notes on natural dye, handwork and care — from people who know each maker.
The yaam is a traditional Thai shoulder bag — a simple, deep cloth body on a long woven strap, worn across the body. It has been carried in Thailand's north and northeast for generations, and the modern pieces here keep that shape while using genuine handwoven, naturally-dyed cloth.
Spot-clean with a damp cloth and mild soap; avoid soaking or machine-washing, which strains the weave and lifts natural dye. Air-dry in the shade. A well-made yaam only softens and improves with years of use.
It depends on the piece — some are ready now, others are woven or stitched to order in roughly three to four weeks. Because each is handmade, small variations in size, strap length and colour are natural. The listing tells you the lead time.
Made to order, ships in three to four weeks. Behind that simple line is the rhythm of real handwork — dye that must ferment, thread that must be tied, and hands that can only move so fast.
Read the story Plenty of things are sold as 'handmade' that a machine could have made in an afternoon. Here is the promise behind Made with Jai — natural materials, real handwork, and made-to-order honesty, with nothing dressed up as more than it is.
Read the story In mudmee — Thailand's weft ikat — the pattern is tied and dyed into the thread before a single row is woven. Here is how a resist-dyed cloth comes to be, and why its soft-edged blur can't be faked.
Read the storyLeave your email and we will write when a new piece in this collection arrives — or reach us directly to ask about availability or a commission.
