The design of costumes from discarded fabric inspried by the PHI KHON traditional performance

Abstract

This mixed-methods research, combining both qualitative and quantitative approaches, aimed to: 1) investigate the physical characteristics of textile waste sourced from community enterprises, and 2) design an art-to-wear apparel collection utilizing textile waste, inspired by the traditional Phi Khon performance. The research instruments comprised semi-structured interviews conducted with field experts and heads of community enterprises, alongside a satisfaction questionnaire administered to a target sample group of 100 participants.

The research findings revealed that: 1) The physical characteristics of the community enterprise textile waste varied in shape, texture, and size depending on their origin. These included rectangular and square remnants from garment tailoring, as well as elongated end-of-roll strips remaining from the weaving process. The predominant color palette consisted of red, black, and yellow tones, supplemented by secondary accents of green and blue. 2) Regarding product prototype development, the structural forms and distinctive features of the Phi Khon masks and costumes were integrated into the design of a four-piece art-to-wear fashion collection, emphasizing a synthesis between traditional Thai cultural arts and contemporary fashion. The overall consumer satisfaction toward the design of the four-outfit collection inspired by the Phi Khon performance was at the highest level ( x̄  = 4.61).