What exactly is slow fashion? If fast fashion is about speed, volume and low prices, slow fashion is everything it is not. It is about making things with intention, knowing where the materials come from and valuing the people and communities behind every piece. And a two-day trip to Khon Kaen with Tata, founder of Thai brand 5pm.sun and Avani Creative Tribe, is exactly that.
Meet 5pm.sun, Your Slow Fashion Host
5pm.sun is a Thai fashion brand built around a single idea: warmth. The name itself is a nod to the golden late-afternoon light, and the brand carries that cosy and warm feeling through every piece it makes. Tata founded it with the aim of bringing a sense of comfort to every part of the brand, from the choice of fabrics to the communities it works with. It sits squarely within the slow fashion movement: small, intentional and deeply connected to the community it comes from.
This is the brand's first curated trip, and Tata did not leave it to chance. She went and tested every stop on the agenda herself before opening bookings, so the person showing you how to print a top is the same person who designed it, and who has already made one in that exact garden. Everyone also leaves with a special gift from the brand's newest collection, which is a nice way to say thank you for getting your hands dirty.
Day 1: Flowers, Fabric and a Welcome Dinner
Lunch and eco-printing at Mekin Farm
First stop is Mekin Farm, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant built on a simple farm-to-table philosophy. The owner grows fruits, vegetables and poultry on site, and the menu is short but full of character. Simple cooking techniques let the ingredients speak for themselves in what is proper Isan cooking at its best. The standout is a thick local fish curry with a tender, juicy texture that is hard to forget. Lunch is served in an open-air pavilion, which sets the mood nicely for what comes next.
After lunch comes the garden tour. You wander the farm and pick whichever flowers catch your eye, which you then take straight into the eco-printing workshop. Your canvas is a 5pm.sun top that didn't quite pass the brand's final quality check, so instead of being thrown away it gets a second life as a one-off. You arrange the flowers you just picked on the fabric and let the petals leave their colour and shape behind. Some prints come out bold, some come out soft, and none of them can be repeated. That is the whole point of slow fashion. Nothing wasted, and the top is yours in a way nothing off a rail ever will be.
Welcome dinner at London Inn
Back at Avani Khon Kaen Hotel & Convention Centre, the hotel's English pub, London Inn, hosts a five-course welcome dinner paired with local craft beers, including a signature brew that tastes just like mango sticky rice. No need to head out for the evening. Expect good pours, even better company and a relaxed night in. A well-earned end to a creative day.
Day 2: Natural Dyes, Dim Sum and Souvenir Shopping
Natural dyeing workshop at Jutatip
Jutatip is a local textile brand whose natural dyeing techniques form an important part of Khon Kaen's creative community. The dyes come entirely from the land: red from soil, blue from indigo, yellow from leaves, and pink and red from tree bark. In the workshop you learn how each colour is made, meet the people behind the craft and use dyes to make your own bandana.
Tata is on hand to help you pick shades that go with the top you printed the day before, so by the end you have a full look, not just two random souvenirs. Wear it as a head wrap, a neck scarf or however you like. There is also a chance to browse and pick up pieces from Jutatip's own collection before you leave, and to try your hand at the loom, which is where most people realise how much work goes into a single piece of hand-woven cotton.
Dim sum at Ju Fang
The final meal of the trip is a dim sum buffet at Ju Fang, with fresh dumplings, roasted pork and hot savoury soups before the transfer back to the airport.
As the capital of northeastern Thailand, Khon Kaen has a lot more to offer beyond the workshops, from its rich Isan food culture to local markets and heritage sites. If you are thinking of extending your stay, our 72 hours in Khon Kaen guide is a good place to start.
Join the Avani Creative Tribe
The trip is part of Avani Tribes, a concept that allows people to discover which of the six Avani Tribe travel types they belong to. Avani Creative is the tribe for makers, artisan admirers and anyone who would rather spend a weekend with their hands busy than scrolling on their phone. You will swap ideas over dinner, compare crafts on the bus and probably leave with a few new group chats.
Interested in joining? Check out all the details and book your spot here.
Two days, two handmade pieces and hopefully some fingers stained a very satisfying shade of colour. Let your creativity roam in the heart of Khon Kaen.
