การสาวไหม (Kan Sao Mai)
Thai silk reeling is the production technique that transforms raw silkworm cocoons into the thread that makes Thai silk distinctive among the world's silks. Unlike Chinese or Japanese machine-reeling which produces perfectly uniform thread, Thai traditional hand-reeling (sao mai) produces a slightly irregular thread with a characteristic rough, lustrous surface — this irregularity is not a defect but the defining quality of Thai silk. The Thai silkworm (Bombyx mori, Thai strain) produces a coarser filament than the Chinese strain, and traditional hand-reeling preserves the filament's natural texture in a way that machine-reeling destroys. The reeling process is almost entirely practiced by Isan women in rural households — it is one of the most widespread but least documented craft sub-skills in Thailand. This record documents the reeling technique as a distinct skill set separate from the weaving traditions it supplies.
Risk level: Endangered · Not separately inscribed; underlies multiple Thai silk traditions
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