"Na Wa district, Nakhon Phanom province, northeastern Thailand.
Her Majesty directed Her staff to develop SUPPORT's infrastructure after visiting Na Wa with H.M. The King in 1972, after a devastating flood there. During the visit, pictured here, Her Majesty was struck by the beauty of the villagers' handwoven wrapped skirts (phaa sin) made of traditional silk ikat (mat mii) and concluded that guiding and supporting the development of an outside market for the fabric would help the area's long-term economic recovery and stability. The first SUPPORT centre opened in Na Wa in 1974 and is still active today."
QSMT Photo 4.6-1