THE KAREN ETHNIC GROUP
A vibrant culture in the heart of the Golden Triangle
At Itsara, we collaborate exclusively with artisans from the Karen ethnic group.
They are the ones who meticulously handcraft all the jewelry you discover on our site.
Their history, culture, and craftsmanship are intimately intertwined. Here's a glimpse into this fascinating people, rooted in the mountains of the Golden Triangle.
The Karen people – also known as Kayin, Kariang or Kawthoolese – are an ethnic group in Southeast Asia comprising some 5 to 6 million people.
Originally from Myanmar (Burma), they live mainly in Kayin State in the southwest of the country, but are also very numerous in Thailand, particularly near the border, where many have fled conflict and persecution.
A mosaic of peoples and languages
Karens are an ethnic group in Southeast Asia around 5 to 6 million individuals, also known as names: Kayin, Kariang or Kawtholese
A history marked by resilience
The history of Karens is long and rich, and we are not going to develop everything here, but some events are important. In 1947, they could not participate in the creation of the Burmese state with Aung San (father of Aung San Su Ki). They therefore created the KNU: Karen National Union .
The Karen are predominantly Theravada Buddhists, but their spirituality remains deeply animistic.
Ancestor worship is omnipresent, and every home has a spirit house where offerings are placed.
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Like the Hmong ethnic group, the Karen believe that each person has several souls in their body. Illness or misfortune occurs when some souls wander away; and when all of them leave, it means physical death.
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About a quarter of the Karen are Christian, but here again, animistic beliefs intertwine to form a mystical and unique faith.
A lifestyle rooted in the land
The Karen people live mainly from agriculture and forestry.
Culture of Longan (Thai: Lamyai)
Their villages are often nestled in the mountains of northern Thailand or Burma.
Their traditional houses are built of wood, bamboo, rattan, and leaves, on stilts.
Today, concrete and sheet metal are gradually taking their place, but the know-how remains.
Weaving is an essential activity, passed down from mother to daughter. Each woman has her own loom, and they often weave their traditional clothes together.
Karen outfits generally consist of:
- a loose tunic for the top,
- a tubular sarong for the bottom.
Young girls wear a long white tunic before marriage, a symbol of purity and tradition.
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Weaving is much more than work: it is connection, identity, and collective pride.
The Karens are renowned craftsmanship, they work on rattan, bamboo, weaving, but also, in a village in northern Thailand, they are recognized and excellent in the traditional art of silver jewelry of ethnic groups of the golden triangle.
At Itsara, we work with artisans whose talent and dignity command respect. By sharing their art, we also share their story.
