Thai Times

Covering the Thai Renaissance
Tuesday, Dec 09, 2025

Chulalongkorn Scholar Advocates for 'Elephant Pants' as Thai Cultural Icon: A Fashionable and Sustainable Soft Power

A Chulalongkorn University scholar, Prof. Patcha U-Tiswannakul, is promoting the popularity of "Elephant Pants" as an example of Thai soft power.
These pants, which feature elephant patterns and a blend of traditional wisdom and modern designs, reflect Thainess and showcase textile knowledge.

Prof. Patcha invites everyone to explore the significance of Elephant Pants in the context of fashion academia.

The text is about the Elephant Pants, a comfortable and stylish fashion item made of airy cotton, suitable for Thailand's heat.

The product comes in various forms, including shorts, pants, and joggers, and several colors.

The production of Elephant Pants has evolved into a creative economy, and they have become a popular fashion staple for both Thais and foreigners.

The pants have gone from being souvenirs to being worn in various settings, from markets to department stores.

Prof. Patcha noted the sales and popularity of the Elephant Pants as a testament to its success and a Thai charm.

The text discusses the potential for improving the quality and production processes of Elephant Pants in Thailand with government support.

This would help bring the product up to international standards and create jobs for the local community.

To make the product unique and sustainable, there should be a focus on using high-quality materials and collaborating with local communities for unique designs.

Effective branding, marketing, and market penetration are also crucial for appealing to global consumers and promoting Thai culture.

Prof. Patcha suggests creating Elephant Pants designs that appeal to all ages and represent Thai heritage, using sustainable production methods and local craftsmen.

He views the increasing Chinese competition in the Thai Elephant Pants market as an opportunity rather than a crisis, and proposes adding creativity and value to differentiate Thai products globally.

By transforming Elephant Pants from souvenirs to fashion icons, Prof. Patcha aims to make them a new lifestyle choice and part of the creative economy.

The text suggests that the Thai government should promote the "Elephant Pants" as a cultural product and a form of soft power.

This can be achieved by showcasing them in cultural activities, supporting local craftsmen, promoting the product at international fashion events, and sharing their origin and sustainability on digital platforms.

To increase production capacity and create jobs, the government could provide high-power machines and hire locals.

Additionally, support from the public sector and entrepreneurs is encouraged to boost demand and profits for the community and new designers.

The new generation of designers is tasked with creating symbols of Thai culture.

Patcha believes that limiting the production of Elephant Pants academically may generate knowledge but won't add value in the industry.

With a low number of items produced, they may become collectibles instead of growing sustainably.

However, now that the trend for Elephant Pants has started, there's an opportunity to expand and create more value.

New designers should develop unique patterns that reflect identity and make the product more creative to build on the phenomenon.

The Elephant Pants trend still has potential for growth.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Mark Zuckerberg Pulls Back From Metaverse After $70 Billion Loss as Meta Shifts Priorities to AI
Nvidia CEO Says U.S. Data-Center Builds Take Years while China ‘Builds a Hospital in a Weekend’
Indian Airports in Turmoil as IndiGo Cancels Over a Thousand Flights, Stranding Thousands
Hollywood Industry on Edge as Netflix Secures Near-$60 Bln Loan for Warner Bros Takeover
Thailand Submits Detailed Claim of New Cambodian-Laid Mines as Treaty Meeting Opens in Geneva
Two and a Half Weeks After the Major Outage: A Cloudflare Malfunction Brings Down Multiple Sites
New Google Thailand Chief Predicts Strong Growth for Kingdom’s Digital Economy
Mexican authorities freeze bank accounts of Miss Universe co-owner in organised-crime probe
Thai Police Arrest Hundreds in Latest Crackdown on Online ‘Romance’ and Get-Rich-Quick Scams
Thailand Freezes Ceasefire with Cambodia After Border Blast Rekindles Tensions
Thailand Signals Early 2026 Election Amid Mounting Economic Strain
Thai Food Village Debuts at Saudi Feast Food Festival 2025 Under Thai Commerce Minister Suphajee’s Lead
Thailand Lifts 53-Year Afternoon Alcohol Ban Ahead of Year-End Holiday Season
Thailand Confirms $107 Million Purchase of Israeli Barak MX Air-Defence System
Thai Finance Minister Ekniti Unveils Four-Pronged Strategy to Reset Economy
WBC Ratings Committee Begins Work at 63rd Convention in Bangkok
Southern Thailand Flood Crisis: Over Two Million People Affected as Waters Begin to Recede
Google warns of AI “irrationality” just as Gemini 3 launch rattles markets
Top Consultancies Freeze Starting Salaries as AI Threatens ‘Pyramid’ Model
Southeast Asia Floods Push Death Toll Above Nine Hundred as Storm Cluster Devastates Region
EU Firms Struggle with 3,000-Hour Paperwork Load — While Automakers Fear De Facto 2030 Petrol Car Ban
Thailand and China Mark 50 Years of Diplomacy with Renewed Focus on Knowledge Exchange and Strategic Partnership
Southern Thailand Floods Claim at Least 145 Lives as Water Recedes in Hat Yai
Thailand’s Flood Death Toll Climbs to 145 as Receding Waters Expose Massive Nationwide Damage
250 Still Missing in the Massive Fire, 94 Killed. One Day After the Disaster: Survivor Rescued on the 16th Floor
At least 33 dead in southern Thailand as Hat Yai hospital flooded and military mounts large-scale rescue operation
Thai Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Miss Universe Co-Owner After She Fails to Appear at Fraud Verdict Hearing
Thailand Orders Sam Altman’s World Project to Delete 1.2 Million Iris Scans and Halt Operations
Bangkok Gears Up for Formula 1: Thai Government Releases Plan for 5.7 km Street Circuit by 2028
Thailand and Cambodia Complete Major Phase of Joint Border Survey Between Pillars 52–59, Paving Way for Fence Construction
Miss Universe Owners in Mexico and Thailand Face Fraud and Trafficking Allegations Amid 2025 Pageant Fallout
Thai Pork Industry Warns of Collapse If US Meat Imports Are Granted Under New Trade Deal
Lamine Yamal? The ‘Heir to Messi’ Lost to Barcelona — and the Kingdom Is in a Frenzy
The Ukrainian Sumo Wrestler Who Escaped the War — and Is Captivating Japan
The Three Letters Lifting Google and Challenging Nvidia’s Dominance in the AI-Chip Market
Warner Music Group Drops Suit Against Suno, Launches Licensed AI-Music Deal
Bangkok Unveils Vijit Chao Phraya 2025, a Radiant Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother
Malaysia’s Anwar Reaffirms Neutral Mediator Role as Thai-Cambodia Border Row Intensifies
Thailand Tweaks EV Policy to Boost Exports, Prevent Domestic Oversupply
HP to Cut up to 6,000 Jobs Globally as It Ramps Up AI Integration
Thailand Launches ‘Fast Pass’ Scheme to Unlock $9.2 Billion in Stalled Projects
Thailand Orders Halt to Iris-Scan Crypto Scheme and Deletes 1.2 Million Biometric Records Over PDPA Breaches
Thai King’s Visit to China Marks Historic Elevation of Sino-Thai Partnership
POP MART Unveils Thailand’s Largest Festive Pop-Up With Grand ‘POP LAND’ Experience in Bangkok
Thailand’s Bitkub Eyeing Hong Kong Listing Amid 2025 IPO Plans
Google Struggles to Meet AI Demand as Infrastructure, Energy and Supply-Chain Gaps Deepen
Families Accuse OpenAI of Enabling ‘AI-Driven Delusions’ After Multiple Suicides
Bank of Thailand Calls for Weaker Baht as Economic Growth Stalls
Southeast Asia Scholars Call on Thailand and Cambodia to Honour Peace Accord and Protect Border Communities
Thailand Accelerates Free Trade Talks with EFTA, EU and South Korea to Diversify Export Markets
×