Photo Gallery 30 - Supplement -
Stingray
Sept. 17, 2003
During our 1998 visit to Thailand we impulsively bought a "stingray
wallet" for our oldest son Richard. We knew nothing about such things
other than it seemed an attractive gift and was made from the skin of a
stingray. After we returned to the states and gave Rich the wallet, we
happened into an upscale leather boutique and saw similar wallets priced at many
times what we had paid in Bangkok. Rich had asked for another such wallet,
and both Peg & Keith decided they would like one. We ended up bringing
back several as gifts for friends and family.
These photos were taken at the "Union
& World Class Co., Ltd." factory/store near the city of
Trang in Trang
Province of far south
Thailand. The interesting thing we learned about this
product is that the stingray is fished for food, and in the past the skin was
just discarded. Now it can be used and helps the local economy. We
were assured that stingrays were far from any danger of extinction.
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| Peg backs out of the
Trang Tuk-Tuk that brought us out to the "World Class" business.
Nice spirit house out front. |
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| Inside their modern &
air-conditioned showroom, it doesn't take Keith long to start making
selections. |
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| Wallets purchased, Keith
next decides he needs a stingray belt. |
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| Peg takes this photo of
one of the store's attractive displays.
[The background for this
page is from Peg's green woman's wallet.]
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| Purchases made, we then
get a tour of the factory behind the store. Here we are shown the skin with
its green color before it is dyed some of the more popular colors, black
being the most common. |
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| We get to pose with a
couple of employees in the part of the factory where the skins are processed
in large vats & tumbled in big drums. |
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