Faith to Sustainability
Faith to Sustainability
Marigold Flowers from Jao Por Paya Lae Shrine Offerings: Bridging Faith and Sustainability
Every day at Jao Por Paya Lae Shrine, Chaiyaphum Province, an average of 80-100 kilograms of marigold flowers from shrine offerings are discarded. These garlands and floral arrangements filled with devotees' faith become waste materials awaiting disposal.
This project emerged from the question: "How can marigold flowers rich with devotees' faith be transformed into something that preserves faith while creating added value and promoting sustainability?"
Observation revealed that marigold flowers contain high levels of lutein, a compound that produces natural yellow to red colors. This led to developing processes for sorting, drying, and natural dyeing using traditional boiling methods with traditional wisdom, resulting in beautiful and durable Tawny Olive yellow color on cotton threads.
The project creates a production ecosystem connecting faithful communities, cotton thread producers from Nong Bua Daeng District, weaving groups from Ban Non Sao and Ban Non Kha in Phu Khiao District. The result is golden yellow Khit fabric with various ancient patterns unique to Phu Khiao District weaving groups.
The project creates multi-dimensional positive impacts: reducing waste from shrine offerings, generating community income, using natural dyes instead of chemicals, transferring wisdom to younger generations, and strengthening community resilience.
The marigold flowers that were once discarded shrine offering waste have become "guiding stars" illuminating a future where faith and science walk together, ancient wisdom and modern technology blend harmoniously, and economic development doesn't require sacrificing environment and culture.
Designer
- Chanin sriyoyod









