Weaving Nature into Something Beautiful M.L. Pawinee Santisiri (Sukhasvasti) The large green pile of water hyacinth was drifting by the river’s way. If it was two decades ago, the villagers or passersby would consider it a waste and try to get rid of it. One woman, however, thought differently and saw it worthwhile to connect with nature and tried to find a way to “weave” something out of it. Thanks to her, the first ever water hyacinth furniture by the name of “Yothaka” (means flowers from heaven) was created. M.L. Pawinee Santiri, one of the nation’s leading interior designers, tells us the story of how she began to take interest in the water hyacinth. It all started from her sister’s friend who was helping with activities of Women’s World Banking, an international organization of female banking professionals who helped develop careers for people in the rural areas. “She brought an egg basket in the form of a chicken to me and said it was made from water hyacinth. She asked me for ideas to develop the product because she wanted to help generate the villagers’ income in Payao province, where water hyacinth was ample. She asked if furniture could be made from the large amounts removed from the canals. Back then, villagers would focus on intricate items, made of water hyacinths that were in small strips of one foot length, which would not suffice for furniture making. So I asked the Department of Industrial Promotion to develop them into tough large braids so that they could further be lengthened. However, water hyacinths will mold when damp, so I asked the KU Research and Development Institute to find a solution. It was found that the best way was to treat them with food preservatives, proving to be safe for the producers and harmless to the users – a truly environmentally friendly product.” After that, M.L. Pawinee applied her design skills to the development of water hyacinth furniture. Though the two years of research and development were quite successful, but the future of it was still unclear. “Fortunately, a former classmate in Interior Design from Silpakorn University, Suwan Kongkhuntien, loved the idea and together in 1989, we established the brand, “Yothaka.” We were the first to introduce water hyacinth furnitures to the world market. During the time, most of the natural furniture was made of rattan. So what we did really caused a stir. Though it was not easy in the beginning but ultimately it made its way to the peak of popularity. Now everyone copies us to the point that a French friend told me it has become a common commodity. Though that means a tremendous amount of competitors for us, I’m still proud. In hindsight, it certainly has helped the rural people earn a living and solved the problem of excessive water hyacinths in the rivers.” “I’m a designer and the innovative creations never stop, whether they are fibers found in the South of Thailand like Yan Lipao, or pineapple paper. Whichever way I look, I see the potentiality that nature can bring. There are many other plants and trees with beneficial fibers so we should find ways to use them, instead of having them cut down or thrown away without any purpose.” “I grew up in an environment of natural surroundings, where I could wake up and run in the fields and canals would surround my house. Hard to believe, but this is in Bangkok, when there were plenty of trees and when it got cold, we even had to build bonfires.” M.L. Pawinee recollected her beautiful childhood memories. Though Bangkok nowadays has changed so much, her love for nature was instilled inside and no words were needed to express her passion. “I’m not calling myself an ‘environment concious’ designer but what I did naturally added value to the environment and the ideas worked together with the villagers quite well.” “Working with the environment is purely basic instinct and caring for the environment should be done in the most natural way.” M.L. Pawinee Santhisiri certainly has connected with nature and woven it into something very beautiful.