 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
||||||||||
Head to these hip shops in the Thai capital for cutting-edge Asian style, says Andy Phillips
I hate it when I see people wearing the same clothes as me,” says Tanapon Apichartvorasilp, holding a single-sleeved men’s jacket to his chest. It certainly isn’t an item you would see many people wearing, but that’s not just down to the style. Apichartvorasilp designed the grey jacket and produced only five copies for his unisex store, Sibling, located in Bangkok’s Siam Centre.
The “five pieces from any design” policy is not a gimmick but a maxim applied to every item in Tanapon’s men’s collection. Selections range from shirts with metalwork inspired by World War II military uniforms to scarves patterned with images of a 50-baht banknote. “I don’t want people to wear mass-produced clothes,” says the 27-year-old. “If you buy something from a big store you can probably find it anywhere in the world, but if you come to Thailand you should be prepared to take in the Thai culture.”
A former fashion writer and stylist, Tanapon credits the current boom in the Thai fashion industry to a government-led campaign called “Bangkok Fashion City”. It inspired him to open Sibling early last year, before he had even received his degree in fashion design. The boutique’s name comes from the contribution his sister makes to his work. “Everybody was shocked,” he says. “But they came in and were very impressed.”
Individuality is also the trademark of 25-year-old fashion entrepreneur Siriorn Teankaprasith. Born in Bangkok, she moved to Paris at age 17 and returned seven years later to establish the men’s fashion boutique, Painkiller. Her style is all about minimalism: shirts, trousers and T-shirts in muted shades but splashed with brighter colours.
The shop’s name reflects a desire for her designs to help relieve the “pain” of current fashion styles. “I’m quite a strange designer,” she admits. “The name comes from the way I see fashion, as I think it can be quite boring.”
Siriorn’s big break came after a spell as an intern with Paris fashion house Charles Jourdan. After one collection, she created a range of bags that was featured in a number of fashion exhibitions. She has also launched Painkiller Mademoiselle, and is working with her brothers – who are architects – to produce a line of furniture. While the designs haven’t been revealed, one thing is certain: their creations won’t be mass produced.
Sibling, 3F, Siam Centre, Rama I Rd, Patumwan, tel: +66 (0)2 658 1146
Painkiller, 3F, Siam Centre, Rama I Rd, Patumwan, tel: +66 (0)2 946 6562
Bookmark This Post
