Meet the Maker: Pae 🇹🇭

Meet the Maker: Pae 🇹🇭

(Pae and Pete smiling in a sea of tie dye)

40 Employees

Family Business

Artisanal Production

From Woodstock to Bangkok


What do Harley Davidson's, long hair, and colorful tie dyes have in common? While we could be talking about the hippie heyday of the Grateful Dead at Woodstock, in this instance the answer is our good friend and Mexicali maker Pae located outside of Bangkok. Twenty years ago Pae started his tie dye business in his home, employing local people and friends. Twenty years later his business and tie dye portfolio continue to grow and while the dying center and showroom are still at his house, he now has his cutting, sewing, drying, cleaning, washing, and drying spread out throughout the rest of the neighborhood. His business employs and empowers his community, and his vibrant tie dyes bring positive vibes to the world! In his free time Pae likes to ride his Harley and one day he dreams of motorcycling across the USA, and we hope to one day welcome him and his family to visit us in Maine!

Pae and his infectious smile

Carly and Pae's wife Pran in their home/office

The Land of Smiles


Thailand is affectionately referred to as the land of smiles, and Pae and his smiling team of tie dye makers are no exception to that rule. Not only does tie dye result in smiles for those who wear it, but we've learned that making tie dye also results in smiles for those who make it. Pae pays his team well, and invests in the development of their local community. Many of his employees are local women who are able to work flexible schedules and are offered childcare opportunities at work. Whether they are tying, dying, cutting, sewing, or drying, Pae's team is always smiling and laughing, and their colorful energy is truly infectious, much like the power of tie dye. 

The power of tie dye :)

Aek tying with a smile

Why is Thailand the "Land of Smiles"?


Thai is an incredibly complicated tonal language comprised of five distinct tones,
"mid," "low," "falling," "high," and "rising." This means that any one word can mean 5 or more different things, depending on the way it is pronounced. Smiles are similarly complex, and in Thailand there are at least 13 distinct smiles that a person can use and each smile conveys a different meaning. Smiles are equally important in our business with Pae and his team, as Pae does not speak English very well and we don’t speak any tonal languages (yet). Much of our communication is done through smiles and body language, so we can understand where Thailand gets its name.

folding, tying, dying

... and drying

Mudmee: The Secret Tie Dye of Thailand


What is Mudmee tie dye? Mudmee is specific style of tie dye native to Thailand and Laos which translates to “tied mud” in Thai and refers to the intricate folding and tying that go into the process as well as the dying process being done on black or pigmented fabric. To learn more check out Masters of Mudmee: The Secrets to the Art of Tie Dye