Nichanan A-ngi was one of the many thousands of hotel employees laid off during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unusually, the 31-year-old former receptionist spent her unplanned free time learning macramé, the art of using knots to create decorative items with textiles. And Nichanan’s mother and friends certainly did not anticipate her taking macramé seriously and transforming it into a business, Macrame by Nicha.
When Nichanan was a little girl, she was taught to create her own traditional Akha hilltribe costume by her mother. This early experience served as a foundation for her skills in embroidery and handicraft. As a result, Nichanan is now able to turn ordinary rope into exquisite decorative items. Phuang Malai, a garland, is one of her first and most popular items.
