Computer technology to help local weavers

A research and development team based in Chiang Mai has developed a computer program and a semi-automatic loom to boost the designs and productivity of the region's many community weavers.

Team leader Phowpinyo Shimbahnao, a lecturer at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL), set out four years ago determined not only to preserve the cultural qualities of local weavers, but to make their fabrics more attractive commercially. This, he hoped, would boost the incomes of local weavers and lift the quality of rural life.

The so-called RMUTL Weave project has involved the design and development of software to assist the design of striped woven fabrics and a semi-automatic loom to work from the computer-assisted designs to help local weavers develop successful commercial products.

"I started to develop the RMUTL Weave project and semi-auto loom four years ago," Phowpinyo said. "It aims to use a computer program to help to design weaving patterns so that community weavers can meet the demands of local suppliers."

The first milestone was successfully developing the first version of the design and development software called the RMUTL Weave program. Its development followed five steps: problem and requirement analysis, specification, design, coding and testing.

The program aims to reduce the cost and time involved in designing prototypes for textile production. It also creates a variety of weaving patterns. 

Phowpinyo said the program's efficiency was tested by comparing it with existing weaving programs called WinWeave and WeaveDraft. The RMUTL Weave program was found to be suitable for the job and easy to use. It also contains a simulation function which helps the design process by creating a picture of a proposed fabric design. Suppliers are therefore able to study the designs and create their own patterns for production fabrics within 15 minutes, a far more efficient method than the tradition use of graph paper, on which patterns are hand drawn. The tests concluded that RMUTL Weave not only reduced designing time, but was also suitable for use in hand-weaving production.

"The program makes it easier for weavers to create their own designs and to choose designs before they develop new fabrics," Phowpinyo said.

 The semi-automatic loom is an 8-heddle Dobby loom built with rigid side frames for vibration-free running. It is designed to help weavers at community level to produce high-quality fabrics with improved productivity because of its easier use and high performance. 

The development team also has a scholarship from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) for the development of a 16-shaft Dobby loom kit for hand weavers and weaving-design software including old textile-pattern development for small manufacturers.

Phowpinyo also has a plan to provide a database of 60 original Lanna fabric designs on the Internet in the near future, under the Digitized Thailand project, which aims to share the local wisdom and heritage of people in local communities.

The RMUTL development team is also working on a prototype with which a small manufacturer in Chiang Mai province, Somboon Intertrade, can produce local fabrics.

 "I believe that the RMUTL Weave project and the semi-auto loom will not only boost the productivity of community weavers, but also enhance their skills in designing clothing patterns and fabrics, which will help them to develop new products from local wisdom," Phowpinyo said.