From Ancient Fabrics to Smart Textiles: The Transition of Thai Fabric Heritage into Intelligent Fashion

Abstract

Thai textiles have long embodied more than functional craft, they are cultural narratives woven from belief, artistry, and identity. This study investigates how traditional Thai fabrics particularly Pha Lai Kho Chao Fah and Pha Mud Mee Isan can evolve into smart textiles through the integration of heritage weaving and intelligent materials. It seeks to answer how smart materials can merge with Thai textile traditions to sustain cultural identity within the digital age. Adopting a qualitative approach, the research combined document analysis, semi-structured interviews with designers and artisans, and an experimental prototype incorporating thermochromic yarns into traditional motifs. The findings reveal that technological adaptation does not replace authenticity but revitalizes it, transforming Thai textiles into living cultural artifacts that communicate emotion, memory, and innovation. Artisans perceived the technology as a creative extension of craftsmanship rather than a disruption of tradition. The study’s significance lies in demonstrating how cultural heritage and digital innovation can coexist to inform global perspectives on sustainable fashion, creative design education, and community-based cultural preservation. It also underscores the role of interdisciplinary collaboration between universities, craftspeople, and local industries in bridging tradition and technology. By reinterpreting Thai textiles through smart materials, this research contributes to a broader understanding of how design can serve as a dialogue between the past and the future, between material intelligence and cultural identity.