Description
Mann Craft (แมน คราฟท์) is one of Sakon Nakhon's most popular shops for Indigo dyed fashion and other textiles produced with traditional dyeing techniques. The shop was established in 2010 by local artisan Prach Niyomkar (aka Khun Mann), who has studied abroad and is fluent in English. Therefore, this is one Sakon Nakhon shop where you can both shop for beautiful handmade fashion, while also learning (in English) about the techniques and dyes that were used.
To be certain that Khun Mann will be present when you visit the shop, it would be good to contact him via the Mann Craft Facebook page. He is passionate about handmade crafts and Indigo fashion, and would be happy to talk with you about his wearable art creations.
The Mann Craft Shop is located downtown, not far from the Wat Phra That Choeng Chum temple, so it should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Sakon Nakhon city. Handmade products available include shirts, jackets, scarves, wall tapestries, and more. Both traditional Thai designs and more modern motifs have been beautifully applied to the high quality materials used, including handspun cotton.
So, while the prices are a bit more than you would spend in a typical Thai street market, the high quality and original designs are well worth the extra money, which is still less than you would pay for similar handmade products in Western countries like the U.S., England, or France. On the 1st and last Sunday of the month, Khun Mann also hosts a Creative Crafts Center at Mann Gardens, where you can buy handmade items from many local artisans.
If you are looking to grab a cup of coffee after visiting the Mann Craft Shop, we would recommend heading down to the nearby Art Hopper cafe, a vintage Thai-style coffeehouse that also has handmade products available for purchase.
