Container

Founded in 2010 by three best friends, Container makes bags for everyday use that are both simple and timeless. Inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian architecture and interior design, Container looks to set itself apart from other brands through its focus on the finer details, like the stitching and lining. They also use vegetable-tanned leather to ensure a more flexible feel.
4/F, Zen, CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-100-9999. BTS Chit Lom. www.containerbag.net.

P’s Material

These hair accessories by Top Shop’s personal shopper and famous fashion blogger Ploy Chavaporn come in various colors and styles, from simple flowery circular bands to ones sporting gigantic lovebirds (from B950). Despite (or perhaps because of) the slightly expensive price tags, the accessories are popular among Thai stars and celebrities, so you might need to wait a while to own one. In the meantime you can read our interview with Ploy.
See an entire collection at poboxstyle.blogspot.com/p/ps-material.html and order online at [email protected].

Paa*

Started four years ago as a small shop selling colorful shoes and bags, Paa* now has over 30,000 Facebook followers and is firmly established as one of the most popular local designers for accessories and girly fashion items. Its flagship outlet in Siam Square is packed with candy color shoes, bags and clothes for men and women but we must profess a particular soft spot for the vibrant doctor’s bags (pictured, B1,750) in their new summer collection. Shoes from B690-2,490, bags from B1,350-5,950.
Siam Square Soi 3, Rama 1 Rd., 084-912-4455. BTS Siam. www.facebook.com/paashop

Secret Weapon

Founded and designed by Thai movie star Cris Horwang, Secret Weapon’s bags play off the brand’s military-sounding name through different logos, which range from a sniper rifle to a target sight. From bold-color leather handbags to pink clutches, the brand’s signature style is simple yet memorable, playful but sleek.
G/F, Eight Thonglor, Thonglor Soi 8, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-392-4755.

The Sleeveless Garden

It all started when three friends having trouble finding a perfect vintage-style bag for an affordable price, decided to take matters into their own hands. Their bags combine genuine leather with cool designs and fashionable colors—and prices starting from just B2,000. Highlights of their collections are the series of school bags in different colors, from tanned orange to vintage black. See our interview on page 11.
LG/F, Central Plaza Grand Rama 9, 081-456-0315, MRT Rama 9, www.thesleevelessgarden.com

Labyrinth

Run by a brother and sister team, Labyrinth specializes in artistic scarves, fusing a young woman’s love for vintage prints and a young man’s passion for landscape photography (see our interview page 10). The finished products are one-of-a-kind nature-inspired scarves, which carry a touch of the surreal (from B1,480).
Workshop, 1/F, Mega Bangna, 39 Moo 6, Bang Na-Trat Rd., 082-558-8152. www.thinklabyrinth.com, www.facebook.com/thinklabyrinth

31 Thanwa

Song Vittaya Sumlit and his sister have breathed new life into the family leather shoe making business, which originally started back in 1952. The result is 31 Thanwa, whose bags and shoes for women feature minimal but elegant designs made from very refined materials. The first collection, aptly titled “Animal Instinct,” utilizes a variety of animal skins, from cow and ostrich to horse and python. Clutches are B8,500 to 14,000.
Online shopping www.31thanwa.com

A Little 7

Animal-inspired modern accessories brand 77th has become a familiar name amongst devil-may-care fashionistas, leading to the birth of this prodigal son. A Little 7 retains the lively and adorable style of 77th, but thankfully carries a more affordable price tag. Designer Phongmanas Sawwadichai’s animal-themed necklaces and rings in faux gold and silver finish are softened with sweet preppy touches, and can be snapped up for under B2,000.
2/F, Siam Vintage, between Siam Square Soi 9 and 10, Rama 1 Rd., 081-770-3773. BTS Siam.

Aristotle

The accessory designer and the PR brain behind the success of Kloset, Toto Udthanun Hongmanee and Title Bhon Raksakulnit, decided to go it alone in 2008 with the creation of Aristotle. After three tough years, and with the support of Kloset’s owner Mallika Ruengkrittiya, their range of bags is now one of the hottest items in town. There’s a four-month waiting list for their super popular Rose Bag, and their new designs tend to sell out in just 15 minutes.
Order online [email protected] or follow www.facebook.com/aristotle.bangkok

Colorscamp

Atthasorn Sriraksayothin—another accessory designer for Kloset who has ventured out, offers up this collection of candy-colored shoes, which he claims represent the fun and color of camping (we guess he must like camping more than us). The shoes (B2,850-3,450) are mainly made of canvas and sport pretty prints, from cool photographs to collaborations with local artists.
Kloset, 3/F, Siam Center and 2/F, CentralWorld.

Him & Her

Him, Diloklab Chantachotebutr, and her, girlfriend Ploy Horwang, opened Him & Her in Baan Ekkamai last year as a store offering cool vintage finds. Quickly favored among fashionistas and musicians, they have now moved to two new locations at Rainhill and Siam Vintage. They’ve also started designing their own accessories, which have clearly been influenced by the owners’ love for all things vintage and unique. Don’t forget to check out the animal-inspired earrings (from B1,990) and limited edition Ray Bans.
2/F Siam Vintage, between Siam Square Soi 9 and 10, Rama 1 Rd., 02-261-7223. BTS Siam.

Kloset Etcetera

Building on the success of the Kloset range of scarves, the brand’s owner, Mallika Ruengkrittiya, has now expanded her kingdom with Kloset Etcetera, which sells accessories and stationery featuring a variety of Kloset-style prints. Aiming to create items which are cute but also practical for a woman’s day-to-day life, there’s a real mix of stuff on offer, from overnight luggage and backpacks to iPhone cases and paper clips.
3/F, Siam Center, Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-1732. BTS Siam. www.klosetdesign.com.

Labrador

After opening its first flagship store at Terminal 21 last year, the leather brand Labrador has gone from strength to strength. Known for producing a minimalist range of stationery, bags and home décor items, its unique products have won several international design awards. Its new collection is no less impressive, featuring recycled leather and a quirky design that imitates the look (if not the feel) of paper bags. Prices are varied: from B149 for a mobile phone to B1,890 for a recycled-leather bag.
3/F, Terminal 21, 081-899-2488. www.labradorfactory.net

Mingle by Chompoo

Thanks to her distinct style and cool taste, soap star and model Chompoo Araya A. Hargate has long been heralded as a fashion icon. Of course, fashionistas are paying close attention to her start-up line of accessories. Her first collection starry, dreamy makeup bags, clutches and scarves is extremely limited so you’d best be quick.
Merera, Siam Square Soi 2, Rama 1 Rd., 02-658-0632. BTS Siam.

Pakamian

As the partners behind Pakamian explain in our interview on page 9, this line is all about bringing a modern new twist to the traditional pakaoma. You’ll see the classic check cloth applied to clothes, bags, dolls, pillows and notebooks in a range of surprising ways. And don’t worry if they don’t have what you’re after, they also make to order.
Nawamin Festival Walk, 086-344-5059. www.facebook.com/pakamian

Q

Though better known for their clothing collections, Praphat Somboonsitti and Ekkapoom Chairusmee’s menswear brand Q also crafts refined shoes and bags for every season. Last autumn, we saw earth-colored leather shoes and sandals while summer 2012 sees more colors including shades of pastel and sky blue (from B3,290). Q has just introduced accessories like scarves, necklaces, and rings, too.
Siam Square Soi 2, 02-252-4089. www.qillstyle.com

Ravens Heaven

After graduating from the Parsons Design School in New York in 2005, Thai-born Nancy Wong dedicated her time to starting her own brand, Ravens Heaven. Inspired by the idea of an alternate universe where everyone can express their own individuality, Raven Heaven does unisex street bags that go from warm toned canvas to black leather studded handbags (from US$450 [B13,800]). Think bags in tones like burgundy, beige, cream, black and grey that stress their avant-garde shapes.
2/F Zen Department Store, Rama 1 Rd., 02-100-9999. www.ravensheaven.com

The Remaker

This is one brand that clearly feels a responsibility to nature with their mission to reduce, reuse, remake and recycle. The handmade bags, accessories, and home décor items are remade from a host of materials, anything from billboards to military tops, and come in many styles and colors.
1/F Eco Shop, Digital Gateway, Rama 1 Rd., 087-099-0639. BTS Siam. www.theremaker.com

BoYY

A graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Wannasiri Kongman is one of the pioneers of the Thai fashion accessory scene. She launched her first bag collection in the Big Apple back in 2006 and it quickly become a favorite among Hollywood celebrities including Chloe Sevingy and Sarah Jessica Parker. Boyy features unique minimal designs but utilizes a variety of fine and exotic animal skins, from washed cow leather to leopard and python.
1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-793-7777 and Cloud 9, 1/F, Gaysorn, 02-656-1428. www.boyybag.com or www.facebook.com/TheReMaker

Meet Bangkok's New Fashion Accessory Designers