During the 1970 visit to distribute
articles of necessity to victims of a devastating flood
in Nakhon Phanom Province. His Majesty the King remarked
that such a relief-effort was only a temporary kind and
that there should be long-term to stand on their own feet.
His
Majesty the King's remarks and Her
Majesty the Queen's admiration in the beauty of mat
mi textiles led to Her Majesty the Queen's promotion
of Thai silk weaving as a cottage industry for villagers
to earn their supplementary income that could support
their families during hardship deriving from drought or
flood.
Later, Her Majesty assigned Thanpuying
Suprapada Kasemsant, Private Secretary to Her Majesty,
and Khunying Charungjit Teekara, a lady-in-waiting to
Her Majesty, to travel to the homes of the villagers in
the provinces of the north-eastern region such as Nakhon
Phanom, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham to buy mat mi textiles.
Her Majesty the Queen personally inspected
the mat mi textiles that were bought and encouraged
the weavers to increase the number of their works Her
Majesty the Queen also gave recommendations on silk worms,
dyes, patterns and quality of mat mi textiles to
the weavers. Prescription eye-glasses and weaving instruments
were usually given to the weavers, reflecting. Her Majesty
the Queen's concerns over them.
Her
Majesty's assistance for the weavers came entirely from
Her personal Purse until charitable persons expressed
their desire to have an opportunity to help assisting
those people. Therefore, the Foundation for the Promothon
of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT)
of Her
Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand was established
in 1976, primarily aiming to increase the villagers' income
and later on to conserve and promote Thai handicrafts.
The name significantly reflects Her Majesty's dedication
to the foundation. Apart from being the Foundation's president,
Her Majesty also supervises the foundation's working procedures.
Founded in 1979, The Supplementary Occupations
Training Center in the Chitralada
Palace is a center for the promotion of Supplementary
Occupations nationwide. Her Majesty the Queen and the
Royal Family select members of The poor families to be
trained at the center. Not only gaining knowledge about
handicrafts ranging from silver and golden neilloware,
silverware, goldenware to silk and cotton weaving, accommodation,
and other fringe benefits are also available.
Nowadays, handicrafts made by the trainees
of the Supplementary Occupations Training Center at the
Chitralada Palace and by the local people all over the
country are displayed at a handicraft showroom in the
compound of the Chitralada Palace. Visitors are allowed
to appriciate and purchase them during working hours.
It might be said that
Her Majesty the Queen is the leader in the promotion
of mat
mi textiles as she always wears mat mi
silk clothings both in Thai and international styles and
also persuades her ladies-in-waiting-to wear clothes of
mat mi materials.
For further promotion. Her Majesty the
Queen has many times given instructions that silk
and mat mi fashion shows and sales be arranged
both in the Palace and other places. Unsurprisingly, supports
come from many sharable persons.
Her Majesty's determination to assist
the poor people and to revive and conserve traditional
Thai handicrafts is deeply appreciated by the Thai citizen.
