Yin

Yin is a 56-year-old local weaver residing in a small weaving village in Surin province, Thailand. She is married with two sons, the eldest currently lives with her and her husband, while the youngest works at a factory outside of town. To make a living, her husband farms jasmine rice and provides labour services, and her eldest son works for a local company, while Yin herself weaves silk cloth for sale.

Yin started a small-scale silk weaving business in her 40s as a way to earn additional income during the off-season of rice farming. She first learnt weaving from her mother when she was young and later picked up more skills from other weavers in her village. Currently, Yin focuses on producing traditional silk cloth with simple patterns as well as sarongs (Thai loincloth), as these are less complex and can be completed more quickly, allowing her to produce a higher volume within a shorter period of time.

As the Songkran festival approaches, demand for silk-woven products has been increasing, as customers purchase them for gifts, clothing, and decoration during the Thai New Year period. Seeing this as an opportunity to grow her income, Yin plans to increase her production. To support this, she has applied for a loan to purchase weft and warp threads, dyes, flying shuttles, and essential weaving tools. This investment will enable her to produce more consistently and generate a steadier income to support her family, especially during the farming off-season.