Mulberry paper Flower
What is Mulberry paper flower ?
Mulberry (Saa) paper are the most popular handcraft in Northern of Thailand with its nature touch texture . Mulberry paper flower inspired by flowers and plants in the nature. The flower can be applied to variance designs for use such as fragrance reed diffuser, flower arrangement , flower bouquet, flower string light decorative items for special occasion.
Mulberry Paper Process
-
Harvesting & Peeling: Mature mulberry branches are carefully pruned without felling the entire tree, allowing for sustainable growth. The outer bark is then peeled, and the rough green or brown exterior is scraped away to extract the pure white inner fibers.
-
Soaking: The prepared bark is submerged in clean water for 1-2 days, allowing the natural fibers to swell and soften gently.
-
Boiling: The softened bark is boiled for several hours in water mixed with natural wood ash (a traditional alkaline solution). This natural process gently breaks down the plant's binders, leaving only the delicate fibers ready for crafting.
-
The bleaching of the fibers
-
The pounding or beating of the fibers until finely separated and dispersed using a wooden mallet or a pulp beater.
-
The dipping of the paper pulp using a wooden sieve (a rectangular frame stretched with sheer fabric).
-
The sun-drying of the sheets completely on the frame without using high heat.
-
The peeling of the mulberry paper sheets off the frame once completely dry, ready for use or further processing.
Variance design of mulberry paper flower
Properties of mulberry paper
-
High Durability: The tough and fibrous material ensures high resistance to damage and long-lasting quality.
-
Superior Dyeing Uniformity: The paper absorbs and holds dye exceptionally well, resulting in consistent, even colors with minimal distortion.Flexible Sizing & Molding:
-
Highly versatile for various sizes, with smaller flowers typically shaped using molds to ensure uniform standards.
Mulberry paper by size - common uses
Small Mulberry Paper Flower
Small mulberry paper: Commonly used for decorative items such as scrapbooking, potpourri decor, corsages, and boutonnieres for weddings.
Medium mulberry paper
Medium mulberry paper: Commonly used for flower reed diffusers and flower bouquet arrangements.
Large mulberry paper
Large mulberry paper: Commonly used as the main/focal flowers in bouquet arrangements, or as part of backdrops that serve as the focal point of an event setup.
Creative idea to use mulberry paper flower
Flower reed diffuser.
1. Insert rattan reed stick into flower bottom.
2. Soak reed diffuser stick in fragrance bottle.
3. Decorate with other dried flower.
4. Flower and reed stick will absorb and diffuse scent to your area
Scented bouquet.
With similar diffusion quality to sola flower but much more flexibility in design, the mulberry paper can bring your imagination to the reality. It is flexible, durable, has unique texture that create natural feel and touch. It can be produced in large sheet, so it fits to all scales of decoration
Mulberry paper can be applied to variance of activities and related business.
- DIY craft
- Wedding decoration
- Home decoration
- Fashion accessories
- Hotel and spa.
Potpourri
Hair accessories
Ecological Benefit
Mulberry Paper (Saa paper) production: a low-impact chemical processRelies mainly on water, sunlight, and manual labor, with only minimal chemical and machinery use, resulting in far lower toxic emissions than industrial bleaching.
1.Harvesting (Coppicing): Only young branches are cut; the tree isn't felled and regrows the next year, preserving biodiversity better than clear-cut monoculture.
2.Bark stripping: Done by hand, no heavy machinery.
3.Soaking & boiling: Bark soaked in soda water to soften fibers, then beaten into pulp and lightly bleached (minimal chemical use here).4.Sheet forming: Pulp is screened and sun-dried naturally, no energy-heavy ovens.
Q&A
Q: What is mulberry paper made from?
A: Mulberry paper (Saa paper) is handmade from the bark of the mulberry tree, a traditional craft native to Northern Thailand. It has a natural translucent texture unlike any manufactured paper.
Q: What's the difference between mulberry paper flowers and sola wood flowers?
A: Sola wood flowers are carved from a lightweight wood-like plant, giving them a firm, dimensional shape. Mulberry paper flowers are more flexible and can be produced in large sheets, making them ideal for oversized designs and draping installations that sola wood can't achieve.
Q: Can mulberry paper flowers be used in a reed diffuser?
A: Yes — mulberry paper flowers diffuse fragrance oil similarly to sola wood flowers, with the added benefit of more design flexibility for larger, sculptural diffuser pieces.
Q: Are mulberry paper flowers sturdy enough for weddings and events?
A: Yes, when handled normally mulberry paper holds its shape well for bouquets, arch decor, and hair accessories.