About

A hands-on Thai craft workshop where participants learn the cultural story and weaving technique of Pla Tapian, creating a symbolic woven fish keychain and decorative ornament to take home.

Join us for a hands-on Thai craft workshop exploring the traditional art of Pla Tapian, the woven Thai carp fish. This delicate woven form is a well-loved Thai handicraft, traditionally made from natural leaves and hung in homes as a symbol of abundance, prosperity, good fortune, and protection.

In Thai culture, Pla Tapian reflects a deep connection between everyday life, water, rice fields, and nature. It carries the spirit of the old Thai saying: “In the water, there are fish; in the fields, there is rice.” The carp fish is associated with fertility and abundance, as it reaches maturity around the rice harvest season. Traditionally, woven fish were hung above a baby’s cradle to bless the child with good health and easy growth, while in homes and shops they were believed to attract wealth and prosperity.

During this workshop, participants will learn the story and symbolism behind Pla Tapian before creating their own woven fish pieces. Guided step by step, you will transform flat strips into a three-dimensional woven form, discovering how this traditional craft connects to mathematics, geometry, rhythm, and hand skill.

Participants will make a small Pla Tapian keychain and a decorative woven fish piece that can be used as a hanging ornament or part of a mobile. The workshop celebrates both traditional and contemporary approaches, showing how natural materials and modern adaptations can bring this meaningful Thai craft into everyday life.

No previous weaving experience is required. All materials will be provided.