BANGKOK (THAILAND) – Thailand is encouraging universities to start using local fabric to help villages hit hard by the coronavirus.
The nationwide move, from student uniforms to graduation gowns, derives inspiration from Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University (NSTRU), a public university in southern Thailand which took to using locally made fabric going by a government-backed scheme.
Kitipong Promwong, president of the government’s Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), said, “During COVID-19, there has been no tourists, so we need to help communities to stimulate the domestic economy.”
Kitipong, whose organisation is run by the higher education, science, research and innovation ministry, said, “Many universities are keen to participate, as some of them have already started (using local fabric).”
The NXPO said the Southeast Asian nation’s 180 universities can be a catalyst for growth for local economies. It estimated that under the nationwide fabric scheme, 1.8 billion baht ($57 million) could be generated as income for communities.
In June, the prime minister encouraged people to wear clothes made from traditional Thai fabric at least two days a week to help communities.
Currently, six communities in Nakhon Si Thammarat are part of producing fabric for uniforms and accessories for both students and faculty members.
Surasak Kaewon, a director at the university, said the project will generate 10 million baht for local communities each year, largely from graduation gowns for about 3,000 students.
The new gowns make use of rare cloth woven only in Nakhon Si Thammarat are likely to be used in next year’s graduation ceremony after getting approval from the cabinet.
NSTRU figures among the seven universities which have been given a 1.5 million baht grant by the government to ideate pilot projects that would help villages to generate income.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Phipun district, 52-year-old Kamonwat Danghang had to give up on his main source of livelihood, which was selling items made from tie-dye fabrics during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Kamonwat, however, hopes NSTRU’s orders to produce student uniforms will help fetch income for her cooperative.
“When COVID-19 came, it’s like everything stopped,” Kamonwat told.
“But now it’s a good opportunity for us to sell to the university, especially since they don’t bargain.”