So last Tuesday I woke up sweating about souvenirs. Gotta bring stuff back from Thailand, right? But man, feeling like a jerk buying cheap plastic crap probably made in some bad factory. Figured there had to be a better way. Started digging online about fair trade shops here in Chiang Mai, but man, felt like wading through fake reviews and shady websites. Pure headache.
The Wild Goose Chase Phase
Grabbed my backpack and hit the old town tourist market first. Super mistake. Place was packed, stalls screaming “Handmade! Ethical! Fair Price!” Yeah right. Asked this guy selling carved elephants how he sourced them. He just waved his hand like “don’t worry” and kept shouting prices. Felt suspicious. Stopped asking after that – got weird looks. Saw tons of identical stuff everywhere. Definite factory vibes, not artisan workshops.
My stomach sank. Felt hopeless. Wandered into this beautiful looking shop near the temple – fancy lighting, soft music, big “Ethically Sourced” sign. Finally! Picked up this woven bag, checked the tag inside. Tiny print: “Made in…” uh… somewhere that sure wasn’t Thailand or fair trade. Peeked at other tags. Same deal. Felt ripped off just standing there. Walked out fast.
Getting Serious (And Annoyed)
Stomped back to the guesthouse feeling sour. Thought hard. Maybe the internet failed me. Pulled out my phone again. This time, got super specific with searches, avoiding the obvious tourist pages. Used words like “verified”, “membership”, “community cooperative” along with “Chiang Mai”. Took ages. Found a local NGO website listing vetted community enterprises. No fancy marketing, just names and rough locations. Wrote down a few addresses.
Next day, I hunted. No tuk-tuks for this, took a songthaew way out of the main tourist zone. Dirt roads, regular neighborhoods. Asked locals near the first address. Lots of pointing. Found it tucked away: a tiny shop attached to a weaving workshop. Could see women working looms right out back! Actual people making stuff! Asked the lady at the counter – super happy to talk. Showed me photos of the women’s group in their village, explained how the pricing worked. Felt totally different.
- Bought a gorgeous scarf. Price tag? More than the market junk… but honestly? Still cheap compared to home.
- Got the story about whose hands made it.
- Felt the real fabric weight, saw tiny imperfections – signs it wasn’t a machine pumping out copies.
Visited two more places like this. Each was its own adventure to find. One was a ceramics collective down a dusty alley. Met the actual potter selling his wares. Another was a paper umbrella workshop run by a family. Smelled the glue! Loved seeing the work happening.
Final Tally & What Stuck With Me
Took me three full days and a sore backside from bumpy rides. Brought back fewer items than planned, but each one meant something:
- That woven scarf from the women’s group.
- A small ceramic bowl from the potter.
- A simple hemp tote bag for groceries.
The difference? Way more than just owning stuff. Had actual conversations. Met eyes. Felt connected to where the stuff came from. No guilt. Just good vibes… and a bit lighter wallet, but honestly? Worth every single extra baht and sweaty hour hunting those places down.
Tips? Forget the obvious spots. Look for workshops attached, not just pretty stores. Ask direct questions – where was this made? By whom? If they can’t or won’t answer clearly, walk away. Be ready to hunt off the beaten path and pay a fair price. And seriously? Seeing it being made beats any fancy certificate sticker.
