Hill Tribe Totem (concept design)

When we talk about tribes, one of the first images that often comes to people’s minds is the use of symbols—signs that convey stories or mark the territory of each group. This can be seen among tribal communities across many continents around the world.

Among these symbols, the ones we most frequently encounter—often adapted into decorative motifs—are those of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America. Totem poles are commonly found in the communities of First Nations in Canada and Native American tribes in the United States. The carved symbols on these poles may represent living beings, objects, or various emblems, functioning almost like the logos of different families or clans.

The word “totem” comes from the Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) language, from the term “odoodem,” meaning “his family or clan.” Rooted in the beliefs of the Ojibwe people—and later shared widely among several Native American groups—the creation of a totem pole traditionally required it to be placed in front of a dwelling or at the boundary of a family’s territory. This placement served as a declaration of the family’s status, lineage, and authority.

Thus, the carved figures on a totem pole act as a visual language, telling stories of clan animals, symbolic creatures, important individuals, and the myths and legends that form the foundation of their cultural beliefs.

In reality, structures resembling totem poles can also be found in Thailand, particularly in the carved pillars of temples or traditional wooden houses made from valuable timber. Some of these pillars recount stories, while others serve purely as decorative elements.

However, among the highland tribal groups—the hill tribes—there are no carved symbols or pillars that represent the identity of each tribe. Instead, it is the patterns on their textiles that reveal who they are. These motifs, inspired by elements of the surrounding environment, embody each tribe’s worldview and cultural memory. Today, many of these patterns have been transformed into commercial products, causing the original stories behind them to fade. What remains is often only the color and beauty of the pattern, separated from the meanings once embedded within them.

In the Hill Tribe Totem project, the designer aims to restore and highlight the significance of these motifs—the true essence of hill tribe textiles. The project presents these narratives through sculptural forms that reinterpret textile patterns as tribal symbols. By borrowing the universal concept of the totem pole and adapting it into sculptural decorative objects, the work becomes a new platform for storytelling.

The project integrates various Thai craft techniques to create hill tribe–inspired artifacts in an entirely new form, while also experimenting with new markets and possibilities for this category of traditional craft products.