What are the factors affecting the Mudmee designs?

Mudmee is native to Northeast Thailand. It’s a complex tie-dyeing process that begins even before the mudmee is woven. After the warp and weft threads are dyed in the usual way, it is the weft that is tie-dyed. The weaver begins the special tie-dyeing process by stretching the dyed weft onto a special  wooden frame. Then bunches of threads are tied here and there with raffia to create the patterns. Suppose the colour of the weft is yellow and the dye is red, in that case after dyeing the weft will be a deep orange, except where it’s been tied with raffia, where it will remain yellow.

After the process of tie-dyeing is completed, the weft is reeled onto a roller and later onto spools. Then it is weaved. Mudmee silk is produced in every Northeastern province and in Uthai Thani, Suphanburi, Lopburi, Kanchanaburi and Chai Nat in the central region of Thailand. Mudmee designs vary from province to province, as do the colours. Many designs are based on natural elements such as tree leaves and animals, and are of ancient origin.