Free black dyeing service offered to mourners

PHUKET: The Phuket Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education (NFE) is providing a free clothes-dyeing service to turn colored garments black so they can be used as mourning attire following the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Using tubs of dye heated over charcoal burners, NFE staff began offering the free service yesterday from 9am to 3pm daily, for 30 days, outside the NFE building on Damrong Road near the Phuket Municipality Office in Talat Yai.

“We are using our own money to purchase the black dye. We just wanted to do something to help people who may not be able to afford new clothes during this period of national mourning for the King,” said NFE Phuket Director Rarinthip Supapruek.

News of the free service spread quickly, resulting in long lines of people queuing up to have garments dyed black.

“We welcome everyone but respectfully request that people only bring a few garments at a time to be dyed, otherwise we can not keep up with demand and it means that others will have to wait in line longer,” said Ms Rarinthip.

— Pramook Tipvimalmas