Kalep (Tai Dam Back Basket) — Rectangular Bottom, Twill to 20 cm, then Phrai Yak Khio, Rattan-Bound Mouth, Three Cord Loops for the Back

"Weave in twill of twos or threes to about 20 centimetres high, then in the phrai yak khio pattern, weaving alternately; villagers call it lai yak khio, but the Tai Dam call it lai kalep." (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0)

Split strips in two sizes: thin flat ones for the bottom, and small round ones for the upper part. Start with the bottom; the starting strips are called di. Make it rectangular, then weave up tall in twill of twos or threes to about 20 cm.

Change to phrai yak khio with the round strips, bulging out like a water jar and then curving in. Bind a bamboo hoop round and braid rattan tight to make the mouth.

Line the bottom with rattan strands for wear, and tie rattan into three loops for the cords, so it can be carried on the back.

Photos of real kalep, Ancient Tai Dam Cultural Revival Centre, U Thong, Suphan Buri (Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), CC BY 4.0).

Carry clothes, flour, rice, food, vegetables, fruit or seed in it on your back to the fields or on a journey. At weddings it serves as the groom's betel offering, filled with areca and betel.

Almost every Tai Dam household in the northern towns had a kalep, because they moved their fields often and needed things easy to carry. At a wedding a groom of rank uses four kalep, a commoner two; it is still used today. Take care with the knife when splitting strips. Source: Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Traditional Objects of Everyday Use database, "กะเหล็บ", author พิชชา ทองขลิบ (Phitcha Thongkhlip), Ancient Tai Dam Cultural Revival Centre, Suphan Buri (CC BY 4.0 licence). **Limits** The source gives no width, length or overall height, and there is no listing for rattan, so it is named in the text.