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In Chiang Mai’s temple-studded Old Town, one set of pointed roofs is unlike any other. Constructed of gray bricks with wicker motifs, the sharp gables of Kalm Village are a far cry from the gold and jeweled gingerbread embellishments of its divine neighbors. The community here has traded worship for workshops and put traditional Thai artisans on a pedestal.
“We wanted to create a space that unites people through the love of art, craft and culture,” says creative director Achariyar Rojanapirom, who opened kalm village with his brother Araya in spring 2021.
Sons of architects, the brothers grew up in a wooden Thai house in the outskirts of bangkok which was filled with handwoven textiles and local wicker. It was there that they first learned the value of the trade. “The only way to ensure the survival of our ancient wisdom is to return craftsmanship to our daily lives,” says Achariyar. “Kalm is our way of playing a small role in passing on the things that give depth and richness to our lives.”
The couple settled in Chiang Mai, where they have roots, and with the help of their family’s Bangkok-based design firm, they conceived a small village of eight distinctively Thai buildings made from reclaimed teak and handmade brick. As in every Thai village, each building serves a specific function: there is a library of books on local history and contemporary design; a café and an archive of ikat sarongs, silk fabrics and other textiles from all corners of the country. A gallery space hosts rotating exhibits on everything from historic fabrics from northern Thailand to crafts made from recycled plastic waste. Two tree-lined patios host talks and workshops by artisans and designers.
Spread across three and a half buildings, the boutiques offer suitcase-friendly home goods from all over Thailand. There are hand-painted bamboo umbrellas created in partnership with Chiang Mai’s oldest umbrella-making community (£115), two-tone woven reed mats from Yasothon in northeast Thailand (from £35) and mugs, bowls matcha and plates from a local pottery. studio (from £11). The largest boutique stocks textiles, with shelves full of hand-sewn linen shirts (from £32), indigo-dyed T-shirts (from £30) and plaid drawstring trousers made from pa kao ma Northeast Thai fabric (from £20).
While the focus is on local craftsmanship, the brothers also look beyond the kingdom for inspiration. “People have been migrating, bringing with them their stories and practices, since the beginning of time,” says Achariyar. Cross-cultural collaborations have resulted in some of the store’s most colorful capsule collections, including Jaipur-printed sarongs and slip dresses and Indonesian kaleidoscopic batik collared shirts. “We want our guests to see parts of themselves through things that came from across the border.”
Earlier this year, a ninth building flanking the entrance pavilion was inaugurated as Creators Museum. This shoppable showroom was inspired by the work of the Loewe Foundation, which forges connections between traditional artisans and forward-thinking designers. Soon, the Rojanapirom will have homewares and clothing made from a Hmong community in Payao and vases that fuse the craftsmanship of a local pottery studio and bamboo weavers in northern Thailand. “This region is blessed with many artisan communities, but some are stuck in the past,” says Achariyar. The only thing missing is “a creative matchmaker.”
Kalm Village, 14 Soi 4 Prapokklao Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand; kalmvillage.com