‘Ways of Being’ by Tisi
Thai brand’s approach to local craftsmanship and eco-friendly practices
Tisi ‘Ways of Being’ collection. Image courtesy of Tisi.
In recent years, we have seen more Southeast Asian brands reviving traditional craftsmanship deeply tied to the region’s history. A notable highlight is Tisi, a unisex Thai brand specialising in eco-friendly ready-to-wear. Since their inception in 2022, they have been working with local artisan teams in northern Thailand to produce their garments. The brand’s founder and designer, Tanya Kitjasateanphun, says, “Our core elements at Tisi revolve around combining local crafts with practical designs, and we incorporate various traditional craft techniques.” With the recent launch of Tisi’s latest collection, ‘Ways of Being’, they continue to shine a light on Thai craftsmanship.
Tisi ‘Ways of Being’ collection. Image courtesy of Tisi.
‘Ways of Being’ reimagines the simplicity of slow living in the countryside through a series of daily wear. The clean-cut silhouettes express the designer’s intention to emphasise functionality. In juxtaposition, the lively patterns serve as a more playful element, synonymous with Tisi’s design identity. The collection line-up comprises staples—loose-fit shirts, cargo pants, boxy jackets and denim pants to name a few. The fit of the garments is something that Tanya and her team have spent extra time to perfect in production. She explains, “Since we use handcrafted fabrics that come in limited amounts, we have to create and customise our sewing pattern to ensure every fit is tailored to our products.” This allows them to design, adjust, and tweak certain aspects to make the clothes more functional.
Backstrap weaving process by the Sun Din Deang textile artisans in Chiang Mai. Image courtesy of Tisi.
Natural dyeing process. Image courtesy of Tisi.
Zooming in on the garments, the designer also weaves the narrative with intricate details. For one, the collection incorporates backstrap weaving and the use of a 4-shaft handloom, which are common in traditional Thai weaving. These were done by Tisi’s artisan partners in Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Tanya also points out that the patterns of the embroidery are inspired by tribal designs. In particular, the Astro shirt features patterns native to the Pakayor tribe. Also known as Gled Nim in Thai, the shape was inspired by pangolin scales.
Conscious of being eco-friendly, Tisi takes pride in using natural dyes in all of their products. Their artisan team gathers fruits, plant leaves, tree bark, and other resources easily found in the mountains where they live. Then, the colours are tested and refined to achieve the shades and hues the team desires.
Tisi ‘Ways of Being’ collection. Image courtesy of Tisi.
In ‘Ways in Being’, the pieces are mostly dominated by vivid, yet calming shades. The light pink hue of the Wendy Jacket comes from willow-leaved water croton, or kai noon in Thai, a plant found near rivers in the northeastern region. More vibrant pieces, such as the Multicoloured Bon shorts and jacket, required a wider array of resources—namely sappanwood, Indian trumpet wood, glory-bower flower, ebony, and Ceylon oak fruit. The Marco denim pants feature the darkest shade in the collection, which were dyed with indigo plants and Padauk wood. “The colour results from the dye will vary depending on the condition of sunlight, wind, and water when the fabric was made. I think that is the beauty of how nature works.” Tanya remarks. Although the dyeing process is labour-intensive, she is fond of the imperfections in the shades and tones.
“The colour results from the dye will vary depending on the condition of sunlight, wind, and water when the fabric was made. I think that is the beauty of how nature works.”
‘Ways of Being’ collection presented at CIFF trade show in Copenhagen. Image courtesy of Tisi.
After the launch of ‘Ways of Being’, Tisi presented the collection in two trade shows in Europe: the Spring/Summer 25 edition of CIFF in Copenhagen and Who's Next's bi-annual showroom at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. Both events played a significant part in growing the brand’s presence outside of their home country. “People are interested in our products and the story behind what we do, as it represents sustainable craftsmanship combined with practical designs,” says Tanya. “We gained significant attention from both the press and customers there. It has encouraged us to keep pursuing what we believe in.” As handcrafted artisanal brands have been gaining prominence in the fashion scene lately, there is no better time than now for the brand to start an international expansion. Ultimately, Europe is only the first stop out of many in Tisi’s long-term mission of introducing Thai craft and textiles.
‘Ways of Being’ is available to purchase here. See more of Tisi’s collection and behind-the-scenes on Instagram at @tisi_tisai.