Woven wisdom and information management: safeguarding Karen textile heritage in Northern Thailand

Abstract

Purpose This study investigates how Karen weaving knowledge is managed and sustained within the Ban Laikaew community, Doi Tao District, Chiang Mai Province. Drawing on Choo’s information management framework and Community-Based Heritage Management (CBHM), the study examines how weaving knowledge is identified, organized, stored, and disseminated, while also conceptualizing textiles as cultural and embodied forms of information through semiotic analysis. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was employed, combining semi-structured interviews with eleven key informants selected through purposive and snowball sampling, and non-participant observations. Data were analyzed thematically using information management and heritage frameworks, with Barthes’ semiotic theory employed to interpret the cultural meanings embedded in woven textiles. Findings The findings show that Karen weaving knowledge is locally grounded and practice-based, with raw materials such as cotton and natural dyes sourced within the community and knowledge transmitted primarily through embodied learning and intergenerational participation. Knowledge is organized and preserved through a combination of memory, handwritten records, photographs, digital media, and artifacts, with the community learning center functioning as a key hub for curation and transmission. Strong local ownership, leadership, and participatory decision-making support structured yet flexible knowledge management processes. At the same time, adaptation is evident in the integration of contemporary designs and digital platforms, including social media and live-streamed sales, which expand networks and sustain livelihoods. Semiotic analysis reveals Karen textiles as cultural texts that embody identity, ecological wisdom, and spiritual beliefs. Research limitations/implications Although focused on a single community, the study provides transferable insights for managing other indigenous knowledge systems and offers guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders. Originality/value The study advances understanding of how indigenous knowledge can be sustained and enacted through the integration of information management frameworks with CBHM, while also showing the value of semiotic analysis in interpreting heritage as embodied and multidimensional information.