Meet Nichanan A-Ngi,
the Akha Designer Behind Macrame by Nicha
It all starts in a small village and unfolds as she could never have imagined.
THE AKHA CULTURE, HER CRADLE.
Nicha grew up in the lush, mountainous region of Chiang Rai, within the Akha community.
From a young age, she learned sewing and embroidery from her mother, honing her skills with delicate precision.
Her connection to nature was equally strong, as she spent her days between farms, rivers and waterfalls.
These memories still naturally bring a smile to her face and remain a constant source of inspiration for her work.
FROM BANGKOK’S LUXURY HOTELS TO THE CREATION OF MACRAME BY NICHA
After studying hotel management and working for many years in Bangkok’s luxury hotels, Nicha discovered macramé during the disruption caused by Covid and fell in love with its intricate and versatile patterns.
She explored Chinese, nautical and other knotting techniques, fascinated by the possibilities of cotton, colours and shapes.
This marked the beginning of Macrame by Nicha and her transition from hospitality to design.
TO THE STANDARD HOTEL, CENTRAL MALLS AND SUPALAI
Macrame by Nicha quickly developed into a design studio creating custom cotton decorations for hospitality, retail and real estate projects.
Within months, Nicha was working with names such as The Standard, Central Malls and Supalai, turning cotton and knotting into bespoke decorations adapted to each client, space and identity,
But she never forgot her roots.
THE AKHAS AND THEIR GOLDEN FINGERS
In 2021, the success of Nicha’s Christmas collection created a new challenge: producing hundreds of handmade pieces.
She returned to her village and trained local women, whose remarkable manual skills allowed them to master the techniques quickly.
This became the beginning of Akha Ma-De, her community initiative creating jobs for young mothers in her village so they do not have to leave their children behind to work elsewhere or abroad.
HER BET ON CONTEMPORARY THAI CULTURAL DESIGNS
Traditionally offered to express respect and gratitude, she sees the Malai as something that can also honour achievement in a distinctly Thai way. By reimagining its forms, scale and colours, she creates pieces that can reflect a person, an institution or a meaningful accomplishment while remaining rooted in Thai culture.
Her vision is not to replace the traditional Malai, but to give it another place in contemporary Thai society: a piece that can be displayed with pride and kept as a reminder of an important moment.
Her work has since been featured in the Bangkok Post, exhibited at TCDC Bangkok and at ICONSIAM as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities exhibition, selected by SACIT for two consecutive years, and chosen by leading hotels for VIP guests.
“We use the medal, but we have more than that. We have the Malai.”
Design first, Impact follows
What began as a production team has since received regional recognition, including first prize at the UN Women WEPs Awards.
Nicha continues to create products people genuinely want, rather than products chosen only for their social impact. She wants to share the women’s craftsmanship, their approach to design, and the meaning behind each piece.