Abstract      

The Ban Sai Ngam Sewing Group consists of 12 Hmong women sewers located in Thailand’s northern province of Phayao. The goal of this project was to empower the Ban Sai Ngam Sewing Group in their economic growth by developing a sustainable model for their handicraft market with modernized design elements and strategies. We conducted interviews with the Sewing Group and DoiSter, distributed an international survey to customers with varying demographics, and conducted ethnographies in Chiang Rai and Bangkok. We found that the Sewing Group has insufficient income, lacks customer communication skills, and has trouble fitting designs to the contemporary market. The team produced resources that can be used by the women that aid in communication, advertising, and product design.