Meet Bangkok's young guns breathing new life into their old family businesses
These six young entrepreneurs keep the craftsmanship skills of their family businesses alive while tweaking their goods in new ways.
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7 years ago
Ngoh Tailor & Boutique
“Customers come to us because ready-to-wear clothes don’t match their needs. They want something unique that reflects their personality. Tailors can also act as advisers. We can change the pattern; the cloth is for one person only.”
The Company: Jiraphon “Ngu” Jiraphonsakul, 35, and Jiraroj “Pro” Jiraphonsakul,32, had no plans to take over their family’s 41-year-old tailor’s shop on Rama I Road until their father passed away. But the brothers have now stood in to not only continue his legacy, but secure customers for the future, too.
Get this: Tailor-made pants starting from B1,200
Where: 66 Rama I Rd., Phathumwan, 083-018-1808, 02-214-1311. www.fb.com/ngohtailor
Pin & Tux
“As my mom gets older, she wants to take a step back. I was looking at our business and thinking of ways to carry on. We have a lot of good tailors and it would be a shame to stop going. We created Pin & Tux to connect our quality craftsmanship with ready-made, fashionable design.”
The company: Co-founder, Sarit “James” Chokchainirand, 39, comes from the family behind Supinda boutique, a women’s tailoring business established in 1971. He’s partnered with Natcha “Pong” Kanchanachitra, 28, a young designer who’s now using his family’s manufacturing facilities to create fashionable ready-to-wear items.
Get this: Dress starts from B4,890
Where: Supinda Boutique, 1/2-3 Sukhumvit Soi 24, 02-258-8620 Pin & Tux. Also available via www.pinandtux.com, 093-660-0655
31 Thanwa
“Though our family’s leatherwear-making know-how is not directly for bags, it can easily be adapted. Also, our family always handled just production, while others did the design and branding. I stepped in and joined the dots.”
The Company: Boonyanuch “Kae” Vitayasamrit, 29, founded women’s leather handbag 31 Thanwa back in late 2011. She’s the third generation behind an 80-year-old shoe factory and has adapted that know-how into producing contemporary handbags with high-end branding.
Get this: The new Curios collection, starting from B13,500
Where: 2/F, The Emporium, Sukhumvit Rd., 081-711-8031. BTS Phrom Phong. www.fb.com/31ThanwaShop
Pinky Tailor
“My dad has built such a solid base of customers and craftsmanship. I am building on that with my own collections. Last month I exhibited at Paris Fashion Week. We want to tell people we can do many things other than just normal suits.”
The company: For years Pinky Tailor has been outfitting Bangkok’s business heads—the Thai owner of Leicester City Football Club, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 31, was even wearing a Pinky suit when his team won on May 7. Now, Pinky’s son, Pawin Palitdejtakul, is expanding the company with fall/winter and spring/summer collections.
Get this: Tailor-made pure wool suit, starting from B13,000
Where: Mahatun Plaza Arcade, 888/40 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-253-6328. BTS Phloen Chit. www.pinkytailor.com
Ballet Shoes
“Our grandma thinks we’d be better off taking salaried jobs than managing our own business. But I’ve grown up with this shoe business, it’s instinctive to work here. I’ve opened a shop under the same name selling the same designs but in quirkier colors.”
The company: Around for more than 60 years, Ballet Shoes is one of Bangkok’s oldest shoe shops; a tailor-made footwear company that caters to a wide range of styles but specializes in ballet shoes. Ponchanok Kongdechakul, 33, Pimpika Kongdechakul, 32, and Pasini Kongdechakul, 30, are the third generation of the family to work in the business.
Get this: Ballet-style flats, starting from B2,250
Where: 1/F, Siam Square One, Rama 1 Rd., 02-252-2464. BTS Siam. www.fb.com/BalletShoes
Mettique
“My family had a leather manufacturing company, making accessories on behalf of other brands. I launched Mettique at the end of 2011 and since then we’ve grown to our own 64-sq-meter flagship store in Gaysorn.”
The company: Brand creative director Met Hengtrakul capitalized on the craft skills of his family’s leather manufacturing business by launching his own brand of minimally styled bags and accessories in exotic leathers like ostrich, Italian buffalo and crocodile. His Gaysorn flagship store also specializes in smaller items including laptop covers, iPhone cases and even bow-ties.
Get this: Hand-tanned, non-stitched cigar cases, B3,000-4,000 (cow hide)
Where: 2/F, Gaysorn Plaza, 999 Phloen Chit Rd., 02-656-1114. BTS Phloen Chit. www.mettique.com
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