Made in Isaan: Bags That Carry Local Opportunity

For EXO Foundation’s 15th anniversary, a commemorative tote bag was created to celebrate the people, partnerships and shared purpose behind the Foundation’s journey.

But these bags carry more than an anniversary design. Produced in collaboration with Isaanbags, each one also represents local skills, rural employment and a growing social enterprise in northeast Thailand.

Creating Opportunity in Rural Kalasin

Isaanbags is an economic and social project developed by Isaan Development Co. Ltd, with support from Isaan Bonjour, an initiative promoting the cultural and economic potential of Thailand’s Isaan region.

The project is based in Baan Suan Khok, a rural village of approximately 1,000 residents in Kamalasai district, Kalasin province.

In April 2024, Isaanbags established a local workshop that currently employs 5 women experienced in producing bags and small leather goods. By bringing production opportunities into the village, the project enables local women to use their skills and earn an income closer to home.

Isaanbags describes this approach as “People’s Sustainability”: creating products that connect business activity with employment, dignity and long-term opportunities for local communities.

Building a Proud “Made in Isaan” Identity

Isaan is home to more than 20 million people and has a rich cultural identity shaped by its history, traditions, craftsmanship and Lao and Khmer influences. However, the region and its economic potential remain relatively unfamiliar to many people outside northeast Thailand.

Through the Isaanbags and “Made in Isaan Thailand” labels, the project aims to build recognition for products made in the region while demonstrating that high-quality production can create meaningful opportunities in rural communities.

The long-term vision is to develop the workshop into a stable local employment hub with modern facilities and social benefits for employees. This would allow Isaanbags to employ more people from Baan Suan Khok and nearby communities while contributing to the local economy.

A Special Collaboration for 15 Years of EXO Foundation

To mark EXO Foundation’s 15th anniversary, Isaanbags produced a collection of commemorative tote bags for EXO teams across different destinations.

The collaboration gave the anniversary bags a purpose beyond the celebration itself. The order supported local production in Kalasin while helping introduce the story of Isaanbags to a wider regional and international audience.

The bags have now been distributed to EXO destination offices, connecting team members across the region with the people and skills behind their production.

This collaboration reflects an important part of EXO Foundation’s approach: purchasing decisions can create greater value when they support local enterprises and help communities build sustainable sources of income.

How to Support Isaanbags

Businesses, organisations and individuals can support Isaanbags in several practical ways:

• Order customised tote bags for events, gifts, campaigns or company activities
• Choose locally produced items when purchasing corporate merchandise
• Introduce Isaanbags to organisations looking for responsible sourcing options in Thailand
• Share the Isaanbags story through professional and social networks
• Follow and engage with the project to help its work reach new audiences
• Explore partnerships that can create stable orders and longer-term employment opportunities

Even a simple purchase can become part of a much bigger story. By choosing products made by local enterprises, organisations can support rural employment, recognise local skills and help promising community businesses reach new markets.